A Place to Land by Barry Wittenstein & Illus by Jerry Pinkney

Another MLK Jr. book? Yes, please! This was one of those books I wasn't sure about on the first read through. It seemed to be a non-story in some ways. It tells the back story on the famous "I have a dream speech" which is basically, Martin went off script.

But the more I read it, the more nuanced it is. There is still so much to say and learn about this man, the things he did, and the words he said. 

Pinkney is no slouch--this is before the title page, which is often left blank, but not here. 

The night before the speech, Martin didn't know what to say. 

So Martin did what great men do. 

He asked for guidance. 

Not from above.

At least not at first. 

They all had their say, including an adviser saying he had used the "I have a dream" line too often and it could not be used effectively again. 

Part of Martin's greatness--he knew 

the importance of listening. 

I love these two excerpts that show the humility of truly great men. 

After listening, he went upstairs and thought about all the people who went before him in this fight and what they would want him to say. 

Detailed view.

Seriously, Pinkney puts so much in each picture--textured and layered. 

Martin wrote late into the night. 

Words crossed out three, four times, searching for the perfect meaning and rhythm. 

Even Martin, as brilliant as he was, edited and rewrote.

I love the collage elements over in the left hand corner here. 

The next morning, people came from all over the country to Washington--to be met with soldiers in riot gear. 

Map collages are never not a wonderful addition. 

Even an hour before he was supposed to speak, Martin kept thinking about what to say, things did not feel totally settled. He hadn't found his place to land yet. 

Martin began his speech and then, paused. He wasn't feeling inspired, so his audience wasn't either. 

Mahalia Jackson, the "Queen of Gospel," told him to tell the people about the dream.

And then came some of the most inspiring words America had heard in years. 

Afterward, people joined hands and sang, "We shall overcome."

And Martin went to the White House to shake hands with JFK who had been slow to embrace the civil rights movement and tried to convince its leaders to cancel the march. 

Students are often surprised that a president would work against Martin Luther King Jr. How could any right thinking person disagree with him? Some great conversations about that. 

Martin stepped up to the lectern, 

and stepped down on the other side of history. 

And then the ones who came after.

Mini-biographies of the people pictured advising Martin.