Martin Luther King Jr.

February 1, 2013

Gr 4 Up-Relatives share memories of the Civil Rights leader in this scrapbook-style tribute. Among those who contributed reminiscences about "ML" (as he was called by his family) are his mother, father, and brother (all posthumously); his sister, Christine King Farris; his nieces, Alveda King and Angela Farris Watkins (who edited the collection); and his nephew, Derek King. Of special interest to readers will be writings from King's teenaged great-nieces Farris Christine Watkins, Victoria King, and Venus King. Students will have previously heard many of these stories in picture books by Christine King Farris and Angela Farris Watkins; what makes this collection truly significant are the photos, which are referred to in an editor's note as "treasured keepsakes of the King family." How amazing to be able to see perhaps the 20th century's most influential leader buckling his daughter's shoes, or leaning lazily against a car while hanging out with his brother. But thanks to Watkins and others in Dr. King's extended family, young people can now view this larger-than-life figure as a real person. Short biographies of the contributors are appended.-Sam Bloom, Blue Ash Library, Cincinnati, OH

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2012
Family and friends remember Dr. King as a role model and dedicate themselves to his mission. Watkins, Dr. King's niece, has assembled their writings and excerpts from their speeches. All pay tribute to his spirit, abiding faith and dedication to the cause of civil rights, and they affirm their own commitment to "following the path he walked," as his nephew, Derek B. King, states. King's father's remarks are excerpted from his autobiography. The chapter for Dr. King's mother quotes from and reproduces a loving letter he wrote to her in 1948. There is no entry from Coretta Scott King. Those who knew him personally consistently refer to him as playful, loving and caring. This is, however, not a biography; his campaign for civil rights is not specifically detailed, nor is there any discussion of his assassination or funeral. Similarly, the many handsomely reproduced and arranged photographs depict the Kings at family events and gatherings. The concluding chapter showcases the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial on the National Mall. This attractive title is infused with a dominant aura of faith and devotion to God's work; it should be useful in Sunday school settings and as a pictorial supplement. (foreword by Andrew Young, afterword of beatitudes, brief biographies of contributors, index) (Essays. 12-18)

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February 1, 2013
Grades 5-8 In this large, handsome photo-essay filled with full-page portraits, family members across generations and a few close friends remember the man they knew as M.L. The editor is Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece, who wrote My Uncle Martin's Big Heart (2010) for younger readers. Here, she shares the comments of those who knew her uncle, and she also draws on letters, interviews, and personal accounts. His sister remembers his childhood; as a boy, he was electrified by Gandhi's teachings, and he started college at 15. A letter to his mother shows their family's closeness, as does a photo of him with nephews and nieces. His daughter's comment captures the tragedy: People often make comparisons between my way of speaking and my father's . . . . I was only five when Daddy was assassinated. The accompanying photo of King buckling her shoe is heartbreaking. There are no suggested resources, but the combination of intimacy and politics will drive readers to find out more on their own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)