Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an important holiday in our country. This title is a good introduction to what the day means with basic concepts for better understanding. The graphics are bright and welcoming. Each page has one to three simple sentences. What I appreciated about this title is that there are many illustrations representing a diverse population. This book encourages readers to volunteer time to support others. It also emphasizes the importance of treating all people equally. This book would be a good supplement to support the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as it is extremely simplified and allows for readers to get the basic information they need in order to broaden understanding and appreciation in the future. It is recommended for libraries where there is a need for lower reading level books about holidays such as this one.

The Blastoff! Beginners Happy Holidays! series contains informational chapters including but not limited to: simple information about what individuals do for the holiday, when the holiday is and what it is about, the importance of the holiday and facts. These books also include a glossary with terms and definitions that are in bold throughout the book as well as an index and a section with links and books to learn more about the country. These books are recommended for grades Pre-K to 3rd. They are at “Level 1″ which offers early readers information through simplified sentences for better understanding.

As with other Blastoff books, this series is bright and visually attractive. A sight word list appears at the beginning to prepare readers. Every spread has a balance of concise text and large-scale images (many with labels). Photos show a diverse range of children and adults celebrating the holiday with food, parades, and community service. Glossary terms appear in bold within the text. Each book ends with a “Facts” page featuring a labeled photo of a holiday celebration along with three thumbnail images of various holiday activities with short descriptions underneath. The glossary also uses thumbnails with short descriptions. This series includes a recent addition to the national holiday calendar, Juneteenth. VERDICT Perfect for introducing primary grades to holidays or for young readers to explore on their own.