I’ve Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A stunning picture book biography of the civil rights icon from the author of two Newbery Honor Books and six Coretta Scott King Awardees. Set against key moments of the civil rights movement, here is the story of the powerful, eloquent spiritual leader and his belief that nonviolence could be used as a tool to begin to address racial discrimination.

Walter Dean Myers’s moving narrative and Leonard Jenkins’s compelling paintings convey a vivid and striking image of the man who moved American society closer to the ideals of freedom and fairness.

＂In a clear and cogent manner, Myers frames King’s political efforts and his belief in nonviolent demonstration for change with information about the personal consequences to the man and his family. Jenkins’s stunning collage artwork dramatically reflects the events described in the narrative.＂ (School Library Journal)

＂Jenkins’ dramatic, double-page collage illustrations set close-up portraits of the leader against crowd scenes of political marches and violent conflict. Then, after the glory of the March on Washington, there’s a double-page spread showing the horror of the Birmingham deaths. The book ends with King’s assassination, but words and pictures show his strength and his enduring message against racism and for peace.＂ (Booklist)

＂There’s always room for another book about the heroic leader, especially when it’s a picture-book biography as good as this one.＂ (Kirkus)