Martin Rising: Requiem For a King

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Martin Rising: Requiem For a King was written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney. It was published by Scholastic Inc in 2018. This illustrated book has 128 pages. [1] The illustrator, Brian Pinkney was born in Boston, Massachusetts, The United States. He was raised in an artistic household. He said that his two brothers and sister and him liked to play musical instruments, and they were always drawing, painting, or building things. The illustrator once recalled of his childhood. While his mother, children's book author Gloria Jean Pinkney, would inspire all her children with a love of reading, it would be his father, illustrator Jerry Pinkney, who would serve as a mentor to young Brian. [2]

Summary

In a rich embroidery of visions, musical cadence, and deep emotion, Andrea and Brian Pinkney convey the final months of Martin Luther King's life -- and of his assassination -- through metaphor, spirituality, and multilayers of meaning.

Andrea's stunning poetic requiem, illustrated with Brian's lyrical and colorful artwork, brings a fresh perspective to Martin Luther King, the Gandhi-like, peace-loving activist whose dream of equality -- and whose courage to make it happen -- changed the course of American history. And even in his death, he continues to transform and inspire all of us who share his dream. [1]

Pros

Barbara, one of the readers told the reason why she gave this book five stars. It because the book was divided into three sections: Daylight, Darkness, and Dawn, and leaves readers with the hope that the dream MLK foresaw can still live on and still be reached. But the King that Pinkney portrays here was not just the leader and the orator, but the father and the husband, and the tired man looking forward to a good home-cooked meal while on the road. For those who didn't understand why he was in Memphis, and why his loss was so great, this book offers a personal, emotional response and some answers. It was also impossible to miss the great impact of faith and churches in this civil rights journey as well as the author's acknowledgement of the importance of the weather and the changing of the seasons. Reflections from the author and from the artist as well as archival photos in the Now Is the Time section as well as source listings help readers visualize this time period. Other reader named Jason Rossi added the comment about this book, it was brightly colored book shared the inspirational life that Martin Luther King, Jr. so shortly lived. The Pinkney husband and wife team have received the highest honors and awards for all the work they have contributed to children’s literature. They did an exceptional job shining a light on the work that King did during his life as a minister and civil rights activist. The watercolor painting throughout the book evoke emotions and help set the mood. The mood changes throughout the book, and the painting shades and tones fit together seamlessly with the words on the page. The poetry was meaningful and at times heartbreaking, and leaves some of the details to the readers imagination which can be confusing to younger readers that aren’t familiar with the complexities of King’s life. Some of the poetry is esoteric, filled symbolism and metaphor. [2]

A reviewed was made by Publishers Weekly, on their site they explained that Brian Pinkney paints with gentle, rounded strokes, alternating portraits with atmospheric, abstract washes. Written with an eye toward choral reading, this is a unique and remarkable resource. [3]

Accompanying the varied and intense poetry, Brian Pinkney’s swirling watercolor, gouache, and India ink illustrations give life and movement to King’s story and reflect the complex emotions and accompanying turbulent weather that surface throughout this biography. Rich back matter, accompanied by documentary photographs, will serve as excellent research resources for locating more information on the civil rights movement. [4]

As U.S. black communities wrestle with Dr. King’s personal foibles, media-glossed images, and complex messages, here readers have a children’s book in which adults may also find succor, if not inspiration, considering the current reverting-to–pre–Civil Rights administration. It was Spiritually vital, described Kirkus on their site. [5]

References

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Martin Rising: Requiem For a King. Retrieved February 10th, 2021
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 Martin Rising: Requiem for a King. Retrieved February 10th, 2021
  3. Martin Rising: Requiem for a King. Retrieved February 10th, 2021
  4. Review of Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Dr. Michelle H. Martin. Retrieved February 10th, 2021
  5. MARTIN RISING REQUIEM FOR A KING. Retrieved February 10th, 2021