Fredrick L. McKissack Jr.

There are three reasons I liked this book: the organization, the pictures, and the glossary. This is a nonfiction book about Martin Luther King Jr. and the holiday celebrating him. The book is divided into ten topics. The idea is to count to ten with the book. I think this made the book easier to understand and more interactive.

Each page asked a question about a number that explained a different piece of civil rights history. The first question was “How many Nobel Peace Prizes were given to Martin Luther King Jr.?” The answer “one,” begins the count and informs the reader. The format of the book allows the reader to skip to different questions and learn about diverse topics. It also keeps the reader engaged and wondering what is next in the countdown.

The pictures of the book added to the accuracy and detail of the information. Many of the pictures are of Martin Luther King Jr., his family, his colleagues, and of his visits with two U.S. presidents. The photographs of him provide a window into history and allow the reader to see him actively fighting for civil rights. I liked that the pictures helped me connect the information to his actions.

The glossary also helped explain many challenging and crucial topics. Located on the first few pages of the book, the glossary prepares the reader for the information. It explains civil rights, activists, and equality. It provides simple explanations such as “civil rights-freedom that belongs to all people” for complex ideas.

The big idea of this book is civil rights and activism. Throughout the book, the authors suggest that Martin Luther King Jr. day is a day to volunteer in remembrance of a great civil rights leader. They describe the holiday not as “a day off” but as “a day on.” Overall, I thought it was a high quality nonfiction book that I enjoyed.… (mehr)