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The Cart That Carried Martin
A unique retelling of Martin Luther King Jr.s funeral, focusing on the cart used to transport his coffin through the streets of Atlanta, Georgia, from Ebenezer Baptist Church to Morehouse College. The text also features the large number of people who walked the funeral route and were buoyed by MLKs positive influence, as well as Ada and Belle, the mules that pulled the cart.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
311 books409 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
January 15, 2018
I'm moved. Powerful. This brought me close to tears.
There is something awe inspiring to see how many people were so touched by MLK that they filled the streets to celebrate, thank and mourn his untimely death. I got chills from the book. No one I've read has focused on what it was like after his death and this book did a superb job with the material. I love that the focus was the cart and everyone is shown around it. So many people.
I didn't know about the MLK historical site. I want to visit someday. It must be humbling to go there. My niece and nephew thought this was a sad story too. They were engaged with the story.
The art was good and helped get the tone of the story across. I'm glad this book helps to share MLK's story with us. It's a powerful read.
There is something awe inspiring to see how many people were so touched by MLK that they filled the streets to celebrate, thank and mourn his untimely death. I got chills from the book. No one I've read has focused on what it was like after his death and this book did a superb job with the material. I love that the focus was the cart and everyone is shown around it. So many people.
I didn't know about the MLK historical site. I want to visit someday. It must be humbling to go there. My niece and nephew thought this was a sad story too. They were engaged with the story.
The art was good and helped get the tone of the story across. I'm glad this book helps to share MLK's story with us. It's a powerful read.
January 14, 2024
2.5 stars
This book details a couple of the funeral preparations for King, particularly the cart and mules used. It’s a quasi-interesting tidbit of history.
Ages: 5 - 8
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
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This book details a couple of the funeral preparations for King, particularly the cart and mules used. It’s a quasi-interesting tidbit of history.
Ages: 5 - 8
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
December 26, 2013
I picked this book up mostly because of the author - the great Eve Bunting. What surprised me about this text is not what she writes, but what she doesn't write. She shows, but it's up to the reader to decide what that means.
This story is about Martin Luther King's funeral and procession. It's about the cart that carries Martin, but it's the in between the lines part that explains what Dr. King was like as a person.
Great book to use to teach Dr. King and his life and death, but also to use to teach inferences.
This story is about Martin Luther King's funeral and procession. It's about the cart that carries Martin, but it's the in between the lines part that explains what Dr. King was like as a person.
Great book to use to teach Dr. King and his life and death, but also to use to teach inferences.
October 14, 2013
The somber and humble nature of the funeral of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. is described here in a unique fashion, following the journey of a cart outside an antique store. Although no one wanted the cart at first since it was old and needed painting, after it played a part in MLK's funeral procession through the streets of Atlanta, it became a much-sought possession. I especially liked how the author drops hints about the man for whom the cart is being used and its intended purpose instead of starting out with searching for a cart to carry MLK's body. The pencil and gouache illustrations are lively and filled with warmth and yet also sounding a somber, reflective note over this great loss. The book provides another perspective on the death of King and the significance of the cart and the two mules who pulled it along the streets.
April 25, 2015
1.) "The Cart That Carried Martin" is a humble story of the funeral of a great man. A borrowed old cart, puled by two ordinary mules, carried Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all that he stood for then and in the future to come. This non-fiction tale was one most related to text to world. Our American history is full of humble hero's who did what they did out of their sheer belief system and not for the fame and notoriety they achieved by the history they made. Compare Dr. King to Mother Theresa or Ghandi or any one of another number of personalities, who act out of the goodness of their heart solely for the goodness of humanity. "I have a dream...." was a speech for equality, yet touches anyone who ever has had a dream to this day.
2.) The book exposes children to a funeral of a man that was very ordinary, one that wanted nothing special in honor of his death. The borrowed cart that carried his coffin was as plain and shabby, yet now holds a place of honor in the National Martin Luther King Junior Historical Site surrounded by velvet ropes where men take off their caps to stare in respect. Illustrations show nothing special...no bands, no limousine, a parade through the street with an old cart pulled by two mules, people in the stands and in the church of different colors, one man standing on a street sign. Everyone wanted to see the procession but no standards were set regarding the viewing or dress. The short account of Dr. Martin Luther King's funeral is one of an ordinary man who's message was so meaningful, yet humble enough to touch the heart of every citizen, black, white, rich or poor.
3) Bloom's Taxonomy Questions:
1 - Creating: Propose an alternative setting to Dr. King's funeral?
2 - Analyzing: What ideas in the book suggest that Dr. King was an average man who represented all people?
3- Understanding: Does everyone think that is the way the funeral should have been? should it have been more extravagant or fancy?
4 - Evaluate: What influence did Dr. King have on the our lives today?
5 - Remembering: - What did the mule's symbolize?
6: - Applying - What would you have said if you spoke about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at his funeral?
2.) The book exposes children to a funeral of a man that was very ordinary, one that wanted nothing special in honor of his death. The borrowed cart that carried his coffin was as plain and shabby, yet now holds a place of honor in the National Martin Luther King Junior Historical Site surrounded by velvet ropes where men take off their caps to stare in respect. Illustrations show nothing special...no bands, no limousine, a parade through the street with an old cart pulled by two mules, people in the stands and in the church of different colors, one man standing on a street sign. Everyone wanted to see the procession but no standards were set regarding the viewing or dress. The short account of Dr. Martin Luther King's funeral is one of an ordinary man who's message was so meaningful, yet humble enough to touch the heart of every citizen, black, white, rich or poor.
3) Bloom's Taxonomy Questions:
1 - Creating: Propose an alternative setting to Dr. King's funeral?
2 - Analyzing: What ideas in the book suggest that Dr. King was an average man who represented all people?
3- Understanding: Does everyone think that is the way the funeral should have been? should it have been more extravagant or fancy?
4 - Evaluate: What influence did Dr. King have on the our lives today?
5 - Remembering: - What did the mule's symbolize?
6: - Applying - What would you have said if you spoke about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at his funeral?
March 20, 2015
1. Twin Text: Fin McCool and the Great Fish by Eve Bunting Copyright 2010
2. Rationale: The Cart That Carried Martin is a non-fiction story about the cart that carried Martin Luther King Jr.’s casket through the streets of Atlanta from the Ebenezer Baptist Church to Morehouse College to the South-View Cemetery where he was buried. Tens of thousands of people marched behind that humble cart to follow the people’s hero to his final resting place. This true story by Eve Bunting was a new angle of the Martin Luther King Jr. story that I had never heard before. Eve Bunting is a prolific author whose subjects cover a multitude of topics both fiction and non-fiction. I would include both of these titles in an author study of the much beloved Bunting. The Finn McCool folktale takes a precious look at Ireland’s “hero” who is in search of wisdom to match his strength and kindness. I would use it in the study to show contrast between fiction and non-fiction and look at what makes each one unique to their genre.
3. Text Structure: Description and Chronological Sequence interwoven with Problem and Solution: This structure is a combination of three styles. The description gives the reader information in the sequence of how it occurred. There is a small problem with acquiring the cart, which finds an immediate solution in the story.
4. Strategy Application: As stated above, I would use these two stories with others in an author study of Eve Bunting’s work. The text structure of both the texts are similar, so it would be a challenge for students to establish which aspects were fiction and which were non-fiction. The Cart that Carried Martin reads like a story book that could well be considered fictional if you didn’t know the true story behind the book. Deciphering these and connecting them to true moments in history as opposed to connecting the fictional aspects of the Finn McCool story and connecting those to the folk history of Ireland would be a good exercise to introduce fiction and non-fiction to young learners.
2. Rationale: The Cart That Carried Martin is a non-fiction story about the cart that carried Martin Luther King Jr.’s casket through the streets of Atlanta from the Ebenezer Baptist Church to Morehouse College to the South-View Cemetery where he was buried. Tens of thousands of people marched behind that humble cart to follow the people’s hero to his final resting place. This true story by Eve Bunting was a new angle of the Martin Luther King Jr. story that I had never heard before. Eve Bunting is a prolific author whose subjects cover a multitude of topics both fiction and non-fiction. I would include both of these titles in an author study of the much beloved Bunting. The Finn McCool folktale takes a precious look at Ireland’s “hero” who is in search of wisdom to match his strength and kindness. I would use it in the study to show contrast between fiction and non-fiction and look at what makes each one unique to their genre.
3. Text Structure: Description and Chronological Sequence interwoven with Problem and Solution: This structure is a combination of three styles. The description gives the reader information in the sequence of how it occurred. There is a small problem with acquiring the cart, which finds an immediate solution in the story.
4. Strategy Application: As stated above, I would use these two stories with others in an author study of Eve Bunting’s work. The text structure of both the texts are similar, so it would be a challenge for students to establish which aspects were fiction and which were non-fiction. The Cart that Carried Martin reads like a story book that could well be considered fictional if you didn’t know the true story behind the book. Deciphering these and connecting them to true moments in history as opposed to connecting the fictional aspects of the Finn McCool story and connecting those to the folk history of Ireland would be a good exercise to introduce fiction and non-fiction to young learners.
November 26, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know that Dr. King was carried by a cart taken from antique store. I liked how the illustrations were simple but made a statement. The sentence structure had some problem by not having complete sentence thoughts but it got straight to the point. What really grabbed my attention was that after the story, the author added on with informative facts and an actual picture of Dr. King being pulled by the cart. This book taught me that Dr. King had two funeral services before the burial. By the descriptions on how there were numerous people following that cart makes me want to rewind time so i can experience it myself. I think this book is one of those books that tells us what really happened that many do not know about.
July 18, 2016
So much symbolism in this picture book. Also great for teaching tone and mood.
March 2, 2019
Nonfiction picture book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral procession. His name is mentioned only once near the end of the book. Beautifully written, but doesn't provide much historical detail for children to understand the context of the story or get to know the subject of this biographical book. That information is squeezed into a half-page of back matter, and not worded in a child-friendly manner. Watercolor illustrations extend the text by showing great crowds of mourners.
January 13, 2018
What a powerful story packed into 32 pages. I read this aloud to my 5th graders and there were fascinated to learn about the cart and its' origins. I tied it with YouTube footage of the funeral march. The books author did an amazing job with this story and the words chosen are at times poetic. A must read during MLK celebrations.
August 27, 2013
Richie's Picks: THE CART THAT CARRIED MARTIN by Eve Bunting and Don Tate, ill., Charlesbridge, November 2013, 32p., ISBN: 978-1-58089-9
"We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe that
We shall overcome someday"
-- Civil Rights Movement anthem based on Charles Albert Tindley's "I'll Overcome Someday"
"Two mules were hitched to the cart.
"The mules' names were Belle and Ada.
"'Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral,' the people told one another. 'That is what he wanted.'
"'The mule is a symbol of freedom,' someone said.
"'Each slave got a mule and forty acres when he was freed.'"
I'm really feeling it all this week. Reading the news, and seeing on Facebook that some childhood friends made it down there, I'm now wishing I'd traveled to our nation's capital for this past weekend's fiftieth anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington that was highlighted by Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I'm really feeling that reality about time moving on and friends, family, and heroes passing on, and how one must accept these changes, and how I nevertheless sometimes sit quietly and return to those days of being a little kid and watching the Movement on black and white television.
I've also been sitting here, watching clips on YouTube of Dr. King's funeral and seeing those mules and that cart and Aretha singing and Coretta and the kids sitting there in the church.
With the approach of the anniversary of March on Washington, I've been telling my own story about the "I Have a Dream" speech. For me, it took place just before the beginning of third grade, and I can still remember how, when I returned to school the following week, my first- and second-grade teachers came up to me, together, and told me about their amazing experience of having been in Washington, D.C. and having heard Dr. King deliver that speech. And the look in their eyes and the tone of their voices in telling me of their experience is something I remember so vividly a half-century later. It was a lesson to me in what in life is really meaningful and, in that way, it changed my young life.
"The cart rolled through the streets of Atlanta, past the Georgia state capitol.
"Sometimes the crowds sang as it passed.
"'We shall overcome,' they promised.
"Sometimes they stood in a holy silence, and the only sound was the rumble of wooden wheels."
THE CART THAT CARRIED MARTIN is based on a newspaper article Ms. Bunting read a few years ago about the cart that was used for Dr. King's funeral. Don Tate's pencil and gouache paintings really transport me to 1968 Atlanta with his great crowd scenes and with the sweet faces of the mules and with the depictions of that simple, old cart.
All these years later. Gone, but never forgotten.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe that
We shall overcome someday"
-- Civil Rights Movement anthem based on Charles Albert Tindley's "I'll Overcome Someday"
"Two mules were hitched to the cart.
"The mules' names were Belle and Ada.
"'Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral,' the people told one another. 'That is what he wanted.'
"'The mule is a symbol of freedom,' someone said.
"'Each slave got a mule and forty acres when he was freed.'"
I'm really feeling it all this week. Reading the news, and seeing on Facebook that some childhood friends made it down there, I'm now wishing I'd traveled to our nation's capital for this past weekend's fiftieth anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington that was highlighted by Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I'm really feeling that reality about time moving on and friends, family, and heroes passing on, and how one must accept these changes, and how I nevertheless sometimes sit quietly and return to those days of being a little kid and watching the Movement on black and white television.
I've also been sitting here, watching clips on YouTube of Dr. King's funeral and seeing those mules and that cart and Aretha singing and Coretta and the kids sitting there in the church.
With the approach of the anniversary of March on Washington, I've been telling my own story about the "I Have a Dream" speech. For me, it took place just before the beginning of third grade, and I can still remember how, when I returned to school the following week, my first- and second-grade teachers came up to me, together, and told me about their amazing experience of having been in Washington, D.C. and having heard Dr. King deliver that speech. And the look in their eyes and the tone of their voices in telling me of their experience is something I remember so vividly a half-century later. It was a lesson to me in what in life is really meaningful and, in that way, it changed my young life.
"The cart rolled through the streets of Atlanta, past the Georgia state capitol.
"Sometimes the crowds sang as it passed.
"'We shall overcome,' they promised.
"Sometimes they stood in a holy silence, and the only sound was the rumble of wooden wheels."
THE CART THAT CARRIED MARTIN is based on a newspaper article Ms. Bunting read a few years ago about the cart that was used for Dr. King's funeral. Don Tate's pencil and gouache paintings really transport me to 1968 Atlanta with his great crowd scenes and with the sweet faces of the mules and with the depictions of that simple, old cart.
All these years later. Gone, but never forgotten.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
November 14, 2016
The book, The Cart That Carried Martin by Eve Bunting is a story about how an old, unwanted wooden cart outside of an antique store ended up becoming an admired and cherished piece of history for the city of Atlanta and the rest of the United States. Two men came upon a cart that was very old, paint beginning to fade away. Despite its condition, they decide to borrow it and use the wagon to carry the coffin of the great Martin Luther King Jr. They decided to paint it green, just liked they believed MLK would like. Two mules were assigned to steer the cart and symbolized freedom because during this time slaves were given a mule and 40 acres when they were freed. Thousands and thousands of people crowded the church in which the funeral was held. Many people were not able to get inside, so the flooded the streets and climbed trees, stop signs, and even stood on parked cars just to try to get a glance of the service. The church was singing loud and proud, but the people were of course sad. Most people cried, including children. As the cart rolled through the streets of Atlanta, the crowds would sing and exclaim, "We shall overcome!" The coffin was eventually carried out and put in a hearse in order to take it to the cemetery. After the funeral was over and MLK was properly buried, the cart suddenly got many offers from people who were interested in buying it. It was eventually sold to the King family and placed in the national historic site of MLK. People came to visit the cart daily and pay their respect to one of most inspiring and important figures in history.
I thought this book was very educational and talked about a story that not many people are familiar with in regards to how Martin Luther King was buried. This book held a very strong message within it in that MLK practically represented everything that African Americans stood for at the time. The images were very intriguing in this book and were made with lots of purpose. The artistic style used to create the images was cartoon art, but also had somewhat of a realistic look. The images were mostly double page and there was one instant where there was a full bleed. The pictures seemed to be created by water colors and pencil. The text mainly stayed on top of each page, although there were a couple pages in which the text was towards the middle or bottom. The colors brown and black in-coincidently were used most in the story with a couple of other colors such as blues and greens. No specific shapes really stood out to me, but there were many vertical and horizontal lines that were effectively used throughout the story. The text and images really supported each other well and allowed the reader to simultaneously analyze both. I would most likely recommend this book to 3rd or 4th graders based on the type of book this is and the complexity of understanding the entire background of why the story was made in the first place. Overall, a highly educational and well thought out children's book based on one of the most intriguing figures in history.
I thought this book was very educational and talked about a story that not many people are familiar with in regards to how Martin Luther King was buried. This book held a very strong message within it in that MLK practically represented everything that African Americans stood for at the time. The images were very intriguing in this book and were made with lots of purpose. The artistic style used to create the images was cartoon art, but also had somewhat of a realistic look. The images were mostly double page and there was one instant where there was a full bleed. The pictures seemed to be created by water colors and pencil. The text mainly stayed on top of each page, although there were a couple pages in which the text was towards the middle or bottom. The colors brown and black in-coincidently were used most in the story with a couple of other colors such as blues and greens. No specific shapes really stood out to me, but there were many vertical and horizontal lines that were effectively used throughout the story. The text and images really supported each other well and allowed the reader to simultaneously analyze both. I would most likely recommend this book to 3rd or 4th graders based on the type of book this is and the complexity of understanding the entire background of why the story was made in the first place. Overall, a highly educational and well thought out children's book based on one of the most intriguing figures in history.
February 9, 2014
Brief Synapsis: Lovely story that begins about a cart and the mules that pull it. One of my favorite quotes is on the last page,"This is the humble cart that, not so long ago, carried greatness." The story tells about the cart's journey and at the end you learn that the cart carried Martin Luther King's body through Atlanta Georgia to Morehouse College for a second service honoring his death.
Opening: This book was selected for my text set due to its cross cultural value and because it is a very well written book that I could use with older and younger students. With both older and younger students, I would open with asking students if they have ever been to a funeral. The discussion would flow from student experiences to discuss hearse, pallbearers, widow and revlevant vocabulary. I would lead students to a discussion of symbols used around funerals. When reading page 5 (note there are no page numbers in story and I numbered the pages for working with students) This story discusses mules as symbols for freedom. It makes this statement about slaves each getting a mule and forty acres when he was freed. The mules Belle and Ada were chosen because they were ordinary. This is a great opener to discuss freedom and symbolism in this extraordinary story. I would ask students why do the people think ordinary mules should be chosen? Why do you think mules represent freedom in the story? Pages 11,12 also has a great quote to use with students about symbolism. The story discusses how the cart and coffin were not heavy. "His great spirit had been the heaviest part of him. It could not be kept in a coffin." I would ask students what this means to them? What did it mean to the white/black people of the USA at this time period? How did people feel at this funeral?
(2013,July 31) Kirkus.https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
(2014, January 15). The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/boo...
Opening: This book was selected for my text set due to its cross cultural value and because it is a very well written book that I could use with older and younger students. With both older and younger students, I would open with asking students if they have ever been to a funeral. The discussion would flow from student experiences to discuss hearse, pallbearers, widow and revlevant vocabulary. I would lead students to a discussion of symbols used around funerals. When reading page 5 (note there are no page numbers in story and I numbered the pages for working with students) This story discusses mules as symbols for freedom. It makes this statement about slaves each getting a mule and forty acres when he was freed. The mules Belle and Ada were chosen because they were ordinary. This is a great opener to discuss freedom and symbolism in this extraordinary story. I would ask students why do the people think ordinary mules should be chosen? Why do you think mules represent freedom in the story? Pages 11,12 also has a great quote to use with students about symbolism. The story discusses how the cart and coffin were not heavy. "His great spirit had been the heaviest part of him. It could not be kept in a coffin." I would ask students what this means to them? What did it mean to the white/black people of the USA at this time period? How did people feel at this funeral?
(2013,July 31) Kirkus.https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
(2014, January 15). The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/boo...
April 7, 2015
Eve Bunting's, The Cart That Carried Martin, details the funeral service of our nations beloved, Martin Luther King Junior.
Although Bunting did not take the typical route for a biography, chronicling the issues of MLK and giving historical context, she was sure to provide readers with the impact that MLK left on our nation. Bunting detailed specific, meaningful landmarks such as the Georgia State Capitol Building and Morehouse College, the abundance of supporters of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement, and some of MLK's teachings and beliefs without delving too deep into racism and its affects on American citizens at the time.
The images in this book are done by watercolor. The paintings use soft colors, such as brown, green, and yellow to add to the aspects of mourning and sadness, but are vibrant enough to add to the remembrance of MLK's legacy.
Adapted for younger audiences, particularly grades 1-3, Buntings use of short, symbolic text was genius in giving the life of MLK meaning to younger students. Because her content does not go in depth on issues of race, violence, and legal issues, Bunting leaves room for teachers to take matters in their own hands. I think that this book would be wonderful to begin a lesson on Martin Luther King Junior! Teachers are able to allow their students to create prior judgments on MLK and the Civil Rights movement before studying historical facts and personal accounts.
Tags - Civil Rights, Martin Luther King Junior, Atlanta, Georgia, Funerals, We Shall Overcome, Church, The Georgia State Capitol Building, Morehouse College, Ebenezar Baptist Church, Watercolors, Non-Violence, Biography
Pages - 32
Genre - Biography
Although Bunting did not take the typical route for a biography, chronicling the issues of MLK and giving historical context, she was sure to provide readers with the impact that MLK left on our nation. Bunting detailed specific, meaningful landmarks such as the Georgia State Capitol Building and Morehouse College, the abundance of supporters of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement, and some of MLK's teachings and beliefs without delving too deep into racism and its affects on American citizens at the time.
The images in this book are done by watercolor. The paintings use soft colors, such as brown, green, and yellow to add to the aspects of mourning and sadness, but are vibrant enough to add to the remembrance of MLK's legacy.
Adapted for younger audiences, particularly grades 1-3, Buntings use of short, symbolic text was genius in giving the life of MLK meaning to younger students. Because her content does not go in depth on issues of race, violence, and legal issues, Bunting leaves room for teachers to take matters in their own hands. I think that this book would be wonderful to begin a lesson on Martin Luther King Junior! Teachers are able to allow their students to create prior judgments on MLK and the Civil Rights movement before studying historical facts and personal accounts.
Tags - Civil Rights, Martin Luther King Junior, Atlanta, Georgia, Funerals, We Shall Overcome, Church, The Georgia State Capitol Building, Morehouse College, Ebenezar Baptist Church, Watercolors, Non-Violence, Biography
Pages - 32
Genre - Biography
February 21, 2016
This beautifully done nonfiction picture book tells the story of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral by focusing on the borrowed cart that was used to carry King's casket from the Ebenezer Baptist Church to Morehouse College. Funeral organizers borrowed the unwanted cart from an antique store - "Friends painted it green. 'It's the color of grass when it rains,' a woman said."
Mules were hitched to the cart - "'Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral,' the people told one another. 'That was what he wanted.'
The illustrations, which were done in pencil and gouache, do a wonderful job of capturing the emotion and magnitude of this occasion. Most are two-page spreads depicting the crowds outside the church, inside the church, and along the route to Morehouse College and then the cemetery.
My favorite lines are: "The cart was not heavy.
The coffin was not heavy.
The man inside it was not heavy.
His great spirit had been the heaviest part of him.
It could not be kept in a coffin."
Mules were hitched to the cart - "'Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral,' the people told one another. 'That was what he wanted.'
The illustrations, which were done in pencil and gouache, do a wonderful job of capturing the emotion and magnitude of this occasion. Most are two-page spreads depicting the crowds outside the church, inside the church, and along the route to Morehouse College and then the cemetery.
My favorite lines are: "The cart was not heavy.
The coffin was not heavy.
The man inside it was not heavy.
His great spirit had been the heaviest part of him.
It could not be kept in a coffin."
April 29, 2015
This book is an interesting take on Martin Luther King Jr.'s story. There are many books about this man, but this one takes place after he dies. It focuses on the impact MLK had on the country and on civil rights.
The story follows a cart. It starts out at a thrift shop of sorts and is borrowed by a couple of men. They fix it up and paint it and use the cart to carry Martin Luther King Jr.'s coffin through the crowd to the church where his funeral will be held. The cart passes thousands of people who arrived to honor this man. At the end of the funeral service, the cart is returned to the store from which it was borrowed. Many people wanted to buy the cart, but it ended up being sold to the King family.
The pictures in this book are very nice paintings. The illustrations are fairly simple, but work nicely with the story. MLK wanted a simple funeral, and so there are simple illustrations to go along with his wishes.
The story follows a cart. It starts out at a thrift shop of sorts and is borrowed by a couple of men. They fix it up and paint it and use the cart to carry Martin Luther King Jr.'s coffin through the crowd to the church where his funeral will be held. The cart passes thousands of people who arrived to honor this man. At the end of the funeral service, the cart is returned to the store from which it was borrowed. Many people wanted to buy the cart, but it ended up being sold to the King family.
The pictures in this book are very nice paintings. The illustrations are fairly simple, but work nicely with the story. MLK wanted a simple funeral, and so there are simple illustrations to go along with his wishes.
January 20, 2014
A simple, elegant, humble book that tells the story of the cart used during Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral. The best part of the story is that King's name is not used until the very end. Eve Bunting focuses solely on the solemn atmosphere surrounding King's funeral. The simple short sentences within the text convey much about the history of this event and it's impact.
Don Tate's line-drawn illustrations complement the humble approach of the text. Tate's pictures look much like they were drawn by children of the age to which the book is targeted; 3-6. This allows children to more readily identify with what is taking place within the story. If they pictures look like something you've drawn, you can easily place yourself within the story. Their simplicity also keeps them from overwhelming the description and action within the text.
Don Tate's line-drawn illustrations complement the humble approach of the text. Tate's pictures look much like they were drawn by children of the age to which the book is targeted; 3-6. This allows children to more readily identify with what is taking place within the story. If they pictures look like something you've drawn, you can easily place yourself within the story. Their simplicity also keeps them from overwhelming the description and action within the text.
January 27, 2014
This is the story about the wagon used to move the body of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the first service at Ebenezer Baptist Church to the second service at Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia. The author states that she became interested in the story when she read an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution titled "King's Funeral Wagon Carries Interesting Tale" in April 2008. The wagon is on display at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
This book can be paired with many of the books on Dr. King. The book also talks about the two mules used, Bell and Ada, and can be paired with the book Belle, The Last Mule at Gee's Bend: A Civil Rights Story.
This book can be paired with many of the books on Dr. King. The book also talks about the two mules used, Bell and Ada, and can be paired with the book Belle, The Last Mule at Gee's Bend: A Civil Rights Story.
March 24, 2014
The cart that carried Martin Luther King's casket for the funeral procession was plain. It was old. And it didn't even belong to MLK; it was borrowed. It sat, for sale, outside a store for a very long time because no one wanted it. But the funeral planners thought it was just right for their purposes, so they borrowed it and painted it a plain, grassy green. After the funeral, the cart was returned to the store. It was plain and old and borrowed, but for a while, it carried greatness.
I don't think it would have occurred to too many people to write an entire book on that cart, but Bunting did quite a nice job with it. Both the text and the illustrations are as simple as the cart, a perfect match.
I don't think it would have occurred to too many people to write an entire book on that cart, but Bunting did quite a nice job with it. Both the text and the illustrations are as simple as the cart, a perfect match.
April 26, 2014
This is the story of the cart that carried the body of Martin Luther King in the funeral procession through Atlanta and ultimatly to Morehouse College. It was borrowed from an antique store, painted green and loaded with his body. The highlights of King's life are touched upon along with the feelings of grief felt by the participants and onlookers. The details are highlighted in the gouche paintings while the crowds fade into obscurity. This will be useful with younger readers especially around Martin Luther King Day.
November 9, 2013
This is the story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral told with a special focus on the old cart that moved the casket from site to site until it was placed in its final resting place.
Poetic text is spare and powerful. By trimming the text to just the most descriptive words the author reflects MLK's wishes for an ordinary funeral.
Great history picture book for grades 3-5 with pencil and gouache illustrations that really put the reader in the story and an author's note that sets the scene.
Poetic text is spare and powerful. By trimming the text to just the most descriptive words the author reflects MLK's wishes for an ordinary funeral.
Great history picture book for grades 3-5 with pencil and gouache illustrations that really put the reader in the story and an author's note that sets the scene.
January 28, 2014
The Cart That Carried Martin is based on a newspaper article author Eve Bunting read a about the cart that was used for Dr. King's funeral.
Page 6 Two mules were hitched to the cart.
The mules' names were Belle and Ada.
"Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral," the people told one another. "That is what he wanted."
"The mule is a symbol of freedom," someone said.
"Each slave got a mule and forty acres when he was freed.'"
An excellent story to read aloud yearly to all students (Grades 3-12) to remember MLK. Never knew this about the cart. Powerful story in 32 pages.
Page 6 Two mules were hitched to the cart.
The mules' names were Belle and Ada.
"Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral," the people told one another. "That is what he wanted."
"The mule is a symbol of freedom," someone said.
"Each slave got a mule and forty acres when he was freed.'"
An excellent story to read aloud yearly to all students (Grades 3-12) to remember MLK. Never knew this about the cart. Powerful story in 32 pages.
May 20, 2017
This was really nicely written, but doesn't really provide much historical detail for kids to understand the context of the story. There was a detail in it - that common mules pulled the wagon, and someone mentioned it was a symbol of freedom because each slave go 40 acres and a mule when they were freed. If the book had woven a lot more background details like that into the narrative, I would have loved this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2013
A powerful retelling of the simple antique wagon that carried one of the most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for his funeral procession. The author eloquently reminds us that this cart and the mules that carried the casket were symbols of so much more.We are reminded that these humble items carried greatness and change even beyond the funeral procession that day.
January 8, 2014
Tells of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral through the origins of the simple farm cart in which his casket was carried. I like Bunting's sparse writing style in this one - though simple, along with Tate's illustrations, it carries a lot of impact. Must read-aloud for King's birthday or during Black History Month.
June 4, 2015
*picture book
Interesting story, beautifully written
Probably better for older elementary children who have a better idea of what's happening in the story. My rising kindergartener knows who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is, but she couldn't follow the story. She kept looking for him in the pictures.
I loved the way Bunting told about King's life by describing his funeral route.
Interesting story, beautifully written
Probably better for older elementary children who have a better idea of what's happening in the story. My rising kindergartener knows who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is, but she couldn't follow the story. She kept looking for him in the pictures.
I loved the way Bunting told about King's life by describing his funeral route.
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November 29, 2015Compassion
Oh, the touching message of this story by Eve Bunting! She shares the story of how Martin Luther King, Jr. wished to have his body transported following his death. The simplicity of one of the final acts for Dr. King makes a beautiful story. A wonderful book to talk about the life and death of Dr. King.
Oh, the touching message of this story by Eve Bunting! She shares the story of how Martin Luther King, Jr. wished to have his body transported following his death. The simplicity of one of the final acts for Dr. King makes a beautiful story. A wonderful book to talk about the life and death of Dr. King.
December 2, 2016
This book had me crying. It's really well written and has beautiful illustration. I feel that it imparts the solemnity of Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral and procession. The author shows that by telling what happened by following the cart that carries the coffin. It's powerful and a book that I would use in teaching about Martin Luther King Jr.
November 14, 2013
A nice, simple story centered around the cart that Dr Martin Luther King Jr's casket rode in. Very respectfully done. A number of elements of symbolism are explained. I wish there had been more about Dr King's life. (At least it doesn't seem like enough for my young children.)
January 27, 2014
Based on a newspaper article, gentle watercolor illustrations tell the story of the funeral for MLK focused on the humble cart that carried his casket. Would make a great read aloud, a brief MLK bio is on the last page.
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