Large photographs of events in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and scenes from the segregated South draw young readers into this pared-down biography. Two to four sentences per page lay out the facts: "At that time, blacks were not treated the same as whites. The two groups were kept apart." This will work for one-on-one reading and classroom use, but the gaps between the dots may raise more questions than they answer. "In 1963, King led a peaceful walk," for instance, is followed on the next page by, "On April 4, 1968, King was shot and killed." Although the brevity of the sentences is ideal for the target audience, the text manages to gloss over some pertinent context that's essential for grasping the scope of what Dr. King faced. Perhaps the best use of this book is to page through the excellent suite of photos, soliciting questions and providing answers, telling the small children as much about Dr. King as they seem ready to understand.

Gr 5-9 This book covers most of the high points of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and explains his role in shaping American history. However, some information has been omitted, such as the fact that he was not "Martin Luther" at birth but was given that name as a child when his father renamed both of them at the same time. Kumar's photorealistic illustrations are colorful, but his use of shadowing is sometimes excessive to the point of being distracting. The book would be most useful for reluctant readers who would like to learn more about King's life and understand why he is considered a hero. A foldout time line called "From Chains to Freedom: Black Emancipation in America" runs from slavery in the 1600s to the beginning of Barack Obama's presidency in 2009. Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library