As Good As Anybody: Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom

Author: Richard Michelson

Illustrator: Raul Colón

Peach’s Picks Rating:
 


Year of publication: 2008

City of publication: New York

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

ISBN: 9780375833359

Author website: http://richardmichelson.com/

Illustrator website: http://www.morgangaynin.com/colon/(accessed through Morgan Gaynin, Inc. Illustrations Representatives)

Media used for illustrations: Colored pencil and watercolor

Annotation: Brief biographies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel blend the stories of these social justice icons. Their alliance and friendship gave strength to the American Civil Rights movement.

Personal reaction to the book: This picturebook is a powerful melding of text and illustrations that give a remarkable depth of information about Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Heschel, and how life events formed their driving passion to promote civil and social justice. Each man was faced with discrimination; King as a black child growing up in the American south and Heschel as a Polish Jew during the Nazi time of power. The story moves along quickly, first giving a succinct account of King’s life then treating Heschel’s life in the same manner. The author parallels incidents of social injustice that eventually unite the two men as leaders in the American Civil Rights movement during the 1960s. Raul Colón created the illustrations for King’s story using earthy shades. He uses blue shades when illustrating Heschel’s story. On the last illustrated page, Colón brings the two color families together representing the unity of the two men who came from different worlds. Stirring quotes from each man introduce the story. The book reminds readers that the American Civil Rights movement involved people of all colors and faiths, not just African-Americans. The book reads aloud well. The text can be seen by a group of students during a read-aloud. There is much to discuss in the text and the illustrations. An educator may decide to prepare students prior to using the book. Students may not be familiar with the Ku Klux Klan, segregation, and discrimination against Jews. Or, this book may be the starting point for discussions of these topics as well as others. End notes give additional information enhancing the understanding of the events described. Do not just trot this book out in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and Black History Month. It can be used throughout the year to discuss prejudice and discrimination. Pair with “Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids” published by National Geographic, 2009.

General curricular connections:

• Civil rights
• United States history / Civil Rights movement
• Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
• Race relations

Specific example of curricular connection matched to State Standards:
Subject: History
Grade level: 11

Standards:

California State Standards

History – Social Studies Content Standards for Public Schools: Kindergarten through Grade 12

Grade 11 United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century

11.10 Students analyze the development of federal civil rights and voting rights.

4. Examine the roles of civil rights advocates (e.g., A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, Thurgood Marshall, James Farmer, Rosa Parks), including the significance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream” speech.

Recommended grade levels:

School Library Journal recommends the book for use with grades 2-5

Booklist recommends the book for use with grades 2-4

Peach’s Picks recommends the book for use with grades 3 and up

Awards/Recognitions:

Booklist starred review

Kirkus Review starred review

Sydney Taylor Award Gold Medal, 2009

Skipping Stones Honor Award, 2009

Note: This book is included in Assignment 2.

Repetition: Use of various forms of the word “march” found on pages 14, 15, 30, 32, and 34.

Repetition: Use of the phrase “You’re as good as anybody.” Found on pages 8, 10, and 18.

Repetition: Use of phrases containing the word “stomp”. Found on pages 4, 27, and 33.

Repetition: Themes are repeated. King and Heschel are both excluded from the predominant society; both fathers are spiritual leaders; both men feel a strong sense of social justice and promote their beliefs

Symbolism: Page 29; The Statue of Liberty representing freedom from persecution

Simile: Page 36; “I feel like my legs are praying.”

Book cover picture retrieved from http://richardmichelson.com/RM_Childrens.html