Say something!

PreS-Gr 3-The message that every person is amazing and has something meaningful to contribute to the world is what Reynolds conveys as he encourages children to speak up and speak out. "You can say something in so many ways-with words, with action, with heart." This powerful picture book will inspire readers to make their voices heard. The text is uniquely arranged in a series of "if" and "when" statements, followed by the words "say something," with a specific idea on each spread. For example, "If you see an empty lot... SAY SOMETHING by planting a seed and watching it bloom." Told in speech bubbles, the text allows readers to feel as though the author is speaking directly to them. The messages are clear, concise, and positive. There is an array of diverse characters; children from many backgrounds will see themselves reflected in the expressive and artful renderings. VERDICT A motivational must-have for every collection.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.