Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uplifting message of individual empowerment and joy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SPEAK UP, author Miranda Paul shows a diverse group of kids navigating a school day and learning how their own voice can make a difference. Using common situations such as bullying, loneliness, gratitude, fear, and the many choices kids face throughout their day, readers see the power of speaking up – even when they use gestures, not words. At the end of the book, the author's note mentions her own experiences with speaking up, there are brief biographies of kids who made a difference, some tips for figuring out if you should speak up, and how to raise your voice without being loud.
Is It Any Good?
With big, colorful scenes and simple rhyming, this uplifting book helps kids see their place in the world and the incredible value of their voice. Rather than show speaking up as a giant event that only the loudest among us can accomplish, Speak Up emphasizes the small, everyday moments that give us all the chance to make things right. Many young readers will relate to the teacher mispronouncing their name or feeling like they have nowhere to sit at lunchtime, and they can see how small gestures can change the outcome. The diversity of families is important, as are the tools that help even a shy child speak up in their own way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes it hard to Speak Up and what makes it easier. Are there times when you've thought about saying something bothered you but didn't tell anyone?
How can we help other people feel comfortable speaking up when they need to? Are some people you know more likely to speak up than others? Why do you think that happens?
What makes it easier to apologize after making a mistake? What can each of us do to help make apologies easier to give and receive?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Ebony Glenn
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : July 7, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 7
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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