Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Who Was Martin Luther King Jr is an important informational book for a wide range of young readers. Any of the books in the Who Was/Is series provide vital information in a unique way. The engaging biographies introduce children to a wide range of influential figures in history like Martin Luther King Jr. Being short and concise, the books create a simple format for children to easily read along and learn without feeling overwhelmed. The illustrations in the book make the stories visually appealing therefore enhancing the child's chance of retaining the information being read. I loved these books as a child because they taught me history in such an effortless way.

Who Was Martin Luther King Jr. is a great chapter book for students to read to learn all about Martin Luther King Jr. The book describes the life of Martin Luther King from his birth to his death. It starts off by describing "the system" that African Americans had to live by in the 1920s-60s and how his father never accepted it. Bonnie Bader does a great job of describing not only Martin Luther Kings life, but also the life of every African American during the 1950s and 60s and the struggles that they had to face every day. Bader writes in a child-friendly language that educates readers on this particular time in history that also recognizes the overall vision that Martin Luther King Jr. had and the legacy he lived up to. The book is show more broken up into 13 chapters that each describe a different movement or significant time in Martin Luther King's life. The book is also filled with illustrations to help readers visualize the text. I would definitely recommend this book to a student who is doing a project or presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. because of how informational, accurate, and insightful it is. show less

This book does an awesome job in explaining and breaking down to children the life of Martin Luther King Jr. It introduces King in a way where kids are personally being introduced to Martin himself as they read through each page of his life.

This book was very good. I have always enjoyed Martin Luther King Jr. Stories. Two reasons I enjoyed this particular book was first, the illustration emphasized the story and strengthened its meaning. Pictures of people protesting for equality and their emotions depicted within the illustration, as well as the picture of King giving his speech, leave a powerful impact on the reader. The writing also contributed to the story. Through the clear, organized and engaging writing used, the reader is able to clearly understand the steps Martin Luther King Jr. took leading up to the day of his speech as well as gather an understanding of the emotions, thoughts and actions people were taking to support the action and hardships of discrimination. show more After reading about a man who gave his life for the freedom of his own people, the reader can walk away knowing that those who lived through this time period in history were strong individuals who risked their lives for the better of our world today. show less

Reading Level: 9-10

The autobiography, edited by Clayborne Carson, is a collection of King's writings, speeches, and interviews. It provides a unique perspective on King's life, from his childhood to his emergence as a national leader. The book also explores his relationships, struggles, and triumphs, offering a nuanced understanding of his character and legacy.

This is a very popular series in my classroom. These biographies are accessible for second grade readers. The book begins with Martin as a boy growing up under the Jim Crow Laws. The harsh south was hard for Martin to grow up in and he often questioned whether moving North would make life easier. He met his wife Corretta and began working as a pastor. During his sermons and preached about peace and finding ways to peacefully end the horrible treatment black Americans were facing. The books includes more information on freedom riders, Rosa Parks, and MLK's famous speeches. It also talks about the other battles he fought such as fighting for poverty stricken Americans. The books ends with the idea that MLK's dream lives on through our show more actions.

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