In January, we celebrate the birthday of Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was born January 15, 1929, but because his birthday is a national holiday it is celebrated on the third Monday of January each year.

Martin Luther King, Jr. day will be January 17 this year. In honor of Dr. King, we will be featuring books about his life for young readers. We’ll also be celebrating the new year and all its possibilities with a collection of books your kids are sure to enjoy.

Wendy’s Winter Walk by Cass Kim M.A. – Take a winter walk and practice the sounds for W, M, B, and P. This book promotes early reading skills. For ages 12 months – 6 years

I am Brave: A Little Book about Martin Luther King Jr. by Brad Meltzer – Facts and interesting details about Dr. King’s life are presented in simple phrases young kids will understand and remember. For ages 2-5

My Magical Choices by Becky Cummings – Kids of all ages will learn about the power of choice and learn to make good choices with this helpful and colorful book. For ages 2-10

Meet January by April Martin – January likes to be warm and cozy. When the winter break is almost over, she thinks about staying in her warm bed instead of going out in the cold to go to school. January misses her friends and wants to wish them all a happy new year, but will she wake up in time to get to school? for ages 3-9

Edible Crafts Kids’ Cookbook by Charity Mathews – Twenty-five fun projects for kids to make and eat. For ages 4-8

The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Christine Platt – From a young age, Dr. King understood the need for racial equality in the United States. He was an avid reader who enjoyed school. Growing up it became painfully obvious that segregation was keeping Black people from opportunities they needed to be successful. Follow along as he grew up to become the most important Civil Rights leader in American history. For ages 6-8

Celebrating Chinese New Year by Eugenia Chu – Learn about the history, traditions, and activities that occur during the Chinese New Year. For ages 6-9

Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids by Arlisha Norwood – Readers will enjoy interesting biographies about historic Black heroes in Africa, The United Kingdom, and the United States including Dr. King. For ages 8-12

Crazy Contraptions by Laura Perdew – Build Rube Goldberg-type machines that swoop, spin, stack, and swivel. For ages 9-13

New Year by Mei Zihan – During the Lunar New Year families are supposed to come together, but a father is missing his daughter who has left the country to start a new job. Bringing in the new year is a wonderful time to think about what it means to grow up and leave home and loved ones behind while remaining a family. For ages 9-18