My Uncle Martin's Words for America: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Niece Tells How He Made a Difference

by Angela Farris Watkins, Eric Velasquez (Illustrator)

Overview

A picture-book tribute to the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

In this inspirational story about Martin Luther King Jr.—told from the perspective of his niece, Angela—readers learn how King used words of love and peace to effectively fight for African Americans’ civil rights.

The book focuses on words and phrases from King’s speeches, such as justice, freedom and equality.

Angela Farris Watkins, PhD demonstrates the importance of her uncle’s language in bringing about changes during the Civil Rights Movement, from his “I Have a Dream” speech to the peace march in Alabama.

Including a timeline and a glossary, this stirring and poignant book is a wonderful introduction to Martin Luther King Jr. and his powerful message of nonviolence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419718366
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/04/2015
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,090,527
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Angela Farris Watkins, PhD, is the niece of Martin Luther King Jr. She is an associate professor of psychology at Spelman College. Watkins is the author of two children’s books about her uncle published by Abrams Books for Young Readers. She lives in Atlanta.


Eric Velasquez is the illustrator of numerous books for children. He received the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award and won the Pura Belpré Honor for illustration. He lives in Hartsdale, New York.

Editorial Reviews

This companion to My Uncle Martin's Big Heart offers a more encompassing look at Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and accomplishments than the earlier, more personal book, which was drawn largely from Watkins's memories of her uncle. Focusing on King's public persona, Watkins (seen as an elementary school–aged girl in the opening spread) explains how her uncle "used the power of words to help make America better." Her language is direct yet lyrical, though at times verges on oversimplification ("Uncle Martin believed that the solution to changing Jim Crow laws was love"). The words Watkins highlights match tenets of King's philosophy—nonviolence, justice, freedom, equality, brotherhood—and tie into benchmark events in King's civil rights crusade, among them the Montgomery bus boycott, the Selma to Montgomery march, his "I Have a Dream" speech, and the passage of the Civil Rights Act. With each word she introduces, Watkins emphasizes that when King spoke that word, "people listened, and things changed!" Velasquez's rich portraits of King and his contemporaries capture the tensions of the era as well as King's passion, compassion, and efficacy. Ages 5–9. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 4—This book is a worthy successor to My Uncle Martin's Big Heart (Abrams, 2010). Told from the perspective of Martin Luther King's niece as a young girl, the moving text powerfully describes the tremendous societal and legal changes that resulted from Dr. King's leadership of the Civil Rights Movement. Terms such as "justice" and "brotherhood" receive clear and succinct definitions, and repetitive phrases encourage children's understanding of them. ("When Uncle Martin used the word NONVIOLENCE, people listened, and things began to change!" "When Uncle Martin used the word FREEDOM, people listened, and things changed!") The book depicts the oppression and persecution the Kings endured, including the bombing of their home and Dr. King's arrest, with no mention of his assassination. The narrative captures the complexity of the era while maintaining a fully realized child-centered voice. A comprehensive index features topics barely mentioned in the text, and the author's note seems unnecessary. Paintings in a vibrant palette show recognizable portraits of famous African Americans. A personable and powerful account of the human voice that emboldened a nation.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

School Library Journal

Following My Uncle Martin's Big Heart (2010), this effort focuses more on King's work to end segregation than his life as a family man.

Explaining Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights movement to a very young audience is not easy, but Watkins and Velasquez rise to the challenge with grace and warmth. Using a childlike voice, Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece simply and clearly emphasizes themes of love, nonviolence, freedom and equality. The repetitive text instills the message "people listened, and things changed" and focuses on the positive. While the prejudice and violence of segregation is broached, such as when King's home is bombed with his wife and baby daughter inside, the intensity and extent of that violence is omitted. The result is a condensed introduction to this moment in American history and to the man who made great changes using words, not violence. Rich, expressive illustrations depict some scenes from the Civil Rights movement that many adults will find familiar. The artist gives the images his own style of realism lightened by warm colors and soft lines. Author's and illustrator's notes are followed by a chart outlining King's work and the resulting outcomes.

Though picture books about Dr. King by his family members and others abound, this stands out for its graceful, age-appropriate treatment of the Movement. (glossary, bibliography, books for young readers, index) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews