As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, let's all be reminded that there's always time to find peace. When bad things like racial injustices occur, our children won't always understand what's happening, but we can teach them how the good of people can prevail. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, show your children how Dr. King's vision provided a chance for peace. There are always heroes in our midst who are the voices of reason, compassion, and love.
“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the perfect time to get the message across that when there’s injustice, we need to stand up to it,” California middle school teacher Steven Friedman told Today. Friedman, a teacher in a school that is mostly white, continued by noting how important it is to discuss Dr. King’s message. “It’s also a chance to share a message about the beauty of diversity — something to remember every day.”
With all of this in mind, sharing a book about Martin Luther King Jr. with our kids can help us through these conversations. Here are seven books that explore Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and his message of equality and respect for human dignity.
The life of MLK: Martin Luther King Jr. biographies
Celebration of activism: More books to read on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Aside from talking about the honorable Dr. King, his birthday can also be used as a way of discussing leadership and activism with your children. Here are books that highlight these topics:
6. Leaders: My First Leaders (board book)
This book captures the lives of an array of leaders, so your child can begin learning about the good things that people have done and how those leaders have impacted others in positive ways.
7. Sometimes People March (picture book)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is known for marching and protesting, but what exactly does that look like and mean? This book explains to preschoolers and kindergartners why people march and why they choose to take a stand against something they view as wrong.
