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My Dream of Martin Luther King
In My Dream of Martin Luther King, Faith Ringgold brings her unique artistic sensibility to the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the history of the Civil Rights movement.
Narrating the book in her own voice, Ms. Ringgold describes a dream she has about Martin Luther King. It's a dream that includes scenes of segregation and protest--which, in a brilliant leap of imagination, she imagines King experiencing as a child--and scenes from King's adult life, from the Montgomery bus boycott to the March on Washington to his assassination. Framing this dream is a uniquely personal vision of Ms. Ringgold's own in which she visualizes the people of the world gathering in King's memory to trade in their prejudice, fear, and hate for hope, peace, and love--the fulfillment of King's dream of nonviolent social change. Cover excerpt, My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold, Crown Publishers, New York 1995.
Narrating the book in her own voice, Ms. Ringgold describes a dream she has about Martin Luther King. It's a dream that includes scenes of segregation and protest--which, in a brilliant leap of imagination, she imagines King experiencing as a child--and scenes from King's adult life, from the Montgomery bus boycott to the March on Washington to his assassination. Framing this dream is a uniquely personal vision of Ms. Ringgold's own in which she visualizes the people of the world gathering in King's memory to trade in their prejudice, fear, and hate for hope, peace, and love--the fulfillment of King's dream of nonviolent social change. Cover excerpt, My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold, Crown Publishers, New York 1995.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
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February 17, 2018This Book is about Martin and the story of events that happened in his life, like when he was taken to jail at six years old.
I really like this book because it not only gives you facts about Martin, but also how Rosa parks and him came together to pass the law that light , and dark skinned people shouldn't be treated by their color.
I really like this book because it not only gives you facts about Martin, but also how Rosa parks and him came together to pass the law that light , and dark skinned people shouldn't be treated by their color.
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February 1, 2021This book's main character, Martin Luther King Jr, is related to my Social Studies topic, the Civil Rights Movement. The author used an interesting technique, to explain the whole story through a dream someone had, even though some parts might be a little confusing. The whole story talked about discrimination, and about the Civil Rights Movement using a storytelling way. Overall, this book is informational and the author wrote the events in a unique way.
February 17, 2015
The narrative structure of this one is awkward, but it's a good place to start to start teaching primary-level students about the story of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement. The "scenes" help readers digest the atrocities one at a time. I would go page-by-page to compare the illustrations with photos of actual events for a guided read-along.
Not as great as "Martin's Big Words," but a good place to start.
Not as great as "Martin's Big Words," but a good place to start.
June 2, 2022
My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold👑
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2016
Title: My Dream of Martin Luther King
Author: Faith Ringgold
Illustrator:
Genre: Biography, Gd K-2
Theme(s): Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights movement, Dreams
Opening line/sentence: I’ve always been a dreamer
Brief Book Summary: This book gives a different point of view of Martin Luther King Jr’s Civil Rights movement. It takes place from a child’s perspective and witnesses Martin Luther King grow up through the book.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Feb. 15, 1996 (Vol. 92, No. 12))
Ringgold has often used the metaphor of dreams to interpret events in her books. Here, she views the life of Martin Luther King through her impressionistic lens. The frame of the story is the narrator's dream, in which King is a child who must go to a segregated school and hear his daddy called "boy." He watches police on horseback beat up protesters, and he is taken to prison, where his grandmother holds him and tries to explain segregation. As an adult, King helps Rosa Parks, makes his "I Have A Dream" speech, and is murdered. As the dream starts, all the people of the world carry their hate and prejudice in paper bags; at the book's conclusion, the people are willing to burn their bags. When they do, these words appear in the sky: "Every Good Thing Starts with a Dream." Many children will willingly suspend disbelief and travel with the narrator through her reverie, but others may be confused by the way she plays with time. Like the folk-art images found in Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (1992), Ringgold's pictures are strong and powerful, but here they are also dark and brooding, with grays, blacks, and blues predominating. Some pictures, especially the one of President Johnson as the only white face at King's funeral, do not work well within the confines of a biography, even one of the transcendental variety. There is an intensity to Ringgold's interpretation that will affect readers; the book catches the feel of Dr. King's life even if the fantasy framework overshadows the soul-stirring facts. Check the appended timeline for those. Category: For the Young. 1995, Crown, $17 and $18.99. Ages 6-9.
(PUBLISHER: Crown (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1995)
Ringgold embroiders her vision of King's life and message with scenes from a dream the narrator has had: Young Martin is turned away from a white school, gets caught up in a civil rights demonstration and is jailed, and marches with his parents in front of a huge crowd, all carrying bags of "prejudice, ignorance, hate, violence and fear, which they intended to trade for hope, freedom, peace, awareness and love." She notes that "some people had bigger bags than others, but everybody had something to trade." Her dream ends at King's funeral, with those bags in a huge pyre. Using a limited palette of subdued colors, Ringgold gives her scenes a simple, direct, childlike look, focusing attention on eloquent faces and large, particularly expressive eyes. This is her most accessible work since Tar Beach (1991), much less moiled and private than Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (1992). Chronology. 1995, Crown, $17.00. Starred Review. © 1995 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Crown (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: This book was very interestingly written through the perspective a child’s dream. The illustrations have a dreamlike quality to them, like the first review mentions. I really loved the way that the reviews mentioned the metaphoric way the whole book is written in a dream to capture the elements of the Martin Luther King Jr. dream. Overall, they both summarize events in the book, but I really like that the book uses those illustrations of actual injustices that were common during the period such as being fire hosed down, and the bus boycott.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: There is a lot of metaphor in this book because of the dream element that is present. The illustrations are not extremely crisp which lends it to help that metaphoric dream state. I liked how the point of view is altered to have a more interesting narrator than just a third person story telling.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would like to use this book to talk about segregation because there are images that don’t sugar coat the idea of it. I think that’s a very valuable message for students to see at a young age just the magnitude of what people endured during this time. I would also use it on a lesson dealing with Martin Luther King Jr., but I think the illustrations and explanations about segregation are worded very well to get through to a younger child.
Author: Faith Ringgold
Illustrator:
Genre: Biography, Gd K-2
Theme(s): Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights movement, Dreams
Opening line/sentence: I’ve always been a dreamer
Brief Book Summary: This book gives a different point of view of Martin Luther King Jr’s Civil Rights movement. It takes place from a child’s perspective and witnesses Martin Luther King grow up through the book.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Feb. 15, 1996 (Vol. 92, No. 12))
Ringgold has often used the metaphor of dreams to interpret events in her books. Here, she views the life of Martin Luther King through her impressionistic lens. The frame of the story is the narrator's dream, in which King is a child who must go to a segregated school and hear his daddy called "boy." He watches police on horseback beat up protesters, and he is taken to prison, where his grandmother holds him and tries to explain segregation. As an adult, King helps Rosa Parks, makes his "I Have A Dream" speech, and is murdered. As the dream starts, all the people of the world carry their hate and prejudice in paper bags; at the book's conclusion, the people are willing to burn their bags. When they do, these words appear in the sky: "Every Good Thing Starts with a Dream." Many children will willingly suspend disbelief and travel with the narrator through her reverie, but others may be confused by the way she plays with time. Like the folk-art images found in Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (1992), Ringgold's pictures are strong and powerful, but here they are also dark and brooding, with grays, blacks, and blues predominating. Some pictures, especially the one of President Johnson as the only white face at King's funeral, do not work well within the confines of a biography, even one of the transcendental variety. There is an intensity to Ringgold's interpretation that will affect readers; the book catches the feel of Dr. King's life even if the fantasy framework overshadows the soul-stirring facts. Check the appended timeline for those. Category: For the Young. 1995, Crown, $17 and $18.99. Ages 6-9.
(PUBLISHER: Crown (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1995)
Ringgold embroiders her vision of King's life and message with scenes from a dream the narrator has had: Young Martin is turned away from a white school, gets caught up in a civil rights demonstration and is jailed, and marches with his parents in front of a huge crowd, all carrying bags of "prejudice, ignorance, hate, violence and fear, which they intended to trade for hope, freedom, peace, awareness and love." She notes that "some people had bigger bags than others, but everybody had something to trade." Her dream ends at King's funeral, with those bags in a huge pyre. Using a limited palette of subdued colors, Ringgold gives her scenes a simple, direct, childlike look, focusing attention on eloquent faces and large, particularly expressive eyes. This is her most accessible work since Tar Beach (1991), much less moiled and private than Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (1992). Chronology. 1995, Crown, $17.00. Starred Review. © 1995 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Crown (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: This book was very interestingly written through the perspective a child’s dream. The illustrations have a dreamlike quality to them, like the first review mentions. I really loved the way that the reviews mentioned the metaphoric way the whole book is written in a dream to capture the elements of the Martin Luther King Jr. dream. Overall, they both summarize events in the book, but I really like that the book uses those illustrations of actual injustices that were common during the period such as being fire hosed down, and the bus boycott.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: There is a lot of metaphor in this book because of the dream element that is present. The illustrations are not extremely crisp which lends it to help that metaphoric dream state. I liked how the point of view is altered to have a more interesting narrator than just a third person story telling.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would like to use this book to talk about segregation because there are images that don’t sugar coat the idea of it. I think that’s a very valuable message for students to see at a young age just the magnitude of what people endured during this time. I would also use it on a lesson dealing with Martin Luther King Jr., but I think the illustrations and explanations about segregation are worded very well to get through to a younger child.
May 16, 2021
A great read filled with good thoughts, good lessons and good intentions. Better for kids 10+ because of the text quality and quantity 🌟
April 20, 2016
Ever since I discover the history of our past and the individuals who have changed the world, I found it upon myself to learn and study these individuals and become a better version of myself. In order to seek change in ourselves and in our society, one must be able to study the past, learn about the good and bad, accept that it did happen, and use these tools to help make a difference in our world. When it comes to Dr. King, I did tons of research about it not because of school assignments but just on the basis of one man, who essentially is the underdog for change, learn how to make his statements bold and help create the change that we have seen in our society like President Obama.
Faith Ringgold is a genius in storytelling. How do you write a story that has been told a thousands times before you? Which is very simple, use the concept of "I Have A Dream" speech and turn the whole story into a dream. Through this dream we learn the basic facts of Dr. King and how he became a legend. This book does not offer a lot in terms of facts since it is a children's picture book, but I still applaud Faith Ringgold for writing about how Cops would abuse black people who were protesting and throwing them into jail.
When I learn about this through my own research, I was shocked how our society whether in school or outside sugar coat the facts or does not want people to learn to what extent of torture we put through during the civil rights and that is not right. Even though our past may be horrific, it is still our past that we must learn and acknowledge.
Overall I love the illustrations of this book and I cannot get enough of Faith Ringgold. Even though these books are meant for children, this woman speaks volumes for me!
Faith Ringgold is a genius in storytelling. How do you write a story that has been told a thousands times before you? Which is very simple, use the concept of "I Have A Dream" speech and turn the whole story into a dream. Through this dream we learn the basic facts of Dr. King and how he became a legend. This book does not offer a lot in terms of facts since it is a children's picture book, but I still applaud Faith Ringgold for writing about how Cops would abuse black people who were protesting and throwing them into jail.
When I learn about this through my own research, I was shocked how our society whether in school or outside sugar coat the facts or does not want people to learn to what extent of torture we put through during the civil rights and that is not right. Even though our past may be horrific, it is still our past that we must learn and acknowledge.
Overall I love the illustrations of this book and I cannot get enough of Faith Ringgold. Even though these books are meant for children, this woman speaks volumes for me!
April 21, 2017
Ringgold, Faith. My Dream of Martin Luther King. Decorah: Dragon Fly Books, 1998.
Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech is one of the most prominent speeches of all time; however, describing a dream about the famous dream speech is an interesting take. In this children’s book, Ringgold retells a dream she has about King’s life, highlighting key scenes from both his childhood and adult life. From the Montgomery bus boycott to his friendship with Rosa Parks, young readers will get an informative and accurate account of King’s life through this children's book. The images are reminiscent oil pastels and the author's use of darker colors such as blue, black, and grey, generate a mood that is somber, yet strong. The Civil Right's movement is undoubtedly a vital piece of history and this book presents it in an approachable manner for young readers. I found the narrative a tad confusing and could see how young readers may not understand the "dream within a dream" concept and the structure of the book; the fact that King is a child and an adult within one dream seems arduous to explain to a kindergartner. The book also discusses Dr. King's assassination, which although students will learn at some point in the curriculum, may upset some parents if read to a younger audience. However, the overall theme of treating others as we want to be treated and understanding why we celebrate Martin Luther King day is clearly conveyed. Overall, an interesting read and one that would be effective to use to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with elementary level students; however, I personally feel there are better materials, such as Martin's Big Words, in circulation.
Target Audience: Ages 6-9
Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech is one of the most prominent speeches of all time; however, describing a dream about the famous dream speech is an interesting take. In this children’s book, Ringgold retells a dream she has about King’s life, highlighting key scenes from both his childhood and adult life. From the Montgomery bus boycott to his friendship with Rosa Parks, young readers will get an informative and accurate account of King’s life through this children's book. The images are reminiscent oil pastels and the author's use of darker colors such as blue, black, and grey, generate a mood that is somber, yet strong. The Civil Right's movement is undoubtedly a vital piece of history and this book presents it in an approachable manner for young readers. I found the narrative a tad confusing and could see how young readers may not understand the "dream within a dream" concept and the structure of the book; the fact that King is a child and an adult within one dream seems arduous to explain to a kindergartner. The book also discusses Dr. King's assassination, which although students will learn at some point in the curriculum, may upset some parents if read to a younger audience. However, the overall theme of treating others as we want to be treated and understanding why we celebrate Martin Luther King day is clearly conveyed. Overall, an interesting read and one that would be effective to use to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with elementary level students; however, I personally feel there are better materials, such as Martin's Big Words, in circulation.
Target Audience: Ages 6-9
February 9, 2012
While this presents the story og MLK, I was put off by the structure of the book. The idea is that the storyteller had a dream of MLK. In the dream she apparently dreamt of specific events of the man's life. A retelling of a dream puts the reader on edge that what is presented may be fanciful. I think that does a disservice to MLK's life.
The events were presented straightforwardly. It is easy to understand. I am not a huige fan of the images, but there is nothing bad about them; they just didn't impress me.
The text didn't impress me with the style. There was just something overall about the book that felt "off" somehow.
I won't rush back to reread this one.
The events were presented straightforwardly. It is easy to understand. I am not a huige fan of the images, but there is nothing bad about them; they just didn't impress me.
The text didn't impress me with the style. There was just something overall about the book that felt "off" somehow.
I won't rush back to reread this one.
November 3, 2013
An amazing book by Faith Ringgold. I am a huge fan of her paintings and feel that as illustrations they captivate the reader and leave you with a feeling of wonderment and awe. This story is imaginative and creative in its execution and although it most certainly has fantasy elements, it speaks to several very important historical events. This is a great extension of a study of MLK and his life. It incorporates aspects of many major events, but leaves you asking more questions. I also would love to use this book in a study of Faith Ringgold as an artist and author/illustrator. Her life and work are extremely interesting and this is a great example to work from.
October 4, 2015
This book is about a dream that the author had about Martin Luther King. It discusses the history of Martin Lither King along with the Civil Rights Movement. I really enjoyed this book because the illustrations were beautiful. They really capture the readers eyes. I also enjoyed how this book is about Martin Luther King but it was written in a different way. Instead of discussing only Martin Luther Kings dream, she discusses her dream about Martin Luther Kings life as a child and adult along with his dream that he had as well.
November 6, 2008
I read this story to my class each year when we study Martin Luther King in January. Since MKL is the namesake of my school, students are all very intrigued with this story. It is graphic at times, but students are really able to connect with the story. The can imagine if they were at the I have a Dream speech and at other events with MLK. It is a touching story that can be used at grade levels 1-high school. Faith Ringgold is an amazing writer!
May 19, 2012
This story of a dream is a good read aloud for the start of a Civil Rights unit. The illustrations are great. I find that my kids struggle to track with some of the aspects of the text and get a little confused with the dream-based plot. It does show some of the evils of the Civil Rights movement in a 4th grade compatible way. The mention of lynching was a bit hard to explain (I said it was a horrible way of murdering someone).
August 6, 2014
A different take than any of the other picture books I have read on Martin Luther King, Jr. Faith Ringgold describes her abstract/surreal dream about Dr. King’s life and his message of meeting hate with love. I appreciate her unique approach and think it could be incorporated into an art project with students creating their own dream of a better tomorrow.
September 6, 2016
This book was written in Faith Ringgold's perspective about Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. This book talks about his life as a young child, going to jail and listening to his father's sermons. It then moves into his adult life when he was a father and a preacher. It talked about all of the things he did in his life.
February 17, 2009
This Faith Ringgold title presents key moments in the life of Martin Luther King. The content would be to read in connection with Martin's Big Words, that focuses on Martin's famous speech, but gives little information about his life.
October 11, 2011
Wonderful book to introduce and delve into the history of America. Students will see first hand why we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. This book has great illustrations that help readers picture the events. LOVE!
December 18, 2011
This was not one of my favorite books about Martin Luther King Jr. It did have great illustrations. It would be a good book to read during black history month, or for Martin Luther King's birthday.
January 16, 2012
Amazing illustrations! Tells the story of Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement through a dream. In the dream, men, women, and children of all sizes, shapes, and colors are trading in bags of ignorance, hate, and prejudice for bags of love and kindness.
October 4, 2018
Through an imaginary dream the story of Martin Luther King's life is told through a child's eyes. This book is a great beginner book as it discusses some of the U.S. history on social injustices. Perfect story for children in the grades k-4!
January 19, 2011
I sort of liked it but I sort of didn't because it was so bad because the black people weren't really getting treated well. It made me feel bad.
July 29, 2011
I really love the work of Faith Ringgold and making African American history available to kids
December 12, 2011
This is a great book to talk about history with students. I really enjoyed reading it and think others would also.
September 24, 2012
My 8th graders have been learning about the "American Dream" and during that unit, we read MLK's speech. This was a good follow-up activity to give the students additional background information.
January 20, 2016
See review on my blog:
http://buildinglifelongreaders.blogsp...
http://buildinglifelongreaders.blogsp...
March 28, 2018
good for early elementary grades, simple, clear, strong drawings
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September 29, 2022My Dream Of Martin Luther King is a book about a girl that has her own dream. Her dream starts out with MLK when he was young. Young MLKs family disappeared and he was left alone with his best friend and his mom from across the street. They were standing on the school steps when all of a sudden she yelled at MLK to leave, because it was a school for white children. Then a policeman started chasing MLK. Young Martin ran as fast as he could until he got to a bus stop. In the dream the bus driver told young Martin there was no room on the bus for him. So young Martin ran from the bus into a crowd of people that were protesting segregated buses. Young Martin was happy about this. all of a sudden police showed up on horseback and sprayed people with fire hoses, they attacked them with dogs and beat them with cattle prods. Young Martin and other protestors were arrested. Martin's mom came to rescue him but told him it was time for church so they went. While in church MLK had a small man appear in front of him by the name of Mahatma Ghandi. Ghandi told MLK about the power of love and the power of change and peaceful resistance. At the end of the book the girl dreamed of MLK's children watching people of all colors come together and cooperate. But Martin died and the entire world was there, Mourning MLK's death.
March 12, 2019
This book is appropriate for grades pre-k to 2nd grade. The book follows the authors dream she had about Martin Luther King Jr. after watching a television program about him. The dream retells King's childhood and major events during his youth. It follows through the events from King's "I Have a Dream Speech" all the way up to his assassination. I enjoyed the book and it's accuracy of King's life events. I also enjoyed the authors own personal vision she intertwined into the book. The illustrations are very childlike in nature, but extremely well-done. This book can be used during a read aloud to teach about Martin Luther King Jr., a very famous African American civil rights leader. It's also a great historical autobiography to teach children about discrimination and the historical fight for civil rights.
January 15, 2021
My favorite book to read in honor of Dr. King is My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold. In this story, the author overlays Dr. King’s history with her own dream of Martin Luther King. This book is filled with strong vocabulary, difficult concepts, and honest details of Dr. King’s life. In the end, the author closes the books with her waking up from her dream, and Dr. King’s words still ringing clearly.
January 16, 2024
Overall, okay book. The book does a good job of conveying the value of showing respect to others and the significance of Martin Luther King Day. Not a first pick book. Illustrations are dull and gloomy and the 'dream within and dream" can be confusing more so, for the younger student audience.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews