They were each born with the gift of gospel. Martin's voice kept people in their seats, but also sent their praises soaring. Mahalia's voice was brass-and-butter - strong and smooth at the same time. With Martin's sermons and Mahalia's songs, folks were free to shout, to sing their joy. On August 28, 1963, MLK Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and his strong voice and powerful message were joined and lifted in song by world-renowned gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. It was a moment that changed the course of history and is imprinted in minds forever. Told through Andrea's poetic prose and Brian's evocative illustration, the stories of these two powerful voices and lives are told side-by-side - as they would one day walk -- following the journey from their youth to a culmination at this historical event when they united as one. Published in coordination with the 50th anniversary of this momentous occasion, this new picture book will pay tribute to two great voices of the civil rights movement, inspiring kids to find their own voices and speak up for what is right.

 

This book was recognised in the Picture Book category by the Black-Eyed Susan Award.

There are 40 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2013 by Little, Brown & Company .

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the author of many acclaimed picture books and young adult novels and works for Scholastic Publishing. Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children and he has written and illustrated several of his own books.