Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford, James E. Ransome, Hardcover

Publishers Weekly

10/30/2017
Weatherford (In Your Hands) and Ransome (The Nutcracker in Harlem) show readers how lessons from the life of Martin Luther King Jr., translated into simple maxims, remain relevant. Alternating between decisive moments in King’s life and a contemporary classroom preparing to celebrate the holiday honoring him, Weatherford assures readers, “You can be a King.” One spread shows King giving his historic speech at the Lincoln Memorial (“You can be a King. Have a dream. Make yours great enough to grow into”), followed by vignettes of a child in a wheelchair making cupcakes for the celebration. The concept isn’t entirely successful: the classroom scenes, rendered in a cartoony sketchbook aesthetic against white backgrounds, feel forced and stagey. But the historical scenes, painted in Ransome’s signature thick, saturated style, are infused with a powerful sense of narrative. King himself is absent in one of the most stirring images: an empty bus during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The green, riderless seats affirm the King quotation that opens the book: “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. (Jan.)

From the Publisher

"While the book is accessible as an inspiring primer on social justice and taking action, it also challenges more sophisticated readers to make connections between the art, the text, Dr. King’s life, the civil rights movement at large, and the continuing struggle to affect change. . . .This book is sure to spark discussion and empower readers of all ages." - Starred review, School Library Journal

"Thoughtful paintings of moving scenes are paired with brief, motivational reflections that evoke all the sentiment and fervor of the American civil rights movement." - Foreword Review

"The book manages to make essential lessons in civic responsibility accessible to the very young reader." - Booklist

"The historical scenes, painted in Ransome’s signature thick, saturated style, are infused with a powerful sense of narrative." - Publishers Weekly

"Bold, honest, informative, and unforgettable." - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on VOICE OF FREEDOM: FRANNIE LOU HAMER

"Told in the first person from Hamer’s own perspective, this lyrical text in verse emphasizes the activist’s perseverance and courage, as she let her booming voice be heard." - starred review, School Library Journal on VOICE OF FREEDOM: FRANNIE LOU HAMER

"Caldecott Honor winner Weatherford has rendered Hamer’s voice so precisely that it is like sitting at her knee as she tells her story." - starred review, Bookist on VOICE OF FREEDOM: FRANNIE LOU HAMER

"Visceral, intimate and plainly told, this story is sure to move young children." - The New York Times Book Review on WORDS SET ME FREE

"Ransome’s acrylic and oil paintings combine striking naturalism with a palette of inky greens and blues." - starred review, Publishers Weekly on WORDS SET ME FREE

Children's Literature - Susan Treadway

You can be a King,” this book asserts, as it presents practical ways individuals young and old can serve their communities—at school, in the workplace, while traveling, during daily activities, and in relationships. The text is geared for elementary students, in bold font and plain language, yet concepts are more complex and presented to build upon each other. A large assortment of social injustices is presented. Each has a dedicated page-spread, to emphasize the importance of each one. Multimedia illustrations created with acrylics, colored pencils, oils, and gouache bring Dr. King’s biography to life. Each declaration gives instructions to new generations in strong language. For instance, young King’s extended family are shown in framed portraits on the wall of his childhood home as a reminder to readers to keep the faith of one’s ancestors. There’s a Dr. King “Wall of Justice” poster as groups of kids prepare for an upcoming school rally, reminding readers that people need to admit when they’re wrong. Students are shown saying “I’m sorry” in difficult situations in their class. Morehouse College, where King went to school, is a backdrop for students breaking the chains of ignorance by learning as much as they can. Another spread features King and his future wife Coretta Scott in a lovely park. The school kids make more posters for their important rally. Sing a song of freedom as much as possible, stamp out hatred, and know that bigotry hurts. Dr. King delivers his famous “I Have a Dream Speech” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. “You can be a King. Have a dream. Make yours great enough to grow into.” A Civil Rights March, the Poor People’s Campaign, and a March on Washington for jobs and freedom are also featured as the movement grows. Readers are reminded: “Set your sights on the mountaintop. Climb a little higher every day.” As the students’ rally gets underway, additional humanitarian issues are featured, including fair housing, equal rights, poverty, and against war. An extensive “Author’s Note” provides key background details about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King for readers to explore critical themes. Reviewer: Susan Treadway; Ages 4 to 8.

School Library Journal

★ 11/01/2017
K-Gr 3—In this book inspired by the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Weatherford and Ransome offer advice to a new generation of change-makers. In each spread, Weatherford repeats the refrain "You can be a King" and encourages young readers to continue Dr. King's work by taking such actions as getting a good education, standing up to bullies, believing in important causes, doing one's best, having a dream, and helping others. Each piece of advice alludes to Dr. King's life, and in some cases, recalls his speeches and writing. Ransome's art, rendered in acrylics, colored pencils, oils, and gouache, adds depth to the deceptively simple text. The illustrations alternate between full spreads depicting important events from Dr. King's life and the civil rights movement and a contemporary classroom in white space, in which a diverse group of children paint a mural of Dr. King and prepare their own march for social justice. There is a shift in the style of the art here as well; the historical scenes maintain a serious tone, while the contemporary scenes evoke a more childlike quality. An author's note provides a brief biography of Dr. King and also offers insight into both Weatherford's text as well as many of the historical moments captured in Ransome's illustrations. As such, while the book is accessible as an inspiring primer on social justice and taking action, it also challenges more sophisticated readers to make connections between the art, the text, Dr. King's life, the civil rights movement at large, and the continuing struggle to affect change. VERDICT A first purchase, this book is sure to spark discussion and empower readers of all ages.—Lauren Strohecker, McKinley Elementary School, Elkins Park, PA

Kirkus Reviews

2017-10-16
This book endeavors to connect children with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by encouraging them to "be a King."The title page depicts a group of racially diverse students with one disabled child (there is no visible religious diversity in this image, though there is some later on) as they stream into school. From there, spreads alternate between scenes from Dr. King's life, illustrated in Ransome's signature painterly style, and the contemporary students, rendered in a more-informal style with loose outlines and flat blocks of color. Each block of text begins with the phrase "You can be a King." Often the illustrations complement the text: "Keep the faith of your ancestors" is paired with a spread of Dr. King's childhood home, pictures of his forebears lining the wall. The students commence work on a mural of Dr. King at school, and the "You can be a King" lessons are shown as the children paint and draw. One uncomfortable spread depicts the child in a wheelchair attempting to add to the mural, but the accessible spots appear to have been completed; the teacher and other children do not help the child to participate, but instead the child bakes cupcakes for the class. In the final spread, the lack of a "Black Lives Matter" sign among the protest signs is notable.A pretty good, if didactic, resource for adults wanting to help children draw connections between Dr. King's teachings and their own lives. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-9)

Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream and You

Hardcover

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Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream and You

Hardcover

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