A Place to Land

Written by Barry Wittenstein · Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Discover the untold story behind Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic speech and its unexpected creation.

4.4 Goodreads · 1,051 ratings

48 pages· 1,401 words· Est. 11 min read-aloud· 990L

$18.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

On the eve of the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. wrestles with finding the perfect ending for his speech. In a hotel room, amidst advisors and uncertainty, he crafts the legendary "I Have a Dream" speech. Uncover the surprising journey of these historic words and the pivotal moment that changed history. How did a speech not meant to be heard become a beacon of hope? This gripping tale reveals the struggle and triumph behind a defining moment in the civil rights movement.

From the publisher

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. Find out more in this gripping book with illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney. 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.