Martin Luther King, Jr. Day can be a difficult subject to introduce to young readers since it encompasses such large themes. Yet we receive many parent, caregiver and teacher requests for this vital topic around this time of year. Here are some picture books I would recommend to address the themes of unity, peace and diversity that MLK promoted.
Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz: Communication is the key to bridging cultural gaps, and this bright, colorful book teaches kids (and parents, through handy phonetic pronunciation) 11 different ways to say peace. Kids of many nations are depicted in simple, but not reductive, backgrounds that illustrate their cultures, and the text's repetitive nature makes it accessible to the youngest readers.
My People by Langston Hughes; photographed by Charles R. Smith Jr.: Smith uses a beautiful set of sepia-toned photographs to animate this Hughes' poem celebrating African-American heritage. At a sparse 33 words, Hughes' language highlights the vast range within his people. Smith reflects that by portraying memorable and different shades, ages and sizes of black people.
A Rainbow All around Me by Sandra L. Pinkney; photographs by Myles C. Pinkney: This attractive book features a host of fun kid faces from a variety of backgrounds, while also teaching about expression through color and emotion. Its repeating mantra "colors are you, colors are me" and positive ending with paint-splattered kids embraces diversity in the way MLK envisioned.
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