A riveting found poem for kids based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Street Sweeper” speech.
Dr. King's words are creatively interpreted in this nonfiction picture book written by acclaimed author Alice Faye Duncan, accompanied by gorgeous artwork by E. B. Lewis.
In a speech delivered in 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. provided his young audience with life lessons:
- You count.
- Black is beautiful.
- Achieve excellence.
- Make a better world.
- Believe in nonviolence.
- Keep going!
Today, award-winning author Alice Faye Duncan reinterprets King’s speech as a motivational erasure poem in The Dream Builder’s Blueprint, accompanied by spirited and inspired art by Philadelphia-born illustrator E. B. Lewis. Highlighting principles of excellence, activism, and compassion that remain relevant and necessary today, this book has a universal message that’s ideal for parents, librarians, and teachers looking for a book that distills Dr. King's principles to a level that kids can understand.
Included in the book is an author’s note that explains found poetry forms like the erasure poem and provides background information on the Civil Rights movement and Dr. King’s inspiring speech at Philadelphia’s Barratt Junior High School.
Book Details
Format:
eBook
Price:
11.99 USD / 15.99 CAD
Published: 01/06/2026
ISBN: 9781662680328
Imprint:
Calkins Creek
Page Count: 32
Trim Size: 8-1/2 x 11
Grades:
Grades 2-5
Ages:
7-10 years
★"To create this moving erasure poem about nonviolent protest and more, Duncan works with the text of an October 1967 talk that Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) gave at South Philadelphia’s Barratt Junior High—per an opening note, text shaped 'specifically for school-age children.' Beginning 'a blueprint serves as the pattern for those building a building,' straightforward lines 'suggest things that should be in your life’s blueprint,' including celebrating the self, achieving excellence, seeking justice, and believing in nonviolence. Lewis combines gouache, markers, and watercolor with tissue paper to offer images of progress—on an early page, hands are shown drafting on blueprint paper; elsewhere, a figure is depicted having reached the top of a mountain. And as lines emphasize 'MAKE A BETTER WORLD,' one image shows a figure sitting atop a tall stack of paper with some sheets crumpled nearby. It’s a work poised to offer crucial guidance on how to build a meaningful life and contribute to the world."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Uplifting... inspiring reading... (with) Lewis’ evocative images... pithy, rousing, and never more cogent.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Listening to the words of Dr. King that day at Barratt Junior High is something I will never forget. I still have a vivid picture of him that will NEVER be erased. His words were an inspiration to me and my classmates.”—Kevin Washington, former National President and CEO of the YMCA and Barrett 8th Grade Class of 1967
“The Dream Builder’s Blueprint is a loving road map to hope for young people in troubling times. In found poetry drawn from Dr. King’s speech during a Philadelphia junior high school visit in 1967, the book joyfully uplifts his message of peace and purpose for a new generation.”—Yolanda Wisher, Philadelphia Poet Laureate, 2016–2017