A Great Writer ~ Martin Luther King

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia,
the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners
will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.
– Martin Luther King, "I Have a Dream"


Today we celebrated the legacy of the late Reverend Martin Luther King, even more meaningful this year because it was also the second Presidential Inauguration Day for Barack Obama. Yes, a black man was elected President not once, but twice. And the crowds cheered on the Mall in Washington D.C., as they did for Rev. King when he delivered his "I Have a Dream Speech" fifty years ago this year.

Martin Luther King Quotes on Goodreads

Text of Martin Luther King's Speeches with Audio and some Video

That historic "I Have a Dream" speech is a beautifully illustrated book for children by Kadir Nelson:


Random House Children's Books (RandomHouse.com/Kids) announces the publication of the highly anticipated picture book, I HAVE A DREAM, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s celebrated speech illustrated with exquisite paintings by celebrated artist and Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson (On sale October 9, 2012 / $18.99). Published by the Schwartz & Wade Books imprint, the package includes an audio CD of King's original speech as given on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington.

"My father's dream continues to live on from generation to generation," said Dr. Bernice A. King. "This beautiful and powerful illustrated edition of his world-changing "I Have a Dream" speech brings his inspiring message of freedom, equality, and peace to the youngest among us-those who will one day carry his dream forward for everyone."

Nelson's oil paintings magnificently capture the power and emotion of Dr. King's words, resulting in a poignant depiction of that memorable occasion.

Publishers Weekly raves in a starred review, "There's something exhilarating about viewing Nelson's paintings of Dr. King and the March on Washington while reading the words of the speech King gave that day; it's hard to imagine a better representation of their historical significance."

Nelson selected the most iconic passage of Dr. King's speech to illustrate in I HAVE A DREAM. The full text is provided at the end of the book.

I HAVE A DREAM will join Dr. King's legacy and help lay the groundwork for teaching a new generation of young children about one of our nation's most celebrated historical figures.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of MLK JR.'s iconic speech on August 28, 2013, I HAVE A DREAM will be part of conversations throughout 2013 at multiple milestones leading up to it, including King's birthday in January; Black History Month in February and the Letter from Birmingham Jail anniversary in April.

Random House will simultaneously release a Read & Listen ebook edition that gives readers the unique experience of listening to Dr. King's inspiring voice while reading along and following Nelson's exquisite illustrations.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was a clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Prize for his work to end racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolent means.

Please visit www.thekingcenter.org for more about Dr. King, his work and life.

KADIR NELSON is the acclaimed illustrator of Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom and Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad, both Caldecott Honor books. His other titles include We Are the Ship, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner and Coretta Scott King Award recipient, and Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African-Americans.