My son was 3 years old when he turned to me in the bath one night with an accusatory look.

"Martin Luther King Jr. died," he said emphatically. "And my dog died!"

And it was obviously all my fault.

Sam had just learned in preschool about King's violent death, and he suddenly understood the concept of dying without natural cause before you are very old. Even though our beloved dog, Rex, died of an unexplained illness when Sam was 2, Sam didn't seem to really understand death until that moment in the tub.

With so many kids going to preschool these days, it occurs to me that lots of children may get their first awareness of premature death through lessons about Dr. King. Today is the 40th anniversary of his assassination.

Have you talked about King's death and legacy in your house? How do you handle the tough questions that come up? Please tell us by posting a comment below.

(School art project by Leah)