I Have a Dream

King's most famous speech is handsomely interpreted in this lavish volume, which pairs his stirring words with illustrations by 15 Coretta Scott King Award- or Honor-winning artists. Taking as their inspiration King's timeless message, delivered at the famous March on Washington in the summer of 1963, the artists weigh in with an eclectic exhibit that, thanks largely to a simple but elegant book design, succeeds as a unified whole. Whether the medium is Leo and Diane Dillon's subtly plied acrylics, Ashley Bryan's playful tempera and gouaches or Brian Pinkney's distinctive scratchboard and watercolors, whether the scene depicts the ""unspeakable horrors of police brutality,"" the degradation heaped upon those engaged in passive resistance or a symbolic feast at the ""table of brotherhood,"" the pages flow like shifting set designs, each one illuminating a segment of King's speech. The result is an uplifting glimpse at a pivotal moment in 20th-century history, the impact made more personal by the different artists' heartfelt interpretations. A thumbnail biography of King is included, along with a brief afterword by each artist describing symbolic elements in his or her illustration. All ages. (Nov.)