Strengthen your child’s knowledge of history, civil rights and the values of perseverance and equality by celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a stack of children’s books. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day lands on the third Monday in January, but include these books in your reading all year long. These Martin Luther King, Jr. books for kids, along with our list of civil rights books will teach your children about the legacy of the freedom fighter.
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First and foremost, I recommend finding books at the library. If you shop online you can still support your local, independent bookseller through Bookshop. I’ve combined this list with my civil rights picture book list together on Bookshop, which you can view here.
Preschool (and up)
The following Martin Luther King books for children are perfect for preschoolers, but will be enjoyed and appreciated by kids of all ages.
We March
by Shane W. Evans
We March is one of my favorites. The spare text and brilliant illustrations make this a wonderful book for children as young as 3 years old. The light, first person narrative tells the story of a family getting ready to march in the historic event. Illustrations depict crowds of people from all walks of life and celebrate the excitement the event generated and the power of peaceful protest.
A Sweet Smell of Roses
by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Eric Velazquez
A young girl, with her red-ribboned teddy bear describes her experience as she and her sister slip out of their house to join a freedom march. The focus is very much on the sensory experience. They stand, “waist high” in the “bright light”, “clapping in time with [their] feet.” There’s no mention about which march it is, just one of the many freedom marches that took place under Dr. King’s leadership. This is another lovely book that emphases how children were an integral part in the fight for freedom and readers can pick out the plucky protagonist in the illustrations by her bear’s ribbon, which matches the stripes in the flag.
Elementary School (and up)
Share these fantastically illustrated books about Martin Luther King, Jr with children ages 5 to 105.
I Have a Dream
Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Kadir Nelson’s gorgeous illustrations accompany an excerpt from Dr. King’s most famous speech. The paintings cover a broad range of images: from close ups of clasped hands, to views of the national landscape, to the crowd at the Washington Monument. The hardcover book includes a CD of the official recording and the entire speech is included at the end of the book. I find it impossible to listen to the speech without weeping; it’s an essential experience for everyone.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier
This is a great beginner’s guide to MLK. It’s informative but not overly long as some picture book biographies can be. It gives a solid introduction to King’s life and work and is beautifully illustrated. This would be a great choice for a kindergarten or first grade classroom.
Coretta Scott
by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Here is a wonderful, lyrical recounting of the civil rights leader and wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although Shange’s words bring to life Scott’s individuality, it is Kadir Nelson’s illustrations that really tell the story. An important addition to any classroom study of King.
Middle School (and up)
The following titles are a selection of picture books, a graphic novel and chapter book biography. With guidance, they can also be used for upper elementary students.
Martin Rising: Requiem For a King
by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This is a moving portrait of King told in a series of poems. Pinkney focuses on the last few months of King’s life but readers will get a sense of the civil rights leader as a complex individual. I highly recommend reading the verse out loud. In addition to extensive notes, timelines and sources at the end of the book, Scholastic has a useful discussion guide.
Also appropriate for upper elementary students.
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop : The Sanitation Strike of 1968
by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
In early 1968, two black sanitation workers were killed as a result of faulty machinery, leading to labor strikes. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came on to the scene to help several months later and delivered his last notable speech on April 3, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” Duncan narrates the story, through the voice of a 9 year old girl, with the text alternating between verse and prose. The writing is strong with historical details and sources are included.
Also appropriate for upper elementary students.
March On!: The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World
by Christine King Farris, illustrated by London Ladd
Christine King Farris recounts her memories surrounding the March on Washington and listening to her brother’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Reading Farris’ narrative gives children an intimate and emotional look at the writing and delivering of King’s speech. Ladd’s bold illustrations reflect both the seriousness and the excitement of the time.
Also appropriate for upper elementary students.
March
by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
Lewis, a congressman from Georgia is one of our greatest heroes of the Civil Rights Era. He was a leader of the era alongside King. This graphic novel trilogy is Lewis’ first hand account of his experiences during the civil rights movement and the “good trouble” he got up to. Lewis provides many personal details and focuses on the non-violent philosophy of the movement. Readers will be inspired to, in the words of Lewis, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”
Martin and Bobby: A Journey Toward Justice
by Claire Rudolf Murphy
Murphy’s fascinating double biography is told in two parts. Part one looks at the events of April 1968 and part two looks at the years 1925-1967, focusing on the event that led the two men to shape their philosophies and their growth as leaders. Readers will come away with a richer understanding, not just of the two men, but as to how their lives were deeply interwoven with each other and with the events of the mid-20th century.
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