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Martin's
Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.
(6 copies)
by Doreen Rappaport
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Picture
book, ages 4 and older. In this elegant pictorial biography of
Martin Luther King Jr., author Doreen Rappaport combines her spare,
lyrical text with King's own words for an effective, age-appropriate
portrayal of one of the world's greatest civil rights leaders.
From King's youth, when he looked up to his preacher father and
vowed one day to "get big words, too," to his death
at a garbage workers' strike ("On his second day there, he
was shot. He died."), Rappaport imbues the story with reverence.
Acclaimed artist Bryan Collier depicts his subject with stunning
watercolor and collage illustrations, balancing glorious recreations
of stained glass windows with some of the more somber images of
peace marchers and the famous bus that pitched Rosa Parks into
the civil rights movement. A brief chronology and bibliography
provide additional resources for readers. Here is an exquisite
tribute to a world hero. --Emilie Coulter |
Non-fiction |
Develop critical
literacy by having your students share the story in literature
circles. After reading the story together, students can discuss
the issues surrounding Martin Luther King and Civil Rights. (The
link above is to an informative article on literature circles
and addresses why English language learners benefit from this
pedagogical approach.) |
