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Something Good
A sensitive, timely and ultimately uplifting portrayal of how an elementary school struggles, copes, and heals together after "something bad" is discovered written on the wall, illustrated by bestselling artist Corinna Luyken
This kind of thing won't be tolerated at our school, the principal declares the day the "bad-something" is discovered written on a wall. The incident makes the kids nervous, giggly, and curious at first, but then they're worried, confused, sad and angry. Everyone is suspicious. Who did it, and why? They miss the days before the bad-something appeared, because everything—and everyone—feels different now. It takes a lot of talking, listening, looking, and creating something good together to find a way to heal. The story acknowledges that while the scars of such incidents remain, it is possible to teach tolerance and feel true community once again.
Written and illustrated by the acclaimed creators of Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse!, here is a brave book about the power of words that tackles one of the most difficult topics for elementary school-aged children—hate speech—in a direct, realistic, and empathetic manner.
This kind of thing won't be tolerated at our school, the principal declares the day the "bad-something" is discovered written on a wall. The incident makes the kids nervous, giggly, and curious at first, but then they're worried, confused, sad and angry. Everyone is suspicious. Who did it, and why? They miss the days before the bad-something appeared, because everything—and everyone—feels different now. It takes a lot of talking, listening, looking, and creating something good together to find a way to heal. The story acknowledges that while the scars of such incidents remain, it is possible to teach tolerance and feel true community once again.
Written and illustrated by the acclaimed creators of Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse!, here is a brave book about the power of words that tackles one of the most difficult topics for elementary school-aged children—hate speech—in a direct, realistic, and empathetic manner.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published October 19, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
December 7, 2021
I was reading several long list possibilities for the 2021 Caldecott with several people, but this one I read (so far) alone, a story for our times of meanness, which of course trickles down from adults to kids. Someone writes " something bad" on the girls' bathroom wall and the school responds, getting this kids to repaint the bathroom with sweet images to replace the offending one. I'd like fewer words to make it more evocative and a little less didactic than it is, but I still liked. 3 stars for the text.
But 5 stars for the primary reason you need to pick up this picture book: The artwork of Corinna Luyken! All the stars! Bravo. The art reminds me of Toulouse Lautrec's dancers, as if rendered in chalk, ice cream pastels, almost ethereal, with magic, and joy, like Chagall. It's actually done in goache, technically. Oh, not all of these children are angelic; there is a streak of meanness here that adults need to confront, but there is so much potential sweetness the adults tap into in these children. A powerful tale of the uses art and education in a sometimes mean world.
Reminded me of the line Maria sings in Sound of Music: ". . . . somewhere in my youth, or childhood, I must have done something good."
Reminded me of another picture book I just read, Alice Walker's Sweet People Are Everywhere. Fight meanness with love and kindness and sweetness and beauty!
But 5 stars for the primary reason you need to pick up this picture book: The artwork of Corinna Luyken! All the stars! Bravo. The art reminds me of Toulouse Lautrec's dancers, as if rendered in chalk, ice cream pastels, almost ethereal, with magic, and joy, like Chagall. It's actually done in goache, technically. Oh, not all of these children are angelic; there is a streak of meanness here that adults need to confront, but there is so much potential sweetness the adults tap into in these children. A powerful tale of the uses art and education in a sometimes mean world.
Reminded me of the line Maria sings in Sound of Music: ". . . . somewhere in my youth, or childhood, I must have done something good."
Reminded me of another picture book I just read, Alice Walker's Sweet People Are Everywhere. Fight meanness with love and kindness and sweetness and beauty!
November 13, 2021
As an educator who works with students in grades 5-9, I really appreciated this timely story about a school that has to deal with a difficult event that happens. Through art and conversation, the students and their teacher are able to turn this horrible thing into something good. This is such an important message about how we can take the dark, difficult things that are happening in the world around us and try to turn them into something beautiful and good.
January 2, 2022
3.5 stars. What happens when something bad (and unspeakable) is written in a public place for all to see? Share this story with the children and students in your lives to help them see and work past the ugliness.
November 9, 2021
So much vagueness about the "bad" and "good" in here--it seems condescending to a young audience and is honestly confusing. I do like the illustrator here (Luyken) but feel this book is overall talking AROUND things instead of ABOUT them--I just wish it were more direct.
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November 1, 2023I wish I knew what to feel. Because this book was so simple it was easy to follow and understand, but some of the language used was also too vague and broad that it made understanding the story difficult and confusing? this book was both at the same time somehow. I didn't love the ambiguity of the "bad-thing" either, it feels like it opens up more questions than it answers.
I feel this book would be really great for a child/ family going through a situation like one in the book, but if you're outside the context of the boom it really falls flat.
I feel this book would be really great for a child/ family going through a situation like one in the book, but if you're outside the context of the boom it really falls flat.
November 28, 2021
Seems like a plausibly helpful response to the situation, and is gracefully told. I particularly like that the author's note faces the title page... at the *end* of the book. Look at the endpapers, then find yourself in the story, right away.
I wonder what home-schooling families would make of this?
I wonder what home-schooling families would make of this?
March 24, 2023
4,5 ⭐
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December 3, 2021I LOVED the artwork, especially the colors, here. I thought the text did a good job expressing mixed reactions to the "something bad."
October 26, 2021
When a “bad-something” is found written on the wall in the girls’ restroom at school, the principal says that this won’t be tolerated. One girl and her friends sneak into the bathroom to see what the bad thing is. It’s fun at first, until they see what is written. The bad something is truly bad, leaving them all feeling horrible. No one knows who wrote it, so everyone is looking closely at one another for clues. Afterwards people were meaner to each other. So the school decided to give everyone ribbons to remind them who they are and then launched an art project to permanently cover the bad thing. Everyone worked together painting and creating until they had made something remarkable. Sharing poems afterwards, students became kinder to one another, reminded who they are and who they want to be.
Based on happenings in her children’s schools, this picture book shows the continued impact that hate speech can have on a school. Campbell shows the emotions of the various children clearly, making space for different reactions to what has been written and also showing how not knowing exactly what was said can also cause emotional and negative responses. The book is filled with empathy for the students and offers one of many solutions to bring the student body back around. Using art to express themselves allows for emotions to be shared and the community itself to step forward.
The art is done in gouache, colored pencil and ink. The art shows the mixed emotions of the students in the school, reddened and sharpened feelings of accusation, dark red and black of meanness, bright yellow of hope and change. The illustrations are a gorgeous mix of lightness of line with deep color that conveys the feelings.
A look at hate speech and how to confront its impact. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Based on happenings in her children’s schools, this picture book shows the continued impact that hate speech can have on a school. Campbell shows the emotions of the various children clearly, making space for different reactions to what has been written and also showing how not knowing exactly what was said can also cause emotional and negative responses. The book is filled with empathy for the students and offers one of many solutions to bring the student body back around. Using art to express themselves allows for emotions to be shared and the community itself to step forward.
The art is done in gouache, colored pencil and ink. The art shows the mixed emotions of the students in the school, reddened and sharpened feelings of accusation, dark red and black of meanness, bright yellow of hope and change. The illustrations are a gorgeous mix of lightness of line with deep color that conveys the feelings.
A look at hate speech and how to confront its impact. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
November 4, 2021
This book places the title page and copyright page at the end of the book, something I've never seen done before. This allows the book to begin on the back of the flyleaf. Interestingly, the child telling the story is never identified among all the children in the book. The story has both a personal and community feel to it. The individual narrator tells of the 'bad-something' that an unknown person put on the girl's bathroom wall. Despite efforts by the principal to discover the source of the 'bad-something', the culprit is never identified. But the consequences of the act run deep. The children in the narrator's class feel worried, confused, sad, or angry. The mix of emotions leads to more unkindness. The principal calls the school together to address these feelings and to remind the students that they are special and kind, "even if we forgot sometimes". The teacher takes the students to the bathroom and has them paint over the 'bad-something'. Together as a class, the students work to 'overcome' the damage done by the 'bad-something'. By working together the students learn how to problem-solve and face difficult things. The power of community to create beauty from ashes is powerfully illustrated in this story. Luyken's stunning gouache, colored pencil, and ink illustrations combine colors and characters in sensitive, evocative ways that highlight the characters emotions at various places in the story. This is a powerful story that can help young readers/listeners appreciate the good that still exists in the world.
August 22, 2022
This is a beautiful, hopeful book. I like how the colors tell the emotions of the children. Collaborative art is a powerful way to combat the bad-somethings of the world. I was hoping to see a more complete picture of the project, but what is implied is inspiring.
December 16, 2021
When a picture books contains such volumes, you shiver.
March 26, 2022
Amazing book, good things will cover up all the bad things
January 13, 2025
Inspired by actual events, when negative words are discovered scrawled across the walls of a girl's bathroom at school. Negativity begins to spread until action is taken to restore order by the entire school population doing something good.
June 23, 2025
Li a versão portuguesa, que ainda não consta do Goodreads - https://wwwescrevinhados-cantarinha.b...
October 20, 2021
I really liked this message of overpowering the bad and scary things with good actions. The art in this with the yellow and fuschia accents really supported the message in an artistic way. This is a good conversation starter too for when kiddos encounter inappropriate things at school, and I like that the school took what happened so seriously even though we never find out what was written in the bathroom stall.
November 19, 2021
This is an uplifting and realistic story about the experience of a classroom full of children. When "something bad" appears written on the wall in the restroom, the teachers and kids band together to make sure that "something good" replaces it.
May 1, 2023
This would be an especially good read for school ages kids. More so then for my 2-4 yo
November 4, 2021
When "something bad" is found on the wall of the girls' bathroom at school, the principal, teachers, and students work together to process what happened and restore the school to "something good" through painting over the hate speech written on the wall with a collaborative mural.
This book has a lot of good things going for it, but I'm not sure if I'm 100% sold either. I think in the hands of the right teacher/librarian this book could be used to guide a really rich and fruitful discussion about harassment, hate speech, and how we make each other feel held and welcome in community. However, because the "bad something" is never actually shown nor specifically described, there are some limitations. While I can make an assumption as a reader that the "something bad" was racist hate speech, I can't know that for sure: the interventions made by the teachers and principal in response to the "something bad" treat the act like it harmed everyone in the school equally or in the same way, but that simply can't be the case, and framing it this way creates the sense that people with privileged identities (even if they don't write hate speech on bathroom walls!) don't have to put in the work to undo their conscious and unconscious biases.
All of this being said, I think if "something bad" did happen in a school, this book could be really useful in initiating discussion and processing what happened—and that that discussion could also include talking about this book's own limitations! I understand the idea behind the choice not to be specific about the "something bad," but I think getting to some sense of specifics—even if that's simply "it could have been something racist" or "it could have been something fatphobic", and then talking about how those two things could be the same, different, and/or impact different groups of people differently—would be essential to making this book as useful as possible.
Themes: Community, Speech, Art, Healing, Pain, Bias/Harassment
Age range: Elementary
This book has a lot of good things going for it, but I'm not sure if I'm 100% sold either. I think in the hands of the right teacher/librarian this book could be used to guide a really rich and fruitful discussion about harassment, hate speech, and how we make each other feel held and welcome in community. However, because the "bad something" is never actually shown nor specifically described, there are some limitations. While I can make an assumption as a reader that the "something bad" was racist hate speech, I can't know that for sure: the interventions made by the teachers and principal in response to the "something bad" treat the act like it harmed everyone in the school equally or in the same way, but that simply can't be the case, and framing it this way creates the sense that people with privileged identities (even if they don't write hate speech on bathroom walls!) don't have to put in the work to undo their conscious and unconscious biases.
All of this being said, I think if "something bad" did happen in a school, this book could be really useful in initiating discussion and processing what happened—and that that discussion could also include talking about this book's own limitations! I understand the idea behind the choice not to be specific about the "something bad," but I think getting to some sense of specifics—even if that's simply "it could have been something racist" or "it could have been something fatphobic", and then talking about how those two things could be the same, different, and/or impact different groups of people differently—would be essential to making this book as useful as possible.
Themes: Community, Speech, Art, Healing, Pain, Bias/Harassment
Age range: Elementary
November 21, 2021
Unfortunately, this is another "necessary" book for most libraries and schools.
When "something bad" is written on the girls' bathroom wall, everyone in the school is tasked with covering it up with "something good" - bright, cheerful artwork.
Inspired by real-life events at her children's schools, Campbell shares a solution that might be implemented in a situation like this. It plays out with all of the girls in one class being sent to the principal's office to be queried about the vandalism and the resulting actions (students generally becoming less respectful of/hateful to others, school is lectured by the principal, school color ribbons to instill pride, all students painting over the trash talk, and writing exercises and discussions about hate speech). The language is spare, with just enough to get across her points. An author's note in the back explains her purpose and suggestions of places to go for more information about combatting hate speech.
Illustrations were done by Corinna Luyken in gouache, colored pencil, and ink on paper. The use of colors - bold and beautiful hues of bright yellow, neon pink, sage green, and black - are striking and eye-catching. Young people will want to pour over the details. The shocked reactions of the girls who see the "bad" words is almost life-sized, showing the importance of this incident.
The format of the book is just a bit unusual. The title page and verso are in the back of the book. This forces the reader to open to the front endsheets (the bathroom wall is shown withe creamy yellow paint covering up something on the green walls of a room with a tiled wall, then jumps right into the story.
Much to view, listen, and discuss with this wonderful little book.
Recommend for PreS-grade 6.
When "something bad" is written on the girls' bathroom wall, everyone in the school is tasked with covering it up with "something good" - bright, cheerful artwork.
Inspired by real-life events at her children's schools, Campbell shares a solution that might be implemented in a situation like this. It plays out with all of the girls in one class being sent to the principal's office to be queried about the vandalism and the resulting actions (students generally becoming less respectful of/hateful to others, school is lectured by the principal, school color ribbons to instill pride, all students painting over the trash talk, and writing exercises and discussions about hate speech). The language is spare, with just enough to get across her points. An author's note in the back explains her purpose and suggestions of places to go for more information about combatting hate speech.
Illustrations were done by Corinna Luyken in gouache, colored pencil, and ink on paper. The use of colors - bold and beautiful hues of bright yellow, neon pink, sage green, and black - are striking and eye-catching. Young people will want to pour over the details. The shocked reactions of the girls who see the "bad" words is almost life-sized, showing the importance of this incident.
The format of the book is just a bit unusual. The title page and verso are in the back of the book. This forces the reader to open to the front endsheets (the bathroom wall is shown withe creamy yellow paint covering up something on the green walls of a room with a tiled wall, then jumps right into the story.
Much to view, listen, and discuss with this wonderful little book.
Recommend for PreS-grade 6.
November 17, 2021
The book is inspired by a true (and not altogether uncommon) experience of a hate speech appearing in a school. In this case, it's something written in the girls bathroom. The students use art and assembly to discuss and address the occurence. We never see what's written, unless that's somewhere hidden in the illustration -- but the words tell us the bad things are still there, underneath. It's an inspiring book and conversation starter for school age kids. The illustrations and illustration style, letter, layout and general book construction is stunning. I especially love the colors. The flow and layout are also notable. It does feel quietly political, but then again, kindness shouldn't feel political and I'm disappointed that race relations are currently so politically sided. I'm giving this book a five star review, though it might really land between 4 and 5 for me.
An important book that will no doubt be used for something good. Don't hesitate to add it to your collection or reading list.
An important book that will no doubt be used for something good. Don't hesitate to add it to your collection or reading list.
August 7, 2022
Picture book about the response in an elementary school to a "bad something" written on a bathroom wall. The story is kept age-appropriate for youngsters, so it is never explained what exactly that something is, you can fill in your own imagination of the hate speech or etc. A girl tells the story, of how girls sneak into the restroom to find and read it and are appalled or cry; parents give extra hugs and are extra-distracted; the principal calls all the girls into his office but no one knows who did it. They hold an assembly to reassure everyone that they are a kind school, and a teacher has the whole class paint a mural over the spot and write poems about all of the "good somethings" in the world. I love this idea! A brief author's note reveals this was her suggested response to such an incident at her kids' schools. The illustrations here are beautiful, neon-tinged art, with a diverse cast of children in them. 2022 K-2 nominee, Buckeye Children's Book Award
January 18, 2023
Really? This wasn't awarded anything? Wow! I'm actually shocked. Marcy Campbell and Corinna Lyken make an excellent team in the realm of children's picture books. this book was touching and honest and maybe that's what scares people from reading it to their children. Something Good (2021) is about a school in which something bad was written on the wall of the girl's bathroom. What that is is never given to us the reader, but it doesn't have to be. What it is is not as important as how it affects those in the story. What happens next is a very moving account of what should happen and how when bad things happen or are said, there's always something we can do to teach more kindness and acceptance. It starts with parents instilling such things in their own children. It's sad this book isn't well known. It should be. The illustrations are gorgeous! The story is universal and will be current in fifty years. I guarantee it. Just a really great read all around. My rating - 5/5
August 22, 2024
Speaking as someone whose love language is words of affirmation, and as someone who is hurt by words, I didn't super care for the premise of this book. Someone writes something on the girls' bathroom wall, but it is never revealed what was written or who did it. A big deal is made, all the parents are called, they hug their kids a little longer the next day. Really? Hug your kids a little longer after an event like 9/11 or after you've heard a tragic story about a child dying too soon in a car crash or accident. These are just words written on a bathroom wall. I wish we weren't so sensitive as a culture. While I like the idea of there being more good than bad and covering up the bad words with paint, why couldn't the author just say what was written, not make such a huge deal of it, and just have the kids paint the bathroom. It just seemed overdramatic to me. But maybe that's because I have no idea what was said.
January 14, 2022
Age: 1st-3rd grade
Tough Issues: Bigoted/demeaning graffiti
Word spreads about the bad-something that was written in the girl's bathroom at school, changing the entire emotional climate of the school. Through art, one teacher encourages his class to paint a mural in the bathroom. While some books might triumphantly end on this good note, Campbell looks a little bit deeper at the lingering effects of the bad-something. That it was still somewhere deep underneath and not completely gone, but the children had changed it with their good-somethings.
A really remarkable look at the power of something so little and how it can quickly get out-of-hand without properly recognizing and recovering from it. And Luyken's artwork is astounding as always.
Tough Issues: Bigoted/demeaning graffiti
Word spreads about the bad-something that was written in the girl's bathroom at school, changing the entire emotional climate of the school. Through art, one teacher encourages his class to paint a mural in the bathroom. While some books might triumphantly end on this good note, Campbell looks a little bit deeper at the lingering effects of the bad-something. That it was still somewhere deep underneath and not completely gone, but the children had changed it with their good-somethings.
A really remarkable look at the power of something so little and how it can quickly get out-of-hand without properly recognizing and recovering from it. And Luyken's artwork is astounding as always.
February 23, 2023
I chose this book as the cover had unique illustrations, but I didn’t realize it would be so powerful. This is a story about a school who’s girls bathroom had “something bad” written in it. The girls were curious and snuck in to see the something bad and were very hurt. I assume this was representative of some sort of hate speech/bullying, but it was never shared to the readers. The teachers and principle then bring the students together to empower them to be kinder to one another. They paint a mural in the bathroom as one and at the end of the book, they all saw each other differently. This is a beautiful story that I believe all children should read. It would be great in the classroom to promote kindness and encourage positive behaviors.
August 17, 2026
Something Good
by Marcy Campbell
Found on Story: Something Good, by UUAA on Youtube read aloud. Suggested for books for the classroom for 2026.
The book talks about a common school problem of graffiti in the school. The story shows how that changed the environment of the school. The children question their own nature. The parents react with concern and love. The school shows school spirit and starts a project to change the wall. The children take over the problem with their own artwork and find connection to the school, their dreams, and their pride in themselves and their school. The art work is dynamic and brings not only the mood to life but shows how art can change perspective. And taking pride in our own accomplishments can change things for the better.
by Marcy Campbell
Found on Story: Something Good, by UUAA on Youtube read aloud. Suggested for books for the classroom for 2026.
The book talks about a common school problem of graffiti in the school. The story shows how that changed the environment of the school. The children question their own nature. The parents react with concern and love. The school shows school spirit and starts a project to change the wall. The children take over the problem with their own artwork and find connection to the school, their dreams, and their pride in themselves and their school. The art work is dynamic and brings not only the mood to life but shows how art can change perspective. And taking pride in our own accomplishments can change things for the better.
October 23, 2021
Inspired by an actual school situation, the process of leaning into the GOOD in Something Good plays out realistically, not with an overnight change, or erasure of the BAD thing that generated change in the children at school. Instead, it is the support and hard work and creativity of the families and teachers and children that scaffolds their return to kindness and appreciation of others, perhaps more intentionally and aware than before the BAD THING appeared on the bathroom wall. Lovely illustrations convey subtle shifts in emotion throughout, with characters of many identities and backgrounds.
October 26, 2021
Somebody put something bad on the wall of the girls' bathroom at school. It doesn't matter what it was, it just hurt people, and made even the adults suspicious. How do you combat the bad? By creating good. In this case, the teacher had them paint wonderful pictures over the something bad, and write poems about the good overcoming the bad. The bad in the world can spread, unless we make a conscious effort to counteract it with art, or love, or more. Children might not understand the nuances, but they get the feelings of bad things in the world. We can teach and model how to be, feel, and do better. The background colors and abstract lines convey the various emotions and reactions
February 4, 2022
A "bad-something" was written on the wall of the girl's bathroom, and now the whole school is affected. Beautifully captures the uneasy and mixed up feelings that a classroom of kids has in the aftermath, and one teacher's idea to help them process. The illustrations are lovely, giving each kid individuality and expression, but tying them all together in an interesting color palette of paint layering and covering and half-covering the pencil-like drawings. The "bad-something" is never specified, so could apply to various situations. The text and illustrations perfectly work together to convey collective shock, grief, anger, and slow healing.
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