Martin's Big Words

Martin's Big Words

Written by: Doreen Rappaport

Illustrated by: Bryan Collier
Published by: Hyperion Books for Children 2001

Grades: 2-6
Genre: Historical, Picture Book
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Award

Synopsis: This book is a biography of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  It uses brief sentence strucutre and phrases Dr. King said to highlight key points in Dr. King's life.   In the beginning of the story, Martin reads a “White Only” sign in his hometown which sets the stage of the struggles he will endure throughout it and the perseverence he uses to overcome it.  In the book, Martin grows up and becomes a preacher.  He studied Gandhi’s writings and put his ideas into practice at the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  He did other civil rights demonstrations and gave speeches across the nation that many people came to listen to. The events help children understand why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is such a big influence and heroic figure of his time.

Theme/Skill: It talks about themes of rights, freedom, equality, love, justice, and moral decisions of right and wrong. 

About the Author: Doreen Rappaport

Doreen was born and raised in New York City.  Doreen went to Brandeis University and majored in music.  After she graduated she taught music and reading for seven years in New Rochelle, New York in junior high schools.  In 1965, she taught at a freedom school in McComb, Mississippi.  While she was there, she met many African American who were deprived of rights that she took for granted.  As a result of this, she decided to set out and write about unknown heroes that have fought for their rights.  She wanted to write about this lost history that she did not know of.  Doreen loves to travel, cook, garden, visit schools, and talk to children.  She now resides in New York City and Copake Falls, New York with her husband.

Source used: http://www.doreenrappaport.com

Pre-Reading Activities:  Play a recording and hand out a copy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I have a Dream” speech for the class.  While listening, students can highlight key words of phrases on their sheets that they believe are important that Dr. King stated.  A student will be chosen to be a scribe to chart the key words and phrases students have come up with.  Other words or phrases not mentioned in the speech that promote diversity and equality can also be written down. 

Post-Reading Activities:  After reading, the class will discuss the reading by answering questions in their journals.  Such questions would include: What did Martin notice as a little boy that made him want to help people? How would you feel if you couldn’t do something because of one of your unique characteristics?  Then coming back as a whole class we will discuss what they learned.  Then individually students will use the phrases and words written down in the pre-reading activity to help write their own “I have a Dream” speech.  They will be submitted and then a few winners could be selected to read this at an assembly for Martin Luther King, Jr. or during black history month.

Reflection: I like how this book sends such a strong message, but uses such a simple structure and wording that children will understand. It doesn't use too many difficult words or scenes that young children would not understand that his rights were being denied and that life was not equal for all people. I also like how pictures coincide with the words. For example, it says on one page, "Everywhere in Martin's hometown he saw signs, WHITE ONLY." Accompanying this line was a picture of Martin standing with his mother next to two water fountains that read "White Only." Having the pictures coincide with the wording helps lower readers understand the book better and the concepts they are trying to get across. In the book, I think it was important that the author incorporated some of Dr. King's words throughout the book. This allows children to get a feel of who Dr. King was and also allows teachers to use the book in a variety of ways. 

For more ideas visit: http://www.biff.bm/files/12/files/martins_big_words.pdf