Looking for essential children’s books about Martin Luther King, Jr. for kids of all ages? Look no further. From picture books to graphic novels, here are some of the best books about MLK!
Prejudice and racism leave indelible scars
I was in Mr. Terry’s seventh-grade civics class when I found it. Just weeks away from my Bat Mitzvah, I walked into the crowded classroom, headed to my desk, and sat down to find a note waiting for me. It was a folded-up piece of paper, and it had my name, Lauren, scribbled on the front. I remember smiling as I opened it up because what kid doesn’t love getting notes, waiting with anticipation to discover the sender? But when the paper was spread out in front of me, I inhaled sharply. I vividly remember trying to fight back the tears that flooded my eyes, the fear that paralyzed my body. I recall my hands shaking as I tried desperately to catch my best friend’s attention, all while wondering which of my other classmates were laughing at me as I suffered.
What was inside this awful note?
A crude, black swastika.
As a Jewish child, I grew up learning about the evils of religious persecution and racial discrimination, but this was the first time it hunted me down and stared me in the face, the first time I was personally affected by such despicable hatred. This experience left an indelible scar on my heart, right before the momentous day I was meant to rejoice at becoming a Jewish young woman. It was on this day I truly understood that people would engage in abhorrent behavior simply because they don’t like how you look or agree with what you believe.
Books help us bridge divides
Sharing books has become a passion of mine. I love stories that help us bridge divides and teach kids that we are all one and the same — all of us human beings with beating hearts and big dreams and a thirst to learn and grow. It has also become important to me to share books showcasing the dangers of hatred — and how love, communication, and understanding can help assuage this dark stain on our world.
And so it is that I have always had a deep appreciation for children’s books about Martin Luther King, Jr.
Every time I read about or watched his powerful “I have a dream” speech following that hateful act in civics class, I believed he was also speaking to me, a young Jewish girl seeking to understand why someone would want to hurt me because of my religion, just as people wanted to hurt him because of his skin color.
I hoped his vision included a world where black and white children played together alongside children of all other races and religions, too. After all, one of the core tenets of Judaism is to “love thy neighbor as thyself,” a commandment that comes with no qualifications or asterisks.
MLK’s words and brave actions in the face of extreme danger gave me hope at a time when I was terrified, hope that we would all — White, Black, Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, Gay, Straight, you name it — find a way to love one another wholly and unconditionally. His words continue to bring me hope today.
While many believe we have made significant progress, racial and religious discrimination still lurk behind dark corners. It is sickening. Thus, it is also vitally important that we use children’s books about Martin Luther King, Jr. to celebrate his legacy and practice his teachings.
Why?
Children’s books about Martin Luther King Jr. inspire all kids
MLK is a hero to us all, and his legacy will continue to motivate future generations to carry out his great vision. His mighty words can find a home within every person’s heart and soul. They have the ability to inspire each and every one of us to reject prejudice and strive for a society where equality, compassion, and respect reign supreme.
If you do one thing on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday or during Black History Month this February, I encourage you to read a children’s book about Martin Luther King, Jr. with your children and students, and make sure to share joyful Black children’s books, too.
There are phenomenal picture books about MLK’s life that can be discussed with kids of all ages, and I cannot stress how important it is to share this one lesson with the next generation: Hate is a learned behavior. Only when we listen to one another and embrace our glorious differences can we eradicate hate and replace it with love.
We hope you enjoy these remarkable children’s books about Martin Luther King, Jr. as much as we do.
Frequently asked questions
Read books, of course! Make it a mission to read picture books about Martin Luther King, Jr. with your kids on his birthday and during Black History Month. But also make sure to share books that celebrate Black excellence and MLK’s legacy. He inspired generations of men and women, all of whom have made phenomenal contributions to our society.
Absolutely! Check out this list of Essential Kids’ Books for Black History Month, and even more Black History Children’s Books right here!
There are so many good ones, but I love As Good as Anybody, featured below I love the parallels between Black men and women and the Jewish people. This story, about how two men came together as victims of discrimination, formed an unbreakable friendship, and used their voices to fight for peace and social justice, is phenomenal.
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We love these children’s books about Martin Luther King, Jr.!
The fabulous Who Was? chapter books have expanded to board books for babies and toddlers! In this fabulous board book biography, MLK’s life is written succinctly and appropriately for our youngest readers. Honoring his life and accomplishments as a reverend, an activist and a leader, this wonderful children’s book about Martin Luther King, Jr. captures the spirit of this remarkable hero and introduces little ones to the civil rights moment in age-appropriate language.
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On August 28, 1963, MLK stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. during the March on Washington. It was there he delivered one of the most powerful speeches our nation has ever witnessed. His words from this monumental speech are paired with Nelson’s exquisite paintings, making this a magnificent book to be treasured, memorized, and honored for generations to come.
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I love reading this beautiful book with my youngest students, for it imparts all of the values MLK stood for, without going into the more painful details of his journey. This book encourages a new generation of young people to be kings by emulating MLK’s remarkable character traits and actions. The lovely illustrations show kids how they can reenact his teachings in their own lives by always standing up for peace, breaking the chains of ignorance, and stamping out hatred by putting a foot down and standing tall.
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We all know the story of Martin Luther King, Jr., a Black boy who grew up to witness horrifying racial discrimination in America. He became a minister like his father before him and subsequently rose to become one of the most visible and vital voices of the Civil Rights Movement. Abraham grew up years earlier in Europe, and as a Jewish man, he too faced atrocious persecution. Abraham fled to America, where he became a rabbi, and like MLK, he became a voice for equality. This is the story of how these two remarkable men came together as victims of discrimination, formed an unbreakable friendship, and used their voices to fight for peace and social justice. An extraordinary story, and a favorite to read to tweens.
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Through his own famous quotes, this beautiful picture book brings MLK to life. Beginning with his life as a young boy and his vow to one day get “big words” like his father, to his death at a garbage worker’s strike, this biography is a fabulous introduction to one of the most prominent voices of the Civil Rights Movement. This is one of my favorite children’s books about Martin Luther King, Jr. to read with early elementary students, for its simple narrative doesn’t stray from the gritty facts and instead hits all the right notes for younger readers. Age appropriate, powerful, and elegant.
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We absolutely love the Ordinary People Change the World series for the way it tackles big stories and remarkable heroes in a kid-friendly, accessible manner. Through comic illustrations and word bubbles, this story gives voice to MLK as a child, then subsequently showcases his journey to changing the American landscape through peaceful protests and powerful words. These biography books for kids are a beloved series among my students!
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In this powerful book, readers are given an inside glimpse into the makings of MLK’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. MLK believed that harder than the beginning of a sermon was knowing where to end it: “It’s terrible to be circling up there without a place to land,” he once said. Finding a place to land proved challenging for MLK on the night before his iconic speech, and the famous phrase, “I have a dream,” wasn’t even written down for inclusion in his words. Join MLK and his team of advisors and fellow speech writers as they prepared for this momentous day in American History. This is a fabulous children’s book about Martin Luther King, Jr. for the unique perspective it provides about his famous speech!
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Did you know that Anne Frank and Martin Luther King, Jr. were born in the same year, 1929? Though they lived across the ocean from one another, both faced hatred, prejudice, and violence. Yet despite the cruelty, they never stopped searching for light in the darkness, no matter how bleak their respective circumstances got. We love the way this stunning book draws parallels between these two heroes. Though their voices were silenced way too early, the book concludes with a powerful message: “Love is stronger than hate. Kindness can heal the world.” A meaningful and powerful read for your older kids.
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This series is phenomenal for your readers who have made the leap from picture books to chapter books! Written in simple text with just over 100 pages, this is an accessible biography of MLK. From organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott when he was just 25 to his pivotal roles in desegregation and the right to vote, this story gives elementary school readers a great overview of his remarkable life. It does a wonderful job of highlighting MLK’s accomplishments and conveying his attempts to maintain nonviolent and peaceful tactics despite the hatred and threats that followed him wherever he went.
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If your child loves poetry books, this is a captivating children’s book about Martin Luther King, Jr. that you don’t want to miss! Written in verse, this is the story of MLK’s final months, divided into three different sections (Daylight, Darkness and Dawn). While the poems begin with a broad focus as garbage collectors fight discriminatory policies in Memphis, they eventually zoom in to Martin’s final speeches and moments with friends. Moving, emotional, and incredibly powerful, this tribute to MLK begs to be read aloud, pored over, and pondered year after year.
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One little girl witnessed the Memphis Sanitation Strike when she was just 9 years old and participated in the protest with her mother and father. Whole families sacrificed and suffered to stand up against the unsafe conditions for the sanitation workers, and Martin Luther King, Jr. was called upon to help with the strike. Written in a striking combination of poetry and prose, this stunning story shares one child’s notable and uncommon perspective of the strike.
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This great series celebrates trailblazers past and present, from around the world. How did a boy who was not allowed to go to school end up giving one of the most iconic speeches of all time, standing before nearly 250,000 people? How did a child who was not allowed to go to a movie with white people blaze such a vital trail? This is another great chapter book for growing readers, filled with black-and-white illustrations and terrific facts about MLK’s life and legacy. This series is a bit longer than the Who Was books, making them ideal for third-grade readers.
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If you have graphic novel lovers in your home, they will love this graphic biography of MLK! With its full-color illustrations and factual text written in a kid-friendly manner, readers will love learning about MLK’s life and his refusal to back down from his fight for civil rights in this dynamic read. A great blend of historical context, biographical facts, and an entertaining format!
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RELATED: Do you have big kids getting ready to read at your house? Don’t miss our fantastic list of the best early reader books!
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