Review: Martin Luther King Jr. (Little People, Big Deams)

The Little People, Big Dreams series delivers mini biographies for kids. Each book provides children an opportunity to learn about important people in our world and in our history in an engaging way with simple text and lots of bright colours.

I’ve read a few of these amazing books (Maya Angelou, Stephen Hawking, Maria Montessori).

But this one — Martin Luther King Jr. — is an extremely important read.

You’ll learn about the day Martin, as a young boy, went to a friend’s house and was told he wasn’t allowed to stay and play because of the colour of his skin. You’ll learn about how Martin and his friend had to go to different schools because of the colour of their skin.

But Martin believed he shouldn’t accept these things that were happening in his life. He studied hard, he learnt many things and he spoke out about the injustices he saw happening around him.

When Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus because of the colour of her skin, Martin helped inspire action against this horrible injustice, and so began the first major civil rights action in America.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a speaker of powerful words. He dreamed big and he shared his dreams with his country and the world. He inspired action, hope and belief — belief that no one should be treated differently based on their skin colour.

This is a book for kids, and it’s been written with great care. All the important messages are included, and there is additional information at the back of the book, but it is sensitive to the fact that the audience is children.

Kids need to read this book. Everyone needs to read this book. It’s a brilliant starting point for kids to find out more, to spark curiosity, leading to questions and discussions with family and classrooms.

We can’t forget our past and we can’t ignore our present if we want to change the future.

Title: Martin Luther King Jr.
Author: Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrator: Mai Ly Degnan
Publisher: Francis Lincoln, $15.99
Publication Date: 7 January 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780711245679
For ages: 4 - 6
Type: Picture Book