Be a King - by Carole Boston Weatherford (Hardcover)

About the Book

Through key events of Dr. King's life, from formative childhood moments to his days as a civil rights leader, a class of young students sees how he never lost hope in a future of equality and justice for all. Readers will learn from Dr. King's experiences, as the class follows in his footsteps. Full color.

Book Synopsis

Children's Literature Legacy Award winner and Young People's Poet Laureate Carole Boston Weatherford and award-winning illustrator James E. Ransome use key moments from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life to inspire future generations to stand up for what's right, make the world a better place, and be a King.

You can be a King. Stamp out hatred. Put your foot down and walk tall.
You can be a King. Beat the drum for justice. March to your own conscience.

Featuring a dual narrative of the key moments of Dr. King's life alongside a modern class as the students learn about him, this engaging story highlights principles that readers today can emulate in their own lives. As times change, Dr. King's example remains, encouraging a new generation of children to take charge and change the world . . . to be a King.

Review Quotes

"While the book is accessible as an inspiring primer on social justice and taking action, it also challenges more sophisticated readers to make connections between the art, the text, Dr. King's life, the civil rights movement at large, and the continuing struggle to affect change . . .This book is sure to spark discussion and empower readers of all ages." --Starred review, School Library Journal

"Thoughtful paintings of moving scenes are paired with brief, motivational reflections that evoke all the sentiment and fervor of the American civil rights movement." --Foreword Review

"The book manages to make essential lessons in civic responsibility accessible to the very young reader." --Booklist

"The historical scenes, painted in Ransome's signature thick, saturated style, are infused with a powerful sense of narrative." --Publishers Weekly

"The use of rich, realistic paintings with pencil detailing for King's life contrasts with the brighter, simpler drawings for the contemporary children, giving a physical reminder that his work is ongoing." --School Library Connection

"Bold, honest, informative, and unforgettable." --starred review, Kirkus Reviews on VOICE OF FREEDOM: FRANNIE LOU HAMER

"Told in the first person from Hamer's own perspective, this lyrical text in verse emphasizes the activist's perseverance and courage, as she let her booming voice be heard." --starred review, School Library Journal on VOICE OF FREEDOM: FRANNIE LOU HAMER

"Caldecott Honor winner Weatherford has rendered Hamer's voice so precisely that it is like sitting at her knee as she tells her story." --starred review, Bookist on VOICE OF FREEDOM: FRANNIE LOU HAMER

"Visceral, intimate and plainly told, this story is sure to move young children." --The New York Times Book Review on WORDS SET ME FREE

"Ransome's acrylic and oil paintings combine striking naturalism with a palette of inky greens and blues." --starred review, Publishers Weekly on WORDS SET ME FREE

About the Author

Two-time NAACP Image Award winner Carole Boston Weatherford has authored many children's books, including the Newbery Honor winner Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom and the Caldecott Honor winners Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom; Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement; and Freedom in Congo Square. She is a professor at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina.
www.CBWeatherford.com.

James E. Ransome has illustrated many picture books including the Coretta Scott King Award-winner The Creation, the Coretta Scott King Honor-winner Uncle Jed's Barbershop and This is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson. James was also one of the collaborators on Our Children Can Soar, which won the NCAAP Image Award. He lives in Rhinebeck, New York, with his wife.
www.jamesransome.com