15 Best Martin Luther King Jr. Books for Kids [2023]

“I have a dream…”, the speech that changed the entirety of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States of America. The most prominent spokesperson for the plight of the African-Americans, Martin Luther King Jr. paved the way for the revolution of the same.

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most influential figures of history. Every kid should be aware of the contributions that he made towards the cause and what is a better way to do that than by reading books?

That is why we have made a list of the fifteen best children’s books about Martin Luther King Jr. that you can buy for your little ones so that they can learn more about him.

You may also enjoy these books about Rosa Parks!

This book list has been made keeping in mind the maturity of the kids and their comprehension skills. This will make sure that they will be able to understand the life and legacy of this great man.

Inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Books for Kids of All Ages

When one is as important and influential as Martin Luther King Jr., it is not a surprise that there are numerous books on him. Although we have gone on to list fifteen books, these are the top three books on him that you should consider adding to your kids’ library.

Our #1 Choice: Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? : This is one of the best books on Martin Luther King Jr. One will get to know anything and everything needed to know about this man. The book covers most of his life in simple text.

Best Value Pick: The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.: This book is the best for imparting valuable lessons to little kids. The journey of Martin Luther King Jr. will inspire kids and instill the values like courage, determination, hard work, and leadership.

Best Budget Pick: National Geographic Readers: Martin Luther King, Jr. A book that covers the basic information on Martin Luther King Jr. and includes important simplified concepts, this book is one of the best ones you can buy for your kids.

1. Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

This book is one of the best introductions to Martin Luther King Jr.; the book is filled with facts and information on the legendary man along with beautiful black and white illustrations.

The book is very well written and informative. The book explains how Martin Luther King Jr. visited India and was extremely inspired by the non-violent ways of Mahatma Gandhi.

This book imparts a valuable lesson to the kids, especially with non-violent approaches to a problem. Non-violence is not something that we get to see a lot these days.

The book also details the courage shown by the people during the Civil Rights Movement and how their determination, along with Martin’s leadership, paved the way for the better lives of all African-Americans.

Best suitable for Age: 8 to 12 years
Grade Level: 3 -to- 7
No. of Pages: 112
Our Rating: 4.9 out of 5

2. I am Martin Luther King, Jr.

This small book will teach your kids the meaning of powerful words. It will teach that great changes can be brought peacefully and do not always need force.

The concept of racial equity is nicely included in this book to make the kids aware of the importance of the same. The book also focuses on the importance of reading as Martin Luther King Jr. was an avid reader himself.

The book is filled with beautiful illustrations and art, making it a very attractive read. Additionally, the book is packed with many quotes from this great person. The book also beautifully portrays how he got involved and interested in the civil rights movement.

Best suitable for Age: 5 to 9 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten -to- 4
No. of Pages: 32
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

3. My Little Golden Book about Martin Luther King Jr.

This small book manages to capture the essence of Martin Luther King Jr. for the smallest kids in the best possible way. The writing in this book is simple and can be easily comprehended by kids.

The book underlines how he became such an important figure in America’s history and what made him such a powerful voice and leader.

Packed with information from cover to cover, this book covers all the details that one needs to know about Martin Luther King Jr.

Best suitable for Age: 2 to 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool -to- Kindergarten
No. of Pages: 24
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

4. The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.

The one that manages to inspire the little ones in the best way, this book brings up various values and skills that are very much needed in kids.

The meanings of hard work, courage, determination, and leadership are very brought out through the pages of this book.

The language of the book is easy to understand and comprehend as it is written in a simple way. The illustrations of the book are bright and colorful that will capture the attention of the kids.

The book also contains a ‘Think Tank’ section that will ensure that your kids are not just passively reading the books but also actively participating and engaging with the book.

Best suitable for Age: 6 to 8 years
Grade Level: 1 -to- 2
No. of Pages: 68
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

5. Martin Luther King Jr. (Little People, BIG DREAMS)

Experiencing racism and discrimination at a very young age, Martin Luther King Jr. was determined to end social evil. And he decided to do that with just words, in a peaceful and non-violent way.

This book does not shy away from showing the harsh truth of the racial injustice that plagued the United States of America for a really long time. However, the information is not presented in a way that will overwhelm the young kids.

The book also has a great timeline of all the important events in the life of this great personality. Additionally, the book has extra facts and historical photographs along with really bright and cute illustrations.

Best suitable for Age: 4 to 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool -to- 2
No. of Pages: 32
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

6. I Have a Dream (Book & CD)

This book is essentially a picture book that splits the famous speech into separate pages and adds great illustrations with it. The book also comes with audio that covers the entirety of the ‘I have a dream…’ speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

The illustrations and the photos in the book interpret a quote from the speech in a beautiful way, making it easier for the younger kids to understand the meaning of the famous speech.

This book does not carry a lot of information on the man himself, but it does make sure that anyone reading the book will get goosebumps as the essence and meaning of the speech have been captured beautifully.

Best suitable for Age: 4 to 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool -to- 3
No. of Pages: 40
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

7. Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This book is a stunning tribute to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and has been written, keeping in mind the audience for the same.

With beautiful water-colored illustrations and simple language, this book manages to capture the essence of this man in a small number of pages.

As the title suggests, the book talks about the ‘big words’ that Martin Luther King Jr. used to hear from his father. And that is when he decided to use his own words to bring the changes to create a better society.

Best suitable for Age: 6 to 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool -to- 3
No. of Pages: 40
Our Rating: 4.7 out of 5

8. National Geographic Readers: Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is one of the best books one can buy on Martin Luther King Jr. This book covers all the essential information on the life and legacy of this great man along with his contributions towards the Civil Rights Movement in the United States of America.

The book manages to talk about the serious issues like racism and other problems of the African-Americans in a way so that the kids can comprehend them. The book makes sure that these serious topics do not overwhelm them.

The book also has a ‘Words to know’ section that lists all the difficult words that kids will be able to learn and use them in a sentence. Lastly, the book has a timeline of events that will help the kids understand the entire life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Best suitable for Age: 5 to 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten -to- 3
No. of Pages: 48
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

9. A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is a short illustrated book on the Civil Rights activist and the legacy that he left behind. It covers everything about Martin Luther King Jr., from his childhood to his tragic assassination.

The book has simple yet provoking texts that are paired beautifully with water colored illustrations. The book would make an excellent introduction to the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

The book is a definite must-have in your kids’ libraries as everyone should know about this great leader.

Best suitable for Age: 5 to 8 years
Grade Level: 1 -to- 3
No. of Pages: 32
Our Rating: 4.7 out of 5

10. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Peaceful Leader

This book has everything one can possibly ask from a book that is catering to the kids. The book has simple language that makes it easy for the kids to comprehend the text.

Adding to that, the book also has numerous beautiful illustrations and timelines to make kids understand the basic idea of the civil rights activist.

The book explains in great detail why Martin Luther King Jr. is such an influential part of the history of the United States of America and why everyone should know about him.

Best suitable for Age: 4 to 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool -to- 3
No. of Pages: 32
Our Rating: 4.7 out of 5

11. A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation

This is an immensely moving and captivating book that brings out the story of Martin Luther King Jr. in a fantastic way.

The book is extremely detailed as it includes endnotes from the author, the illustrator, and a list of all the people who helped Martin Luther King Jr. write his famous speech.

The book is powerful and captures one of the most important events in his life. The book also has a lot of illustrations to go along with it.

Best suitable for Age: 7 to 10 years
Grade Level: 2 -to- 5
No. of Pages: 48
Our Rating: 4.7 out of 5

12. I am Brave: A Little Book about Martin Luther King, Jr.

This book focuses on a very important aspect of life; what makes the heroes great? Why do we look up to them? What are those traits that kids should aspire to inculcate in themselves so that they can be like their role models?

Answering all these questions, this short book has done a great job inspiring the kids. The illustrations are beautiful and will definitely make sure the kids do not let go of the book until it is over.

Best suitable for Age: 2 to 5 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten -to- 4
No. of Pages: 14
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5

13. Dream March: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the March on Washington

This book will introduce the kids to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement, and the historic march to Washington.

While these are quite mature topics, the book is written in a way that will make sure not to overwhelm the kids.

The artwork and the illustrations of this book really stand out as they have been made brilliantly and beautifully to complement the book’s content.

Best suitable for Age: 5 to 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten -to- 3
No. of Pages: 48
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5

14. My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As the book’s title suggests, this book is written from the point of view of the son of Martin Luther King Jr. to his son. He was never the activist who changed the face of the civil rights movement or a great leader. He was just a father.

In this book, Martin Luther III gives a peek at the man behind the civil rights movement leader and how he impacted the author’s life on a personal level.

The author has put across his message to the readers in a very peaceful manner, reminiscent of his father’s words.

Best suitable for Age: 4 to 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool -to- 3
No. of Pages: 32
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5

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

This book takes a very different approach to the story of Martin Luther King Jr. The book has a double narrative wherein it alternates between his life and a modern class where students learn about him.

This gives a very engaging tone to the book that is bound to capture the attention of the little readers. The book is beautifully written in a way that will teach students to rise above hate.

Best suitable for Age: 4 to 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool -to- 3
No. of Pages: 40
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5

And so, we have ended the list of the fifteen best children’s books about Martin Luther King Jr. He paved the way for all the African-Americans to live life with equality and dignity. Hopefully, your little ones will understand the importance of this great personality after reading the listed books. Have a great day ahead!

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15 Best Children’s Books about Martin Luther King Jr. in [2023]