Love Will See You Through: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Six Guiding Beliefs (As Told By His Niece)

As in My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart and My Uncle Martin’s Words for America, Watkins pays tribute to her uncle, Martin Luther King Jr. She condenses King’s doctrine of embracing love and eschewing violence into six principles that include dictates (“Have courage”; “Love your enemies”) and reflections (“When innocent people are hurt, others are inspired to help”; “The universe honors love”). Some of the author’s observations, though, may require further explanation (“He put a lot of love out into the universe, and the universe honored him by giving him the power to achieve great things”). Watkins again uses events in King’s life (organizing the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, protesting segregation in Birmingham in 1963) to illustrate his dedication to acting on his convictions. Comport (Hanging Off Jefferson’s Nose) features intense shades of orange, fuchsia, and purple in her energetic mixed-media art, which incorporates imposing display type and occasional newspaper excerpts illuminating the turbulence of the time. Especially striking are her conspicuous portraits of hands: raised in protest, folded in prayer, and linked in solidarity. Ages 6–11. Author’s agent: Jennifer Lyons, Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates. (Jan.)■