In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his prolific work, we've compiled a list of books for all ages that reflect on and examine the life, death, and legacy of the civil rights leader.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
by Margaret McNamara; illustrated by Mike Gordon
Mrs. Connor's students at Robin Hill School share their dreams for the future after learning about the day that celebrates the life and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Doreen Rappaport; illustrated by Bryan Collier
Tells the story of Dr. King's life and includes quotes from his speeches and sermons.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace
by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack
Simple text and illustrations describe the revered civil rights pioneer's life and accomplishments.
Let the Children March
by Monica Clark-Robinson; illustrated by Frank Morrison
Under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, children and teenagers march against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.
I Have a Dream: The Story Behind Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Most Famous Speech
by Kerry A. Graves
Explains the meaning and historical context of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, also providing biographical information about Dr. King and discussing the Civil Rights Movement.
Dear Martin
by Nic Stone
Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they shape him.
Martin Rising: Requiem for a King
by Andrea Davis Pinkney; paintings by Brian Pinkney
In a rich embroidery of visions, musical cadence, and deep emotion, Andrea and Brian Pinkney convey the final months of Martin Luther King's life and his assassination -- through metaphor, spirituality, and multilayers of meaning.
Redemption: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last 31 Hours
by Joseph Rosenbloom
Chronicles the last 31 hours of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life as he seeks to revive the non-violent civil rights movement and push to end poverty in America.
The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age
by Patrick Parr
Chronicles King's earlier life when he was a student at Crozer Theological Seminary, an experienced that shaped him into the historical figure he would become.
The Awful Grace of God: Religious Terrorism, White Supremacy, and the Unsolved Murder of Martin Luther King Jr.
by Stuart Wexler and Larry Hancock
A comprehensive study on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the multi-year efforts of organizations like the Ku Klux Klan to stop the civil rights leader.
Death of a King: the real story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Year
by Tavis Smiley with David Ritz
A detailed chronicle of Dr. King's final year led to his assassination.
The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement
by Taylor Branch
A selection of the most important moments in her acclaimed book America in the King Years, this book focuses on essential and important moments in the 'King Era' of the Civil Rights Movement.