“It’s terrible circling up there without a place to land.” Martin Luther King, Jr.’s comment about knowing when and where to end when preaching begins this picture-book account of the crafting of his most famous speech. He met with advisors the night before the March on Washington and later wrote from rough drafts and scribbled notes. “Words crossed out three, four times, searching for the perfect meaning and rhythm,” noted Andrew Young. When he finally stepped up to the podium, “Martin’s rich baritone rang out across the ages” as he talked about the history of the nation, its core documents, and African American experience. Then he invoked “the passion of a Sunday morning sermon” to speak words that weren’t on paper but he knew in his heart: “I have a dream …” A narrative offering insight into King’s writing process while providing background for his comments is paired with illustrations offering additional historical context, including images of the day and those who advised and inspired King. An illustrator’s note, brief information about historical figures referenced, and bibliography close out the volume. (Ages 8–11)

As a new generation of activists demands an end to racism, A Place to Land reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the movement that it galvanized.

Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Selected for the Texas Bluebonnet Master List

Much has been written about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1963 March on Washington. But there's little on his legendary speech and how he came to write it.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. No, he said. The hardest part is knowing where to end. "It's terrible to be circling up there without a place to land."

Finding this place to land was what Martin Luther King, Jr. struggled with, alongside advisors and fellow speech writers, in the Willard Hotel the night before the March on Washington, where he gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. But those famous words were never intended to be heard on that day, not even written down for that day, not even once.

Barry Wittenstein teams up with legendary illustrator Jerry Pinkney to tell the story of how, against all odds, Martin found his place to land.

An ALA Notable Children's Book
A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Title
Nominated for an NAACP Image Award
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year
A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
A Booklist Editors' Choice
Named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal
Selected for the CBC Champions of Change Showcase