Why read Something Happened in Our Town?

Book cover of Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice

Book description

The New York Times bestseller

Emma and Josh heard that something happened in their town. A black man was shot by the police.

"Why did the police shoot that man?"

"Can police go to jail?"

Something Happened in Our Town follows two families - one white, one black - as…

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Crime

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Why read it?

1 author picked Something Happened in Our Town as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Jacqueline B. Toner

Author

When tragic events happen our first impulse may be to gloss over it when talking to young children. Sometimes, however, what they really need is straight talk. When a police shooting of a Black man occurs in the community, two children (one Black and one White) struggle to understand what happened. This beautifully crafted picture book explores questions children might have in the aftermath of such an event and how the adults around them address questions of racial injustice.

From Jacqueline's list on The best books on acceptance and empathy.