from the New York Times Book Review in 2001. The stained glass windows on the first page of the book (as well as the last page of the book) struck me immediately when I opened this book. I love stained glass windows in churches and these pages make you feel like you are in a church. The illustrator's note at the beginning of the book states that these windows, with all their various colors, represent the world's various races.This nonfiction book for young readers highlights the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. in simple, easy-to-understand language. Most pages give facts first, followed by a quote that emphasized what King stood for. These quotes were sometimes said by King, and sometimes by the important role models in his life like his mother and father, and sometimes things he learned from the Bible. The story tells how Martin saw signs when he was little that said "White Only," and his mother and father told him he was as good as anyone else. As he grows up listening to the words of the Bible and hearing his father preach about love, Martin realizes that hate and inequality can only be conquered with love. Rosa Parks and her historic refusal to give up her seat on the bus in 1955 is recounted, which led to blacks boycotting buses, with Martin Luther King walking with them and praying with them. The book goes on to say that blacks were beaten, threatened, and murdered, but they kept on marching. Martin Luther King said "Remember, if I am stopped, this movement will not be stopped, because God is with this movement." King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech is mentioned, and his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The author says "he won it because he taught others to fight with words, not fists." The most striking illustration in the book appears towards the end, alongside the page that tells of King's assassination in 1968. King's face surrounded by stained glass windows, with divisions across his face almost like the glass is shattering around him, is a very moving image. The final image in the book depicts four candles which the illustrator comments represent the four girls killed in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The book's illustrations are full of intentional symbolism.
Children will learn a great deal about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. by reading this book. They will learn facts about his life, as well as his beliefs and values - and that he wanted the world to follow his lead. Readers will learn that he fought for equality among all peoples, and wanted everyone to be treated the same. This ideal is something every child should learn, at an early age, and that is what this book accomplishes.
I personally liked this book because my son did a speech on Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was in the fourth grade, and this reminded me of it. It was a factual speech on King's life, accompanied by the beliefs the King was trying to teach to the world - similar to Rappaport's book. My son won second place that year, and I was very proud of the topic that he chose. He researched it all his own, and learned exactly the main points that King wanted to emphasize to men, women, and children during his lifetime. Obviously he made a lasting impression on my son, and people who heard his speech hopefully got something out of it. I am sure any child or adult who reads Martin's Big Words will.
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