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As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, let's all be reminded that there's always time to find peace. When bad things like racial injustices occur, our children won't always understand what's happening, but we can teach them how the good of people can prevail. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, show your children how Dr. King's vision provided a chance for peace. There are always heroes in our midst who are the voices of reason, compassion, and love.
“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the perfect time to get the message across that when there’s injustice, we need to stand up to it,” California middle school teacher Steven Friedman told Today. Friedman, a teacher in a school that is mostly white, continued by noting how important it is to discuss Dr. King’s message. “It’s also a chance to share a message about the beauty of diversity — something to remember every day.”
With all of this in mind, sharing a book about Martin Luther King Jr. with our kids can help us through these conversations. Here are seven books that explore Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and his message of equality and respect for human dignity.
The life of MLK: Martin Luther King Jr. biographies
Children can and should learn about everyday heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Although he was a magnanimous leader who appeared larger than life, let's show children how they, too, can rise to greatness.
1. Who Was Martin Luther King Jr. (board book)
Writer Lisbeth Kaiser and illustrator Stanley Chow take toddlers on a journey of discovering how Dr. King became such a huge figure. The clear illustrations and the simple text allow young children to learn the essentials of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. (picture book)
This biography introduces 2- through 4-year-olds to the infamous preacher and activist. As the series Mini Movers and Shakers always does so well, the picture book highlights Dr. King’s message of nonviolent civil disobedience to fight for change and equality.
3. The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.: A Biography Book for New Readers (chapter book)
For our bigger kids, this interactive biography details Dr. King’s life in a dynamic way. The graphs, illustrations, and interesting facts promise to engage your young reader all the way to the end.
Books to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
From family to family, celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is going to look different for all. For some, it's a day of service, and for others, it's reading books or watching movies about Dr. King and the civil rights movement.
“My parents would actually play the record, ‘I Have a Dream,’ we would actually make a birthday cake, and we would actually sing happy birthday,” expressed mom Takisha Brown to WTOP of Washington News, as she explained how she also made this her children’s tradition.
As you consider what books to read with your kids on this MLK Day, know that you might be beginning a family tradition that can be passed down from generation to generation.
4. I Am Brave: A Little Book About Martin Luther King Jr. (picture book)
The I Am Brave series shares tidbits of King’s life that enabled him to become a brave leader, and also profiles other individuals who have paved a way for those to follow.
5. When Martin Luther King Jr. Wore Roller Skates (picture book)
This book gives us a glimpse into who King was as a child — a kid who roller-skated and played basketball. These anecdotes of King's childhood help reveal the smaller experiences that led him to become a leader. At the close of the book is a glossary of terms and various ways to teach your child about King.
Celebration of activism: More books to read on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Aside from talking about the honorable Dr. King, his birthday can also be used as a way of discussing leadership and activism with your children. Here are books that highlight these topics:
6. Leaders: My First Leaders (board book)
This book captures the lives of an array of leaders, so your child can begin learning about the good things that people have done and how those leaders have impacted others in positive ways.
7. Sometimes People March (picture book)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is known for marching and protesting, but what exactly does that look like and mean? This book explains to preschoolers and kindergartners why people march and why they choose to take a stand against something they view as wrong.
