MY UNCLE MARTIN'S BIG HEART

MY UNCLE MARTIN'S BIG HEART

Written by: Angela Farris Watkins Illustrated by: Eric Velasquez
eBook| Pages: 32
USD:$15.54
ISBN: 9781647004477
Publication Date: 12/22/2020

Abrams Books for Young Readers
Age: 5 - 7 years

About the Book

A moving portrait of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. from his niece
 
My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart is a story about love: love between a young girl and her uncle, and all the love she sees her uncle share—with his family members, with his church congregation, and with all people. In this inspiring narrative about Martin Luther King Jr.—told by his niece—young readers will discover the story of the man behind the civil rights hero and activist, one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century.
 
As Angela Farris Watkins, PhD, introduces children to her uncle, she presents them with a rare glimpse into his life at home, including special family moments. What unfolds is a story of character and service to God, family, and humankind, and of how one man’s extraordinary love changed the history of the United States and the world.

★★★THE REVIEWS ARE IN!★★★

Martin Luther King's niece offers a child's-eye tribute to her famous uncle, whom she remembers as warm and loving, a man with a loud voice who enjoyed a good laugh. The author was not yet four when King was assassinated but tells her first-person story in a slightly older voice. Velasquez's paintings match that, showing a pigtailed girl of five or six, as well as King in a variety of settings: speaking, preaching and leading marchers, visiting her family and at home with his own. The emphasis is on King's love for his extended family as well as his country and its people. The intended audience may find the chronology confusing, with appealing stories of early-childhood encounters coming before the telegram congratulating her mother on her birth. But the image of King sleeping on the couch with shoes on will stick with them, humanizing a man who has become an icon. This unusual perspective and the dramatic art make this a worthwhile addition to the ever-growing MLK collection. Kirkus

K-Gr 3—A niece recalls the times she spent as a young girl with her famous uncle. "He was a great civil rights leader and an American hero….His name was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But to me, it was Uncle Martin. Actually, it was Uncle M.L." Watkins briefly mentions some of the famous events associated with King during the civil-rights era, such as protest marches and speeches, but the focus is on the special relationship the child shared with a favorite uncle and the details she remembers, such as his humor and laughter. An apt example is an illustration in which the author races down the aisle after services at Ebenezer and into the outstretched arms of her uncle. Realistic and warm paintings fill each page. Combine this memoir with Christine King Farris's My Brother Martin (S & S, 2003) and March on! The Day My Brother Martin Changed The World (Scholastic, 2008). These books written by close relatives give young children a valuable and more personal insight into the man's family life and times.—Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Watkins's narrative provides a warm and intimate glimpse into the life of "Uncle M.L.," Martin Luther King Jr., as a gentle and fun-loving man spending time with his family. Young readers will delight in the laughter, the teasing, the indulgence allowed during church service, etc. Warm-hued paintings capture the spirit of the man at work and at rest. School Library Journal