Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring book spurs kids to speak up, stand up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SAY SOMETHING insists that "the world needs your voice" and challenges readers to say something "in so many ways. With words, with action, with heart." Each page offers an example of a way to say something -- on a canvas with a paintbrush, in an empty lot by planting seeds so flowers will grow, by yelling "Hey! Stop!" when you see a kid hurting another kid, by telling someone how hurt you felt when he they made you feel invisible, just to name a few. From the personal to the political, there are lots of examples of diverse kids expressing their feelings, beliefs, opinions, and even discoveries, as when a girl at a microscope gets a "brilliant idea" and shouts, "Eurkea!" The end papers feature speech balloons filled with messages such as "THINK GREEN," "HATE HAS NO HOME HERE," "Be the change you want to see happen," and "Your voice matters."
Is It Any Good?
This inspiring book does a great job of encouraging kids to speak up and express their thoughts and feelings, opinions and compassion, and showing the many ways this can be done. Say Something! insists, "The world needs your voice," while acknowledging, "Some people find it easier to say something than others ... but everyone has something to say." And "it doesn't need to be perfect, as long as it's from your heart."
Author-illustrator Peter H. Reynolds' accessible cartoony characters and simple speech balloons make each concept easy to grasp and relate to. Say Anything! is full of positive, nuanced messages, making it great for read aloud and for jump-starting conversation and discussion with older kids (and grown-ups) as well as the picture book crowd.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different ways to speak up that are shown in Say Something! Which ways do you feel you most comfortable expressing yourself? Which other ways might you be willing to try?
What does the author mean when he says "everyone has something to say"?
The author says, "The world needs your voice." Why does it? Can you make a difference, even though you're still a kid? What could you do in your school or community?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Peter H. Reynolds
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Orchard Books
- Publication date : March 3, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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