Dear Dr. King: Letters from Today's Children to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Hardcover

Grade 1-8AThis compilation of contemporary letters from Memphis school children to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is both poignant and witty. The young writers speak of fears and hatreds, hopes and dreams. They point out how far we have come in the area of race relations and yet how far we have to go. The students speak to Dr. King as if he were a close friend still with us and, perhaps, that is his greatest legacyAthat today's young people, both black and white, feel a personal connection to him. The book is a technical jewel. Each of the letters is set in blue, black, or white type in varying sizes and shapes; they are often superimposed on black-and-white photographs. The muted photos include images from the Civil Rights struggle as well as those of unidentified young people. Classroom teachers will want to use these letters to inspire their own students to begin a dialogue on race.AEunice Weech, M. L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4^-7. Letters from children, black and white, written to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the suggestion of a group of Memphis teachers, are the heart of this well-designed book, which mixes photos of contemporary kids with shots that reflect the struggle for civil rights that took place during the 1960s. The writers, ranging in age from 6 to 12, address King with an easy familiarity, telling bits about themselves ("You may be upset with me because I've been in fights"), posing questions, explaining how things have changed and what still needs to be accomplished, or expressing thanks. The design is attractive, with layout, type size, and font varying from page to page, making each letter seem unique. This will be a good adjunct to the study of the civil rights movement or Dr. King's life, with a number of the letters making excellent read-alouds, and some children will surely be inspired to do a little letter writing of their own. Stephanie Zvirin