Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice
illustrations by
on Goodreads (1,748)
What’s inside...
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. Includes 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 at APA's website. A Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company Original World Premiere Production.
Discussion points
How did the story make you feel when you learned about what happened in the town?
What would you do if you saw someone being treated unfairly?
Why do you think it's important to treat everyone with kindness and respect?
How can we help others who might feel left out or treated differently?
Tip: Role play these questions
Avoid leading questions; allow your child to express their feelings and thoughts freely.
Reinforce that it's OK to feel upset or confused about what happened in the story.
Encourage your child to think of ways they can make a difference in their own community.
Use examples from the book to highlight the importance of empathy and understanding towards others.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Racial Injustice
Explanation: The story follows two families, one Black and one White, as they discuss a recent police shooting. It provides an age-appropriate explanation of racial injustice.
Real-World Application: This discussion can help children identify and empathize with the struggles of marginalized communities, leading to more inclusive attitudes from a young age.
Example Lesson: Importance of Dialogue about Difficult Topics
Explanation: Parents in the book model open communication about tough subjects like racial injustice, demonstrating how families can address these topics.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to ask questions and express their feelings about what they see in the world around them, fostering a healthy emotional development.
Example Lesson: Recognizing and Confronting Discrimination
Explanation: The children in the story learn to notice and question racial discrimination. This realization is a key moment that drives the narrative.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to be aware of inequalities and equips them with the courage to speak against discriminatory behaviors they might witness.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Perspective-Taking
Explanation: By sharing different personal reactions to the same event, the book helps children understand that people can experience and interpret the same event in diverse ways.
Real-World Application: Helps children develop empathy, enabling them to understand and respect perspectives different from their own.
Example Lesson: Activism and Personal Impact
Explanation: Inspired by the discussions with their families, the children think about ways to make a positive change in their community.
Real-World Application: Motivates children to think about how they can contribute to making their own communities more just and equitable.