Independent reading level- PK-3rd
Awards: None

The book starts by encouraging you to express yourself. Express by telling, by writing, by doing, by acting, or just by being there, but say something. Some people can express themselves, and others can’t, but everyone has something to say, and everyone matters.
book page
We picked this book based on a recommendation. It is a must-have early-read book. It will work well for a read-aloud session. And finishing the session by encouraging the kids to fill the bubbles at the end with their thoughts. The illustrations are simple and elegant.
Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds is an empowering book for young readers, inspiring them to express themselves. ( )

"In this new effort, Reynolds shows readers a variety of ways a voice can be used, listened to, and heard to make a difference.

Each spread shows an example of how someone can change something or a situation “with words, with action, with creativity.” The book opens on a young black girl who’s exhorted by an unseen narrator via speech bubble: “The world needs your voice.” Through many scenarios (“If you see someone lonely…”; “If you see an empty canvas…”), the narrator encourages children to take action in many ways. A young child can speak up “with a poem” or “by planting a seed and watching it bloom.” These scenarios are enacted by a diverse group of kids, including many with various skin tones and hair textures, a child in a wheelchair, and one with glasses; ethnically or religiously specific accouterments are absent, however. Details such as the legends on T-shirts or protest signs (“Make more light”; “Shalom”; “I have a dream”; “I persist”) reinforce the message. Reynolds’ hand-lettered text, set in white text bubbles against a mix of bright backdrop colors and patterns, deftly works with before-and-after illustrations to show the change that children can effect.

This book’s encouragement to kids to find their voices can also be used to start a conversation about how they can make a difference in their world." www.kirkusreviews.com

If you have a brilliant idea... say something! If you see an injustice... say something! Every day, we all have the chance to say something: with our actions, our words, and our voices. Our actions and our words are important and powerful. There are so many ways to tell the world who you are... what you are thinking... and what you believe.

This book challenges children to say something, to speak up when children see a lonely person or someone being hurt, to write a poem, to draw something, to help others understand.