"The cart was old. Its paint had faded. It was for sale outside Cook's Antiques and Stuff. Nobody wanted it." But when someone finally did, the store was closed. The two men decided to borrow it. It was painted green. Two mules named Belle and Ada were hitched to it. "Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral ... That was what he wanted." A stirring picture book describes the procession and funerals for Martin Luther King, Jr. "The church throbbed with the sounds of singing. The songs were not sad but there was a terrible sadness in them anyway. Men and women and children wept." The humble cart was carrying a great man whose life and dreams could not be overshadowed by his death. There are moments in the writing and illustrations both that are especially effective and moving as they capture the essence and intensity of feelings at the time of King's death. A photograph of the cart during the funeral procession appears at book's end with brief information about King. (Ages 5-8)

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The strength and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. permeates this picture book about the funeral of Dr. King in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1968. Quiet, yet affecting, THE CART THAT CARRIED MARTIN is a unique tribute to the life of a man known world-wide for his outstanding efforts as a leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Eve Bunting focuses on the funeral procession of Dr. King, beginning with the two men who found the cart to carry him through the streets of Atlanta. After painting it green, two mules named Belle and Ada are hitched to the cart where Dr. King’s coffin is placed. Tens of thousands of mourners gather as the cart makes its way to Ebenezer Baptist Church, and then past the Georgia state capitol to Morehouse College. All the while, crowds of people pay their respects by singing songs of hope. Bunting’s thoughtful, well-chosen words, coupled with Don Tate’s soft colors provide the reader with a sense of hope and reverence, rather than the grief and despair one might expect. Back matter includes a brief introduction to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work, assassination, and funeral, accompanied by a full-color historical photograph of the real cart, drawn by Belle and Ada.