In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, below are listed recommended books about him and his movement. In Montessori, we work to uphold the values of Dr. King. Both humanitarians, Dr. King and Dr. Montessori upheld a dream for humanity and believed reverently that peace could be realized. 

In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1964, Dr. King asserts: “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.” 

In Education and Peace, Dr. Montessori states: “An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.”

Both Dr. King and Dr. Montessori recognized the profound personal shift required to support a societal shift toward peace and equity. To support this work, we offer some of our favorite books that highlight the legacy and vision of Dr. King.

We hope these books inspire you and your children as they have inspired us. We especially love how many of the books illustrate how meaningful change happens when many people are working together. You can click here to download a printable booklist. 

“Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.