Teaching Virtue, Unity, and Justice
Every color, nation, tribe, immigrant, and story deserves a place in our homeschool studies.
As homeschool families, we carry a sacred responsibility: to tell the full, honest, and beautiful story of the United States of America. Ours is a nation woven together by a rich tapestry of voices—Indigenous peoples, immigrants, Black leaders and families, European settlers, and so many others whose courage, faith, and perseverance shaped our shared history.
When we teach our children about the darker and more painful chapters of our national story, we do so with intention and hope. These stories matter not because they are easy, but because they remind us of a timeless truth: United we stand, divided we fall.
Teaching history through this lens helps children develop empathy, wisdom, and virtue—qualities our world deeply needs.
Why Martin Luther King Jr. Day Matters in Your Homeschool
Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers homeschool families a meaningful opportunity to slow down, reflect, and focus on character, virtue, and community. Dr. King’s life and legacy invite conversations about justice, peaceful courage, love of neighbor, and standing firm in truth—values that align beautifully with a Charlotte Mason–inspired, relationship-centered education.
At The Peaceful Press, we believe history should connect the head and the heart. We don’t just want children to memorize facts, we want them to remember the people, the stories, and the virtues that shape who they are becoming.
That heart-centered approach is also at the core of our Restoration Home Community, where families gather to cultivate connection, virtue, and intentional living together. One of our Martin Luther King Jr. lessons inside the community invites families to reflect on peaceful leadership, courage, and hope and to practice these virtues in tangible ways at home.
Get a free MLK Jr. lesson here!
Teaching Virtue at Home: Begin with Vision
Before diving into books and lessons, we encourage families to pause and reflect together. What kind of home are you building? What virtues matter most to your family this year?
Our free Family Vision Page is a gentle, practical tool to help you clarify the values guiding your homeschool and family life. It pairs beautifully with MLK Day discussions, helping children see how history connects to their own choices, character, and calling.
Living Books About Martin Luther King Jr.
We love using living books to introduce children to important historical figures, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s story is one worth returning to again and again. Here are some of our favorite children’s books about Dr. King, his words, and his legacy:
- I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr.
- My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Martin Luther King III
- A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein
- Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo
- Martin Luther King Jr.: Young Man with a Dream (Childhood of Famous Americans Series)
- Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.? by Bonnie Bader
- A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. by David A. Adler
- Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
- The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.: A Biography Book for New Readers by Christine Platt
These books invite children to listen, wonder, and ask meaningful questions—an essential part of developing discernment and compassion.
Building a Peaceful, Connected Homeschool
Across all of our Peaceful Press resources, we intentionally include diverse voices and stories—from Indigenous tribes and Black leaders to immigrant families and pioneers—because children deserve a full and truthful picture of history.
Our full-year homeschool curriculums are designed to support parents in nurturing not only academic growth, but also virtue, empathy, and connection. This same heart guides the Restoration Home Community, where lessons, rhythms, and conversations are centered on restoring families, strengthening relationships, and cultivating good habits that last.
There are so many powerful books and stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. We’d love to learn from you.
What are your favorite MLK books for children?
Share them in the comments so other families can save this post, take notes, and return to it year after year.