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

by Barry Wittenstein

Much has been written about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1963 March on Washington. But there’s little on his legendary speech and how he came to write it.  Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. No, he said. The hardest part is knowing where to end. “It’s terrible to be circling up there without a place to land.” Finding this place to land was what Martin Luther King, Jr. struggled with, alongside advisors and fellow speechwriters, in the Willard Hotel the night before the March on Washington, where he gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

I am Martin Luther King, Jr. (Ordinary People Change the World) by Brad Meltzer

As a child, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shocked by the terrible and unfair way African American people were treated. When he grew up, he decided to do something about it—peacefully, with powerful words. Included is a timeline of key events, photos, comic-book-style illustrations, and childhood moments that influenced Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. (Little People, BIG DREAMS, 33) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Little Martin grew up in a family of preachers: his dad was a preacher, his uncle was a preacher, his grandfather was a preacher…so maybe he’d become a great preacher too. One day, a friend invited him to play at his house. Martin was shocked when his mother wouldn’t let him in because he was black. That day he realized there was something terribly unfair going on. Martin believed that no one should remain silent and accept something if it’s wrong. And he promised himself that—when he grew up—he’d fight injustice with the most powerful weapon of all: words. This moving book features stylish illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with photos and a profile of the activist’s life.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport

This biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words. The author uses quotes from some of MLK’s most beloved speeches to tell the story of his life and his work in a direct way.

My Little Golden Book About Martin Luther King Jr. by Bonnie Bader

This Little Golden Book for preschoolers captures the essence of Martin Luther King, Jr. for the littlest readers. They’ll learn how his childhood in segregated Atlanta—and in his father’s church—shaped the future civil rights leader. And they’ll gain a clear understanding of the way he became an eloquent, powerful voice for African Americans.