Books for Children

 

Books for children and young people on Dr. Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Movement, Segregation, and Human Rights.


Martin Luther King

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Words by Doreen Rappaport; Illustrations by Brian Collier. 2001. 323 Ruf
My Dream of Martin Luther King. Faith Ringgold. 1995. E Rin
A simple story told by a girl who falls into a dream while watching a televised recording of Martin Luther King. The dream flashes through events in Martin Luther King’s life, presenting him initially as a boy observing events.
I Have a Dream. Martin Luther King. 1995. 92 Kin
The text of the famous speech, with illustrations by various artists. Each part is illustrated by an artist who has been an award-winner or an honor recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award. For all ages.


The Civil Rights Movement

American Civil Rights. Phillis Engelbert. 1999. 323.1 Eng.
Beyond Mayfield. Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. 1999. Fic Nel.
Black Women Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Zita Allen. 1996. 323.34 All
Cracking the Wall: The Struggles of the Little Rock Nine. Eileen Lucas. 1997. 370.19342 Luc
The Day Martin Luther King was Shot: A Photo history of the Civil Rights Movement. James Haskins. 1992. 323.1 Has
The Freedom Rides: Journey for Justice. James Haskins. 1995. 323.119 Has
Freedom’s Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories. Ellen Levine. 1993. 323.1 Lev
Let it Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters. Andrea Davis Pinkney. 2000. 920 Pin.
The March on Washington. James Haskins. 1993. 323.1 Has
Mississippi Challenge. Mildred Pitts Walter. 1992. 305.896 Wal
There Comes a Time: The Struggle for Civil Rights. Milton Meltzer. 2001. 973.04 Mel
They Had a Dream: The Civil Rights Struggle, from Frederick Douglass to Marcus Garvey to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Jules Archer. 1993 920 Arc
Walking to the Bus-rider Blues. Harriett Robinet. 2000. Fic Rob.
Witnesses to Freedom: Young People who Fought for Civil Rights. Belinda Rochelle. 1993. 323.1 Roc


Biographies and Stories of Individuals
(This list is arranged alphabetically according to the subject of the biography.)

The Story of Ruby Bridges. Robert Coles. Ill. by George Ford. 1995. Education Library, Curriculum Enrichment Coll. 370.19 Col

Gr. K – 4
Through My Eyes. Ruby Bridges. Articles and interviews compiled and edited by Margo Lundell. 1999.

Gr. 5 – high school
Civil Rights Pioneer: A Story about Mary Church. Gwenyth Swain. Carolrhoda Books, 1999. 92 Ter
I am Somebody! A Biography of Jesse Jackson. James Haskins. 1992. 92 Jac
Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly. Walter Dean Myers. 2000. 92 Mal

Gr. 1 - 5
Thurgood Marshall: Young Justice. Montrew Dunham. 1998. 92 Mar.
If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks. Faith Ringgold. 92 Par
Picture book with pictures to inspire younger children.
I am Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks. 1997. BR Par
A simply-worded book for beginning readers.
Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue with Today’s Youth. 1996. 323.092 Par
Rosa Parks: A Young Rebel. Kathleen V. Kudlinski. 2001. 92 Par
Rosa Parks: My Story. Rosa Parks. 1992. 92 Par
Bayard Rustin: Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movement. 1997. 92 Rus
Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Dennis B. Fradin. 2000.92 Wel

Civil Rights: What does it mean? Fiction and nonfiction books dealing with the problems of racism and segregation in twentieth-century America.

White Socks Only. Evelyn Coleman. Illus. Tyrone Geter. 1996.. Gr. K – 3
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. Christopher Paul Curtis. Gr. 4 - 7
Goin’ Someplace Special. Pat McKissack. Illus. Jerry Pinkney. 2001. Gr. K – 3
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop. Margaree King Mitchell. Illus. James E. Ransome. 1993.Gr. 1 – 3
The Friendship. Mildred Taylor. Gr. 3 – 5
The Land. Mildred Taylor. Gr. 6 - 9
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Mildred Taylor. Gr. 5 – 8
Other authors to watch for: Walter Dean Myers, Joyce Hansen, Jacqueline Woodson.

Civil Rights and Human Rights – Is this an issue that is over and finished with? Books about rights and inequalities in the world today.

For Every Child: The Rights of the Child in Words and Pictures. Caroline Castle. 345.01 Cas
Beautiful picture book, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child interpreted so that the very young can understand. Illustrated by artists from different countries. Gr. K - 3
Listen to Us: The World’s Working Children. Jane Springer. 1997.Gr. 6 - 10

Ideas for Books:

Coretta Scott King Award.
http://www.ala.org/srrt/csking/index.html
The Library has some books about this award, with information on authors and illustrators. See the Display in the Waldo Library!

Websites with bibliographies:

Teaching about Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.wmich.edu/teachmlk/

UNICEF Guide to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
http://www.unicef.org/crc/crc.htm

Human Rights: The Amnesty International Web Site.
http://www.amnesty.org/