Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 1-3. From the Holiday House Reader series, this volume briefly introduces Martin Luther King Jr. as a civil rights leader. Adler points out not only King's childhood experiences with racism but also the values his parents taught him: self-respect, dignity in the face of injustice, and the power of ideas and words. This brief biography chronicles the main events of King's life and goes on to include his death and his legacy as "a powerful man of peace." Even in the small format of a beginning reader, Bootman's painterly illustrations convey the book's serious tone through the often grave expressions of the characters and the generally dark palette of colors. The book ends with a chronology and a bibliography. Since there's nothing childish about the approach of the text or the look of the illustrations, this book would be appropriate and appealing to somewhat older children who are reading below grade level. Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-A succinct introduction to the civil rights leader's life. Adler presents short, moving vignettes about the people and events that influenced the child and man: young King's sorrow when his white friends were no longer allowed to play with him because of his color, his father's refusal to purchase shoes when he was told to wait in the back of the store, and King's involvement as an adult in boycotts and freedom marches. Adler demonstrates that a good writer can tell an interesting and emotionally powerful story using simple vocabulary and short sentences. Bootman's full- and double-page realistic paintings help to fill in the details for the author's spare but well-chosen words. A good companion to Frances Ruffin's easy-reader Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington (Grosset & Dunlap, 2001).-Eunice Weech, M. L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The life and major accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including his marriage to Coretta Scott, his leadership during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, his I Have a Dream speech, and his assassination, are From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Martin Luther King Jr.s life and his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement are more than adequately described in this well-written easy-reader biography from the prolific author of the Picture Book Biography series and the Cam Jansen mysteries (see below). The text is written at the 2.9 grade level, with short sentences and large type on pastel-colored backgrounds (considered by many reading experts to be easier for new readers than stark white backgrounds). The first two chapters focus on Kings early life and the influence of his family, with some well-chosen, brief anecdotes that will be of particular interest to young readers. Subsequent chapters succinctly cover the Montgomery bus boycott and other civil rights marches and protests, leading to Kings legendary I Have a Dream speech in 1963 and his assassination, presented in a matter-of-fact way with no motive attached to the shooting or discussion of the assassin beyond his name. Bootmans (The Music in Derricks Heart, 2000, etc.) superb paintings add greatly to the titles merit, with excellent likenesses of King and other key figures. This biography will be welcomed in all libraries during Black History Month and for school reports, and it will also be useful for teen or adult beginning readers. (chronology, suggested reading) (Easy reader/biography. 7-9)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
