Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: ...I was very impressed with how the book was written. I was able to learn something myself that I didn't know. I think the pictures bring out the picture of Martin standing tall as an activist in those days. i enjoyd reading things that Martin said himself, things that was quoted in the book.
Rating:
Summary: 1st time reader
Review: ...I was very impressed with how the book was written. I was able to learn something myself that I didn't know. I think the pictures bring out the picture of Martin standing tall as an activist in those days. i enjoyd reading things that Martin said himself, things that was quoted in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous
Review: A mavelous book. Well written and beautiful art work. With simple words and simple style, will bring you to tears by the end. A wonderful way to introduce teachings of peace, justice, and a belief in God that leads to change to children. We read this book every year on MLK Day and my young sons talk about MLK all the time.
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous
Review: A mavelous book. Well written and beautiful art work. With simple words and simple style, will bring you to tears by the end. A wonderful way to introduce teachings of peace, justice, and a belief in God that leads to change to children. We read this book every year on MLK Day and my young sons talk about MLK all the time.
Rating:
Summary: A WELL OF LIGHT!
Review: Artist Bryan Collier could have written an illustrator's note many times the length of the illuminating on he gifted to the viewers of Martin's Big Words. There is so much there. In his note, Collier touched upon the symbolism he chose to collage throughout the book, and gave the example of the four candles-each representing one of the four girls who were killed in a bombing of a church in racially torn and hostile Birmingham, Alabama. However, as Collier certainly knows, a symbol just won't work without precise attention to composition, media, tone and light. Additionally, a symbol just won't work if it is entirely cliché and/or pedantic... something the young viewer has seen so many times before that it's become commercial or kitsch, or (possibly worse) a symbol that is so obvious, it doesn't trust or condescends its viewer. Symbolism is new, is magic when under Collier's spell, as is a symbol's treatment in its composition, media, tone and light. Through the selection of his collage materials and his expert piecing, his art affixes a refreshing portrait of King to the hearts of the viewers. For example, we cannot seem to look at a page of this book, even without prior knowledge, without knowing that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man deeply committed to his Christian faith. King, besides appearing before symbolism layered in panes of stained glass, is bathed in a well of light, each time he appears.
Symbolism is not used at the expense of the gesture, the line, or the expression in the body or face of a human figure. Perspective is turned, just slightly, on its heel, so that a viewer cannot possibly miss that look, or that strong arm thrust skyward, or those four prominent candles. We know this is a book about big things, big words, without any word needlessly appearing on its cover. Instead, a portrait of King greets the viewer.
It's true, we have many books on King. We have books. King is s familiar figure to the young reader. That said, we may well need Collier's interpretation of King, Collier's collage, where King and what things King stood for are turned, so slightly, on their heel, pieced and placed onto a young person's memory, affixed like a piece of priceless material, immaterial in its effect on Civil Rights and the future.
Rating:
Summary: Simply amazing!
Review: I bought this book, not really knowing much about it. Once I opened it up, saw the beautiful artwork and imagery and read the story, I was amazed. This book gives an excellent, truthful, beautiful portrayal of a restless time in our history. The final page with the picture of Martin in the stained glass windows, overlooking four candles which represent the four little girls who died in the Birmingham church bombing was beautiful. Yes, it's true: some of this history might be frightening for small children. But the theme is important: Dr. King taught people to use their voices, not their fists. As long as a parent is engaged enough to talk about this with their child, the child should have no problem hearing, reading and loving this book. Now I want to buy a copy for every kid (and adult) I know.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Incredible
Review: I was able to enjoy this book while on a field trip to a local library with my group of 5 and 6 year old Kindergarten and First Grade students. Not only was I impressed by the way the book was presented (great illustrations matched with wonderful words). but each and every student was entralled. Even though they each know that MLK, Jr. is deceased, they all gasped at the words "... he was shot. He died". Listed in the back of the book is important dates and additional books and websites. The book holds hope for generations to come. It is definitely a "must-buy" book.
Rating:
Summary: Illustrations are exceptional
Review: Informative text The illustrations enhance the appeal of the book. Very useful when presetning to groups of students.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Wonderful Book!
Review: Martin Luther King JR., is truly a man. Long ago there was racism in many places all over the USA. They treated blacks differently. They treated them harshly. Very mean. Police beat them. Dogs bit them. What they did was mean. Martin made a difference with his words. He made a big difference. Racism finally stopped. "Martin,You made a difference. You changed everything. I love you, Martin."
Rating: 
Summary: There's Something Wrong Here ...
Review: Martin Luther King was a man of BIG words. When others said "hate", Martin said "love." When others said "separate", he said "together." And when he heard others say "war", Martin said "peace." "Sooner or later, all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together." Martin always went where he was needed in the struggle for equality. He shared his dreams and filled people with hope. "He walked with them and talked with them and sang with them and prayed with them." Doreen Rappaport has written a simple and inspirational picture-book biography that combines her quiet, yet powerful prose, with Dr King's own "big words." Her text emphasises his courage and strong committment to non-violence, equal rights, and the civil rights movement. "White ministers told them to stop. Mayors and governors and police chiefs and judges ordered them to stop. But they kept on marching." Bryan Collier's watercolor and cut paper collage illustrations are stunning and evocative, and together word and art create a passionate and powerful tribute to a great man of peace. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Martin's Big Words is an engaging and elegant introduction to a man who stood up and struggled to change America and the world, and includes a marvelous timeline of important dates and additional books and web sites to explore. "His big words are alive for us today."
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