author: Doreen Rappaport
illustrator: Bryan Collier
genre: Biography
summary: This book is the winner of many awards and is a perfect introduction for small children to the complicated life of Dr. King. It begins by showing Martin as a boy and the positive influence both his parents had on him, as well as the unfair segregation laws he had to deal with growing up in the south. The author shows how Dr. King influenced people to stand up for their rights without using violence even when others used violence against him. It offers the facts about his life in a way children can understand and the pictures are very powerful.
grade level: This book is appropriate for children in preschool through third grade.
comments: Children are very interested in learning about real people and this book sparks many questions and important discussions. By introducing Martin as a boy, children can easily relate to him and gain a better understanding of what life was like during this part of history and why he wanted things to change. The book stresses using words instead of violence to solve conflicts which is a topic that is relevant in every classroom. I highly recommend this book but be prepared to answer some challenging questions from your students.
1 comment:
This is a book that I have had in the classroom for a while, and children of all ages seem to be drawn to the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. I think this book is an excellent representation of what has happened on a level children can understand. I have used this book with first grade and older, and I think this book is appropriate for pre-K and up.
Post a Comment