Martin Luther King Jr. Day is coming up soon! Now is the perfect time to put some children’s books on hold at your library. I had the privilege of visiting MLK’s birthplace and the adjacent national historic site in downtown Atlanta a couple of years ago. The museum was very well done, and touring his original family home and the church where he (and his father) pastored was fascinating. If you are in Atlanta and have the opportunity to visit, I would highly, highly recommend it.
Children’s books about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life can be a dime a dozen. The ones I have included in this list are books that 1) I have actually read to my children and 2) I would read to my children again! I hope they are helpful as you remember the world-changing work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive, printable Black History Month book list, you can go here!
If you’d like a list of posts about different topics in black history, you can go here!
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is an extremely readable introduction to the life and times of Martin Luther King, Jr. I also appreciate the supplementary book list included at the end if you’d like to dig deeper. If you are only reading one book for MLK Day, I would recommend this one.
I Have a Dream
When I was in college, there was always a large MLK Day service in the chapel of our college. A local minister memorized the “I Have a Dream” speech and delivered it flawlessly in very similar tone and voicing to the original. I highly recommend you either listen to his original speech or read this book to hear the moving genius of his incredible words.
My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Written by MLK’s son, who was only 10 at the time of his father’s assassination, I love this unique, personal perspective on MLK’s life. I particularly appreciate the fact that he discusses the hard parts — like people making fun of him for sharing a name with his dad and bullying him for his father’s beliefs. I think the illustrations in this book are also really excellent.
Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song
Noted gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. came together memorably on August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial when he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. She sang at the event, and their two legacies were forever intertwined because of the March on Washington.
I’ve Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What I appreciate about this book is that it includes a great deal of general Civil Rights history. There is also a helpful chronology of the Civil Rights Movement included that puts MLK’s life and work in context of the bigger picture of the Civil Rights Movement, including discussion of events like Brown v. Board of Education, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?: A Who Was? Board Book
Do you have really little ones at home who aren’t going to be quite old enough for some of these longer picture books? This is the perfect, bite-sized board book for 1- to 3-year-olds that will introduce the very basics of MLK’s life to that age group. It’s never too early to start learning!
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
If you have a slightly older child ready for chapter books, we always love the “Who Was” series for early biographies. This goes a bit more in depth about MLK’s life, and its short chapters also make it a great read-aloud. Our family often listens to these Who Was books on audio, especially during afternoon rest time.
Martin Rising: Requiem for a King
Brian and Andrea Pinkney have done it again with this unique collection of poems about the last months of MLK’s life. The book is divided into three sections (Daylight, Darkness, and Dawn), but I particularly love that it ends with the hope of Easter. This one would be particularly great for a classroom.
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop
This historical fiction picture book presents a very specific time in MLK’s life — his last days in Memphis. A young girl who participated in the Memphis Sanitation Strike of 1968 tells the story. She vividly remembers his death the day after preaching his final sermon and writes from that point of view.
The Cart That Carried Martin
If you tour the MLK National Historic Site in Atlanta, you can still see this very cart set up as an exhibit in the museum. This is probably my favorite of all of the books listed because of its reverent tribute to MLK’s simple message yet world-changing life.
I hope this list of Martin Luther King children’s books is helpful as you pass on his legacy to the next generation of young learners. Happy reading and happy MLK Day!