MARCH ON!

Farris, the sister of Martin Luther King Jr., offers her own singular perspective on the historic March on Washington and her brother’s memorable “I Have a Dream” speech. More oral history than a strictly fact-based narrative, Farris’s voice and that of her famous brother come through free, loud and clear. The impact is both inspiring and affecting. The book’s ingenious design allows for double-duty: Each block of text includes one sentence that is set off in large, bold uppercase letters. These phrases (e.g.: “THE SEA OF MARCHERS PARTED FOR MARTIN AND HIS FRIENDS”) facilitate easy group sharing while helping less confident readers manage the book on their own. Ladd, a talented figure painter and first-time picture-book illustrator, offers his own fresh and affecting take on these now familiar events; his images expand and enliven the well-known facts and ably expand on Farris’s powerful family story. This is an essential addition to family, church, school and public-library collections. (Informational picture book. 7-12)