The strength and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. permeates this picture book about Dr. King's funeral 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.
Eve Bunting has written more than two hundred books for young readers, including THE BABY SHOWER, THE WEDDING, and SMOKY NIGHT, the winner of the 1995 Caldecott Medal. Her books are often about important social issues. Born in Ireland, she now lives in California.
The cart was old. Its paint had faded. It was for sale outside Cook's Antiques and Stuff. Nobody wanted it. 
        Then two men came along.
        "This is exactly what we're looking for," one said. "We'll buy it." 
        But the store was closed.
        They came by again.
        The store was still closed. 
        "We'll borrow it," the first man said. 
        "We can't do that," the other replied.
        "We can. We'll bring it back when he's finished with it." 
        A truck was brought to take away the cart. Friends painted it green.
        "It's the color of grass when it rains," a woman said.
        "He would like that," said a man.
        The cart was moved again and parked at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Waiting. 
        Two mules were hitched to the cart. The mules' names were Belle and Ada. 
        "Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral," the people told one another. "That was what he wanted."
        "The mule is a symbol of freedom," someone said. "Each slave got a mule and forty acres when he was freed."

About

The strength and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. permeates this picture book about Dr. King's funeral 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.

Author

Eve Bunting has written more than two hundred books for young readers, including THE BABY SHOWER, THE WEDDING, and SMOKY NIGHT, the winner of the 1995 Caldecott Medal. Her books are often about important social issues. Born in Ireland, she now lives in California.

Excerpt

The cart was old. Its paint had faded. It was for sale outside Cook's Antiques and Stuff. Nobody wanted it. 
        Then two men came along.
        "This is exactly what we're looking for," one said. "We'll buy it." 
        But the store was closed.
        They came by again.
        The store was still closed. 
        "We'll borrow it," the first man said. 
        "We can't do that," the other replied.
        "We can. We'll bring it back when he's finished with it." 
        A truck was brought to take away the cart. Friends painted it green.
        "It's the color of grass when it rains," a woman said.
        "He would like that," said a man.
        The cart was moved again and parked at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Waiting. 
        Two mules were hitched to the cart. The mules' names were Belle and Ada. 
        "Ordinary mules for an ordinary funeral," the people told one another. "That was what he wanted."
        "The mule is a symbol of freedom," someone said. "Each slave got a mule and forty acres when he was freed."

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

“Books are a students’ passport to entering and actively participating in a global society with the empathy, compassion, and knowledge it takes to become the problem solvers the world needs.” –Laura Robb   Research shows that reading and literacy directly impacts students’ academic success and personal growth. To help promote the importance of daily independent

Read more