We recently celebrated our newest federal holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A federal holiday since 1986, it wasn’t until 2000 that every state declared the day a holiday.
A more recent custom has been to combine MLK Day with a day of service. As the song from South Pacific says, Children need to be carefully taught. It’s never too soon to teach our children about each person’s responsibility to others.
The following children’s books-some Jewish themed and some general interest- make excellent reading while the lessons of Martin Luther King, Jr. are still fresh in our minds.
Antony, Green Lizards vs. Red Triangles. The rival triangles find a way to work together.
Coles, The Story of Ruby Bridges. Six year old Ruby is the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school.
Da Costa, Snow in Jerusalem. Two boys in Jerusalem, one Jewish and one Muslim, discover that they have both been caring for a stray cat.
Deedy, The Yellow Star. The legend of King Christian X of Denmark tells how the king supported his Jewish citizens during World War II by wearing a yellow star as they did.
Elvgren, The Whispering Town. A family in World War II Denmark hides Jews until it’s safe for them to leave their hiding place.
Johnson, A Sweet Smell of Roses. Two young girls sneak off to march with Martin Luther King, Jr.
Levine. Henry’s Freedom Box. In 1849, Henry Brown, a Virginia slave, escapes to freedom by shipping himself to Philadelphia in a wooden box.
Markel, Brave Girl: Clara and the shirtwaist makers’ strike of 1909. The story of the young immigrant woman who led the largest strike of women factory workers.
Michelson, Across the Alley. Jewish Abe wants to play baseball; African-American Willie wants to play the violin. So they switch.
Michelson, As Good As Anybody. Celebrates the remarkable friendship of Martin Luther King Jr and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.
Naliboff, The Only One Club. Jennifer, the only Jewish child in her class, celebrates her uniqueness and inspires her classmates to do the same.
Polacco, Mrs. Katz and Tush. A long-lasting friendship develops between a young African-American boy and Mrs. Katz, a lonely Jewish widow.
Ramsey, Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend. This lowly mule played a part in the struggle for civil rights.
Robinson, Jackie’s Gift. A story that asks people to look beyond race and religion and into their hearts.
Schwartz, Gathering Sparks. A grandfather explains tikkun olam to his grandson.
Weatherford, Dear Mr. Rosenwald. Julius Rosenwald, a wealthy Jewish businessman, helped build hundreds of schools for African-American children throughout the South.
Weber, The Yankee at the Seder. On the day after the Civil War has ended, a southern family shares its Passover seder with a Union soldier who won their hearts.
Zalben, Light. Retells the midrash about the creation of light and repairing the world.
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