Up Next: Jan 17
Welcome to Up Next! This special edition highlights virtual local and national celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and book recommendations from The Novel Neighbor.
National Civil Rights Museum: King Day, A virtual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Jan 18
Stanford University: Where Do We Go From Here?, Webinar & Documentary Film Festival, Through Jan 18
StoryCorps: Stories for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
St. Louis Art Museum: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Celebration, Available Jan 18
Missouri History Museum: MLK Celebration, Commemorating King in St. Louis, Jan 17
UMSL: 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance, featuring artist Brian Owens, Jan 18
Washington University: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week 2021, Jan 18-22
Art Institute of Chicago: Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2021, Week of Jan 18
The King Center: King Holiday, Through Jan 18
California African American Museum: MLK Day Celebration 2021, Jan 18
Doing Good Together: Volunteering and service resources for families, Ongoing
Book Recommendations from The Novel Neighbor
I Am Brave: A Little Book About Martin Luther King Jr, by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos - In board book format, the very youngest readers can learn about one of America's icons. The short text focuses on drawing inspiration from Dr. King, and includes an interactive element and factual tidbits that young kids will be able to connect with. Ages 2+
Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Dream and You, by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ransome - Featuring a dual narrative of the key moments of Dr. King's life alongside a modern class as the students learn about him, the poetic text encapsulates the moments that readers today can reenact in their own lives. See a class of young students as they begin a school project inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and learn to follow his example, as he dealt with adversity and never lost hope that a future of equality and justice would soon be a reality. As times change, Dr. King's example remains, encouraging a new generation of children to take charge and change the world. Ages 4+
A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney - As a new generation of activists demands an end to racism, A Place to Land reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech and the movement that it galvanized. Ages 7+
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrated by Frank Morrison - In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Ages 6+
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr? by Bonnie Bader - this entry in the wildly popular Who Was? series features clearly written text that explains this tumultuous time in history and celebrates the vision and the legacy of a remarkable man. Ages 8+