Martin & Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank

Churnin (Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing) adds to her repertoire of biographies for children with this side-by-side comparison of Martin Luther King Jr. and Anne Frank. Both born in 1929, though an ocean apart, each endured discrimination and, eventually, death because of who they were. A straightforward narrative points out that, while they never met, the contemporaries were connected by shared experiences: being shunned by their peers as children; experiencing injustices small and large ("Everywhere Martin went, he saw signs that said, 'Whites Only'... Every day, more signs blared, 'No Jews Allowed' "); and finally finding power in words and self-expression. Stylized illustrations by Nayberg (Anya's Secret Society) initially employ a muted color palette of tawny, brooding hues, while ending spreads in brighter greens and blues strike a hopeful note. As the teenage diarist and civil rights leader stand together, the timeless, powerful themes they heralded form the conclusion: "Love is stronger than hate. Kindness can heal the world." A timeline and selected bibliography are included. Ages 8-14. (Mar.)