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MLK Day

 For MLK Day, we read "Martin's Big Words." It's fine. It links Martin's career aspirations to Martin's father; in the "origin scene," we notice Martin carefully studying one of his father's sermons, dreaming of acquiring "big words."


This story doesn't grab Susie. It lacks a castle, a parade of fabulous gowns, magical moments of interspecies transformation.

At the climax, Martin does sink his hands into big words; "my children" ought to be judged "by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin," etc.

Then--moved by a communal response to senseless suffering--Martin goes off to assist with a sanitation-worker strike. And he is shot and killed. The End.

At times, I have tried to alter my daughter's wardrobe to feature Harriet Tubman, Marian Anderson, etc. There is a particular line of items--Piccolina--that is celebrated for this trend. But Piccolina has folded. The business model wasn't working. I've tried. The company no longer exists.

For what it's worth, "Martin's Big Words" is a more successful picture book than "A Place to Land." It's more accessible for a little kid. And the cover is striking.

Baby steps....

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