Martin's Big Words is a fantastic book about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. It starts out when Dr. King is a child and the life events that shaped his life. It is a wonderful story that would be great to read during Black History Month or around Dr. King's birthday but I also think that it could be used anytime you have a lesson that incorporates acceptance, love, and perseverance.
I think that this book while great should be read to an older age group because of how it addresses the topic. I would gauge this text at a 2nd grade and above level. I think that even if you do not have a lesson that you are using it for it is a great classroom book that should be read by children.
The text could also be paired with a unit on the civil rights movement in the South. It can help address a topic that can sometimes be difficult to explain. In the book it addresses how the African-American community reacted to Rosa Parks being arrested after not giving her seat up on a bus to a white man.
The artwork in the book is also visually stimulating and appropriate for the subject. I would recommend this book to any and all who have an interest in human rights and want to pass that on to children.
I like this book because it shares Martin Luther King Jr.'s experiences in a way that is accessible for young children. Yet, because of the selected illustrations, it is also appealing to older readers who want a basic overview of his life. It is included as a trade book in one ESL program for middle school/high schoolers.
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