This article is a repost from January 2016. It has been edited to reflect slight changes, including deleted titles and the addition of new titles released after 2016.
The first federal holiday of the new year honors Martin Luther King Jr., a man who some would assert was one of the greatest leaders and orators in American history. Born on January 15, 1929, King’s legal name, like his father’s, was Michael. Upon returning from a religious convention in Berlin, the senior King changed his name to Martin Luther, after the Protestant reformer. Michael Jr. eventually followed suit. Initially, King resisted going into the ministry, but after a more in-depth study of the scriptures, he had a change of heart. By the age of 25, King had married Coretta Scott, became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, and earned his Ph.D. Shortly after that, he was appointed to lead “the first large-scale demonstration against segregation in the U.S.”—the Montgomery Bus Boycott. And the rest is history. Every year since 1986, the third Monday in January is recognized as Martin Luther King Day. The books featured range from picture to young adult. Happy Reading!
Books:
Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You – Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrator – James E. Ransome
My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart – Angela Farris Watkins, Illustrator – Eric Velasquez
My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Martin Luther King III, Illustrator – A. G. Ford
My Dream of Martin Luther King – Faith Ringgold
I Have a Dream – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Illustrator – Kadir Nelson
March On!: The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World – Christine King Farris, Illustrator – London Ladd
Just for You! Singing for Dr. King – Angela Shelf Medearis, Illustrators – C. Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu
My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Christine King Farris, Illustrator – Chris Soentpiet
I’ve Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Walter Dean Myers, Illustrator – Leonard Jenkins
Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song – Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrator – Brian Pinkney
Martin Rising: Requiem for a King – Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrator – Brian Pinkney
M.L.K.: The Journey of a King – Tonya Bolden
The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr. – Coretta Scott King
My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. – Coretta Scott King
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? – Martin Luther King, Jr
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