Spring 2025

Something Happened in Our Town

A Child's Story about Racial Injustice

From the Series Something Happened

  • Interest Level: Kindergarten - Grade 3
  • Reading Level: Grade 3

Something Happened in Our Town follows two families—one White, one Black—as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community.

The story aims to answer children’s questions about such traumatic events and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives. Included is an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues. Free, downloadable educator materials (including discussion questions) are available in the additional resources tab.

There are many benefits of beginning to discuss racial bias and injustice with young children of all races and ethnicities. Research has shown that children even as young as three years of age notice and comment on differences in skin color. Humans of all ages tend to ascribe positive qualities to the group that they belong to and negative qualities to other groups.

Format Your Price Add
978-1-4338-2854-6
$12.74
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on hardcovers and ebooks when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Kindergarten - Grade 3
Reading Level Grade 3
Genre Picture Books
Category Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, SEL: C Social Awareness, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2018
Publisher Magination Press, American Psychological Association
Imprint Magination Press — American Psychological Association
Language English
Number of Pages 40
Publication Date 2025-01-01
Text Type Fiction
BISACS JUV039120, JUV039180, JUV011010
Dewey [E]
Dimensions 8 x 10
Features Bibliography/further reading, Glossary, Note to adults, Original artwork, Reviewed, and eSource

Reviews

School Library Journal

“Does an admirable job showing two families’ reactions to a police killing . . . important for library collections.”—School Library Journal