Martin's Dream Day

October 17, 2016
The author of numerous celebrity biographies, Kelley ventures into children’s books with this photographic account of the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The mostly black-and-white photos—many of which were published for the first time in Kelley and the late Tretick’s Let Freedom Ring (2013)—include dense crowd scenes that give a strong sense of the scale of the march, as well as close-up images of a passionate King, civil rights activists, and a meeting between King and President Kennedy (whose professional and personal life Tretick famously documented). Kelley succinctly guides readers through highlights of the civil rights movement leading up to and following King’s speech, as well as the key role played by those who “responded to his call” to convene in the nation’s capital: “Farmers, fireman, policemen, secretaries, doctors, lawyers, plumbers—all came to Washington to tell Congress to pass the law that would give everyone the same rights.” Tretick’s singular photographs deliver a striking perspective on a momentous event in the ongoing quest for equality in America. Ages 5–up. Agent: Wayne Kabak, WSK Management.

November 1, 2016
Celebrity biographer Kelley offers an account of the 1963 March on Washington, paired to the images of acclaimed photojournalist Tretick.This was a critically important event in the civil right movement, but the book fails to capture its energy and significance. The narrative seesaws between florid ("Martin did not give up. He blew the trumpet of hope") and dull ("It was the largest assembly ever gathered at the feet of Lincoln, and the gathering was joyful"), resulting in an informative but not particularly inspiring read. In an afterword, Kelley explains her impetus for writing the book was "to share the photographs of my friend Stanley Tretick..., so children can see not simply illustrations, but real-life images from the March on Washington." Tretick's images are indeed arresting, but the unimaginative, cluttered arrangements of the uncaptioned photographs make the book look more like a scrapbook than a historical chronicle of a landmark event. Descriptions of some photos are appended, but young readers will not know to look there. There are no source notes or bibliography, but a few websites are cited for those seeking further information. This subject is more engagingly and insightfully addressed in numerous other age-appropriate books. A bland, undistinguished photo essay of a milestone event in American history. (Informational picture book. 7-10)

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December 1, 2016

K-Gr 3-This photographic journey chronicles the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Tretick's photos, many of which were taken during the actual march, are a display of the expression and energy of the event and the people who attended. Kelley briefly uses the first half of the work to place King, the civil rights movement, and the steps leading up to the day (including President John F. Kennedy's involvement and Congress's resistance) into context. Then comes a retelling of the rally (Camilla Williams's singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," King's impromptu decision to set aside his prepared speech, etc.). The emphasis on how long King had to work to come to this pivotal moment ("He had traveled 275,000 miles that year and given 350 speeches") will aid students in understanding the breadth of the civil rights movement. VERDICT A powerful addition to school libraries for read-alouds and discussions on U.S. history and the civil rights movement.-April Sanders, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2016
Grades 3-6 This young readers version of Let Freedom Ring (2013) features the work of Stanley Tretick, a photographer from Look magazine. His archival photos document Martin Luther King's address at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963his I Have a Dream speech. The text provides historical context and repeatedly describes the number of people who came to the Washington Mall, but the period black-and-white photos truly capture the sheer masses, from perspiring figures in suits and ties to those dangling their feet in the reflecting pond. These images make it easy to understand why Marian Anderson, who was supposed to sing the Star-Spangled Banner, was unable to make it through the crowd. Younger readers may have difficulty with some of the denser blocks of text, despite the oversize font. Older students can concentrate on the historical visual references, ranging from fashions to transportation to signage (consider the lack of cell phones). This is a refreshing way to look at an iconic event from American history and should have broad appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
This book pulls back the curtain on the 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech, using iconic documentary images by photojournalist Tretick to show MLK, other civil rights leaders, and ordinary citizens on the historic day from a new, you-are-there angle. Candids, panoramas, negatives, and portraits are among the photo types that help tell the story alongside the well-written text. Websites.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)