The granddaughter of civil rights activists Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King is writing a picture book about her grandparents, the Associated Press reports.
Scholastic will publish We Dream a World: Carrying the Light From My Grandparents Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, written by Yolanda Renee King, 15, next year. The book is illustrated by Nicole Tadgell.
In a statement, Yolanda said, “I’m excited to share this love letter in his honor. This book lets every child rediscover my grandparents’ dream.”
Yolanda is the daughter of Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King. She has followed in the footsteps of her grandparents as a civil rights activist, speaking at schools including Clemson University and events such as the 2018 March for Our Lives rally.
Tadgell is a watercolor artist who has illustrated more than 30 children’s books, including Josias, Hold the Book, written by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren, and Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip, written by Michael W. Waters.
On an Amazon page for Yolanda’s book, Scholastic writes, “Her words are meaningful and universal, painting an expressive tableau of the issues facing young people today—racial equality, bullying, gun violence, climate change, disease, community, empowerment, inclusion, and more. Yolanda’s words will comfort and inspire the next generation of dreamers.”
We Dream a World is slated for publication on Jan. 2, 2024.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
