Born on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. He played a crucial role in advocating for racial equality and justice, leading various nonviolent protests and marches.
Through his leadership and the efforts of others in the civil rights movement, significant legislative achievements were made, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed nationally on the third Monday in January. The holiday was established to honor his contributions to the American civil rights movement and recognize the principles of equality, justice, and nonviolent activism he championed throughout his life.
We have several book recommendations for children and tweens to learn more about the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s contributions to the civil rights movement. If you are also interested in learning more, we have three recommendations for adults as well.
NOTE: Books are listed in order of age recommendations. Descriptions and age recommendations are provided by the publisher.
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Martin Luther King Jr. by María Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4-7
Little Martin grew up in a family of preachers, so maybe he'd become a great preacher, too. One day, a friend invited him to play at his house. Martin was shocked when his mother wouldn't let him in because he was black. That day, he realized there was something terribly unfair going on.
The critically acclaimed, best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS biography series for kids explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. They all achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.
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Be a King by Carole Boston Weatherford
Ages 4-8
See a class of young students as they begin a school project inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and learn to follow his example as he dealt with adversity and never lost hope that a future of equality and justice would soon be a reality.
Featuring a dual narrative of the key moments of Dr. King's life alongside a modern class as the students learn about him, Carole Weatherfor's poetic text encapsulates the moments that readers today can reenact in their own lives.
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Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
Ages 4-8
This Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Honor, and New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children's Book picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words.
Doreen Rappaport uses quotes from some of his most beloved speeches to tell the story of his life and his work in a simple, direct way. Illustrator Bryan Collier's stunning collage art combines remarkable watercolor paintings with vibrant patterns and textures. A timeline and a list of additional books and websites help make this a standout biography of Dr. King.
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The Rabbi and the Reverend by Audrey Ades
Ages 4-10 (e-book)
When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington, he did not stand alone. He was joined by Rabbi Joachim Prinz, a refugee from Nazi Germany, who also addressed the crowd.
Though Rabbi Prinz and Dr. King came from very different backgrounds, they were united by a shared belief in justice. And they knew that remaining silent in the face of injustice was wrong. Together, they spoke up and fought for a better future.
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We Dream a World by Yolanda Renee King
Ages 4-8
The granddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King delivers a stirring tribute to her grandparents that speaks to children everywhere about her hopes for a new future.
Although Yolanda Renee King never met her grandfather, the teenager is one of the countless activists inspired by his actions. As a young activist devoted to fighting racial injustice and gun violence in schools, that's a dream that fuels her further.
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We March by Shane W. Evans
Ages 4-8
Illustrations and brief text bring to life the events of the 1963 march in Washington, D.C., where the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a historic speech.
We March was one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2012 and is an important story about the African American civil rights movement.
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Coretta's Journey by Alice Faye Duncan
Ages 7-10
Who was Coretta Scott King? Her black-veiled image at the funeral of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was moving and iconic. This book introduces readers to the woman behind the veil — a girl full of spunk and pluck, bravery and grit."
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Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop by Alice Faye Duncan
Ages 7-10
This award-winning historical fiction picture book presents the story of nine-year-old Lorraine Jackson, who in 1968 witnessed the Memphis sanitation strike — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final stand for justice before his assassination — when her father, a sanitation worker, participated in the protest.
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A Place to Land by Barry Wittenstein
Ages 7-10
Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. He replied that it is knowing where to end. "It's terrible to be circling up there without a place to land."
Barry Wittenstein teams up with legendary illustrator Jerry Pinkney to reflect on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the movement that it galvanized.
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Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round by Kathlyn J. Kirkwood
Ages 8-12
This brilliant memoir-in-verse tells the moving story of how a nation learned to celebrate a hero. Through years of protests and petitions, Kathlyn's story highlights the foot soldiers who fought to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday.
Deftly weaving together monumental historical events with a heartfelt coming-of-age story and in-depth information on law-making, Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round is the perfect example of how history can help inform the present.
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Martin Luther King Jr. by James Buckey Jr.
Ages 8-12
This graphical biography tells the story of the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement. From his childhood in Atlanta to his rise as an international icon of human rights and a fiery orator who refused to back down in the face of adversity, King's life story is an ongoing source of inspiration.
With full-color illustrations and a historically accurate narrative, Martin Luther King Jr.: Voice for Equality! will inform and entertain readers of all ages.
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What Is the Civil Rights Movement? by Sherri L. Smith
Ages 8-12
Even though slavery ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn't go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change.
Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people on the frontlines of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
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What Was the March on Washington? by Kathleen Krull
Ages 8-12
On August 28, 1963, more than 200,000 people gathered in Washington, DC, to demand equal rights for all races. There, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, and this peaceful protest spurred the momentous civil rights laws of the mid-1960s.
With black-and-white artwork throughout and sixteen pages of photographs, the March is brought to life.
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Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader
Ages 8-12
An introduction to the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., including how he organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott and African American people across the country in support of the right to vote, desegregation, and other fundamental civil rights.
With clearly written text that explains this tumultuous time in history and 80 black-and-white illustrations, this Who Was? celebrates the vision and the legacy of a remarkable man.
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Alabama V. King by Dan Abrams
Adults
The defense lawyer for Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights heroes reveals the story of the historic trial that made Dr. King a national hero.
Fred D. Gray was just 24 years old when he became the defense lawyer for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Alabama v. King captures a pivotal moment in the fight for equality through the eyes of the lawyer who later became the chief counsel for the protest movement.
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The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Clayborne Carson
Adults
With knowledge, spirit, good humor, and passion, this history-making autobiography brings to life a remarkable man whose thoughts and actions speak to our most burning contemporary issues and still inspire the desires, hopes, and dreams of us all.
Written in his own words, the book paints a rich and moving portrait of a people, a time, and a nation in the face of powerful change.
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The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs
Adults
Much has been written about Berdis Baldwin's son James, Alberta King's son Martin Luther, and Louise Little's son Malcolm. But virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them.
In her groundbreaking and essential debut, scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of America's most pivotal heroes.
