About the movement 

 

What is Say Something Sweet?

Say Something Sweet is a kindness movement built on one simple idea: words can feel sweet or sour, and every one of us gets to choose which ones we reach for.

 

It started with a picture book. Perri’s Pencil Problem by Marleigh Brown tells the story of a Black girl whose classmate puts pencils in her natural hair at school, a real experience from Marleigh’s own childhood. The book became the launchpad for a bigger conversation: about microaggressions, about belonging, about what it means to make someone feel seen versus unseen.

 

The movement grew from there. Say Something Sweet gives kids, parents, and educators a shared language. We highlight sweet words versus sour words to talk about something that can otherwise feel too complicated or too uncomfortable to name.

 

What exactly is a microaggression? Is that the same as a sour word?

A microaggression is a comment, question, or action that communicates something hurtful about a person’s identity, often without any bad intention. They’re called “micro” because they can seem small on the surface. But they add up, and they land.

 

Examples: asking someone where they’re “really” from. Saying a name is “too hard to pronounce.” Touching someone’s hair without asking. Telling a child their food smells weird. These moments chip away at how safe and welcome a person feels. This is especially true in school, where kids are still figuring out who they are.

 

At Say Something Sweet, Inc., we call these sour words — not because the person saying them is a bad person, but because of the effect they have on the person receiving them. The goal isn’t blame. It’s awareness, and the choice to do better.

 

Is this movement only for Black children?

The movement was born from Marleigh's experience and Perri’s Pencil Problem centers her story as a Black girl. That centering is intentional and important. Black children deserve to see themselves reflected in books and in movements that take their experiences seriously.

 

But the broader mission tied to choosing kind words, learning to recognize when something we say might hurt even if we didn’t mean it to, building a more intentional way of speaking, belongs to everyone. Microaggressions affect children across many identities: race, religion, disability, immigration status, family structure, body size, and more.

 

Every child can learn to choose sweet over sour. Every adult can model that choice. That’s for all of us.

 

How do I participate in the #SaySomethingSweet campaign?

Three ways to join the conversation on social media:

• Share a sweet word. Post something kind you said, heard, or witnessed and tag #SaySomethingSweet. It can be a compliment you gave, a moment you stood up for someone, or a small act of inclusion that made a difference.

• Take the pledge and post your badge. When you join the Squad, you’ll get a shareable social badge. Post it to your story or profile with the hashtag to show your community you’ve made the commitment.

• Share the book. If Perri’s Pencil Problem moved you, tell someone. A post, a recommendation, or a photo of your child reading it will all spread the message.

• Follow @perrispencilproblem on Instagram and TikTok to stay connected with what the community is sharing and use #saysomethingsweet in your social media posts.

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What is Say Something Sweet, Inc.?

Say Something Sweet, Inc. is the LLC founded by Marleigh Brown to house the Say Something Sweet movement, the related resources, and the community it’s building. It’s the organization behind the book, this website, the Squad, and all the educational materials.

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If you’re interested in partnerships, speaking engagements, bulk book orders, or bringing Say Something Sweet into your organization, reach out via the Contact page.

 

The Say Something Sweet Squad

 

What is the Say Something Sweet Squad and how do I join?

The Squad is the community of kids and adults who have taken the Say Something Sweet pledge and committed to choosing kind words every day. It’s free, open to all ages, and there are no requirements beyond taking the pledge.

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To join: head to the Squad page, fill out the sign-up form, take the pledge, and your official Squad member kit — a printable certificate, digital Squad card, and shareable social badge — will arrive in your inbox within minutes.

 

What’s in the Squad member kit?

When you join the Squad, your welcome email includes three things:

• An official Squad member certificate personalized with your name, printable, and ready to hang up wherever it means the most. Some kids put it in their locker. Some families frame it. It’s yours.

• A digital Squad card — your personal membership card with your name, join date, and starting rank (Honey Bee). Save it to your phone or share it with a friend.

• A shareable social badge — an Instagram and TikTok-ready graphic in three color options. Post it to your story with #SaySomethingSweet.

• Squad members also receive the monthly Sweet Words newsletter with kindness prompts, community spotlights, and early access to new resources.

 

Is the Squad free? Is there an age requirement?

Completely free. Always. The Squad will never have a membership fee.

There’s no age requirement either. Families join together, classrooms join as a group, and individual adults are just as welcome as five-year-olds. For children under 13, we ask that a parent or guardian sign up on their behalf.

 

I signed up but didn’t receive my welcome email. What do I do?

First, check your spam or junk folder as automated welcome emails sometimes land there, especially if it’s your first email from us. The email comes from hello@saysomethingsweet.org, so you can search for that address directly.

If it’s not there after 10 minutes, reach out via the Contact page with the email address you signed up with and we’ll get it sorted.

 

For educators ​

 

How can I use Say Something Sweet in my classroom?

There are several ways to bring Say Something Sweet into your classroom:

• Start with the book. Perri’s Pencil Problem is designed as a read-aloud for grades K–3 and works as a conversation anchor for grades 4–6. The classroom discussion guide — available free on the Educator Resources page — includes read-aloud prompts, discussion questions, and vocabulary for microaggressions in age-appropriate language.

• Use the sweet vs. sour framework. Post the framework in your classroom and refer to it when conflicts arise. Ask students: “Was that a sweet word or a sour one? What’s a sweeter way to say that?” Over time, it becomes a shared classroom language.

• Sign up the whole class. Use the bulk sign-up form on the Squad page to enroll your students together. Each student gets their own certificate, and you can make the pledge-taking a class moment.

• Use the SEL resources. The Educator Resources page includes lesson plans, activity sheets, and discussion guides aligned with social-emotional learning frameworks around empathy, identity, and belonging.

 

What grade levels is this appropriate for?

Perri’s Pencil Problem is written for children ages 5–8 (roughly grades K–3) as a picture book read-aloud. The sweet vs. sour framework and the broader discussion around microaggressions, however, scales well beyond that.

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• Grades K–2: Focus on the sweet vs. sour language itself (kind words versus unkind words) and how words make people feel. The book works beautifully as a simple read-aloud with discussion.

• Grades 3–5: Introduce the word “microaggression” and have students generate their own examples. The discussion guide supports this age group with more complex reflection questions.

• Grades 6–8: Use the framework as a springboard for deeper conversations about identity, belonging, and allyship. The “Why It Matters” section of the website has research-grounded content appropriate for this age group.

 

Educators can also use the book and framework in professional development settings for adult staff as the concepts apply at every age.

 

Can I order books in bulk for my classroom or school?

Yes, bulk orders are available. For classroom sets, school libraries, or district-wide purchases, please reach out via the Contact page with the quantity you need and your school or district information. Marleigh is happy to discuss pricing for bulk orders and can arrange signed copies for special circumstances.

 

The book is also available on PerrisPencilProblem.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other retailers for individual purchase.  Many school library systems can order it through their standard distributors.

 

Can Marleigh speak at our school or event?

Well...maybe? For Marleigh, school comes first. As a senior in high school, she's got a lot on her plate to prepare for college. However, if her calendar permits, Marleigh would love to speak with your classroom about microaggressions and intentional kindness. To inquire about booking, reach out directly through the Contact page with your event date, location, and audience size.

 

Are the educator resources really free?

Yes, completely free. The classroom discussion guide, activity sheets, and lesson plan frameworks on the Educator Resources page are available at no cost. Marleigh built this movement to reach as many classrooms as possible — putting resources behind a paywall would contradict that.

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Squad members get early access to new resources as they’re released. Joining the Squad is also free.

 

For parents

 

How do I talk to my child about microaggressions? I don’t know where to start.

Start with the sweet vs. sour framework which gives children a concrete, non-shaming way to understand the difference between words that welcome and words that hurt. You don’t need to use the word “microaggression” right away. Ask: “Did that feel like a sweet word or a sour one? Why?”

 

Read Perri’s Pencil Problem together and pause at the moment Perri’s classmate puts pencils in her hair. Ask your child: “How do you think Perri felt? What would you have done?” Let their answers guide the conversation, rather than leading with a lesson.

 

The Resources page has age-by-age conversation starters and guidance for responding when your child experiences or witnesses a microaggression. You don’t have to have all the answers. What matters most is that your child knows they can come to you with these experiences.

 

My child said something that sounds like a microaggression. What do I do?

First: take a breath. Children say things that land as microaggressions not because they’re bad kids, but because no one has taught them to notice. This is a teaching moment, not a crisis.

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Resist the urge to shame or lecture. Instead, try curiosity: “When you said that about [person’s name], what did you mean?” Then help them see the gap between what they intended and how it likely felt to the other person. “Even if you didn’t mean to hurt her, imagine how it might have felt to her.”

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Then redirect: “What’s a sweeter way you could have said that?” or “What could you say next time you see her?” Repair is part of the lesson and modeling how to repair something is one of the most valuable things a parent can do.

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The conversation starters on the For Parents page walk through this step by step.

 

My child experienced something hurtful at school. How do I support them?

The most important thing is to validate before you problem-solve. Before you ask “what happened” or “what did you do,” try: “That sounds really hard. I’m glad you told me. How are you feeling?” Children need to know their feelings are real and make sense — not that you’re already scanning for solutions.

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Once they feel heard, you can gently explore together: what happened, who was involved, whether they want any adult to know. Avoid pressuring them toward a specific response — give them agency in deciding what to do next.

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Then name it. If what happened sounds like a microaggression, you can say so: “What your classmate said — even if they didn’t mean to be unkind — made it seem like [your hair / your name / where you’re from] isn’t normal or beautiful. And it is. That’s a sour word. And you didn’t deserve it.”

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Your child seeing you take it seriously is the most protective thing you can offer.

 

Is my child too young for these topics?

Research consistently shows that children notice race, identity, and difference much earlier than many adults expect — often before age five. The question isn’t whether they’re ready for the topic. It’s whether we meet them where they are, or leave them to make sense of it alone.

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Perri’s Pencil Problem is written for ages 5–8, and the story is told in straightforward, warm language that doesn’t talk down to young readers. The sweet vs. sour framework is accessible to children as young as four or five when introduced gently at home.

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You don’t have to explain everything at once. A simple question like “how do you think that made Perri feel?” opens the conversation without overwhelming it. Follow your child’s lead as their questions will tell you how deep to go.

 

About the book

 

Where can I buy Perri’s Pencil Problem?

Perri’s Pencil Problem is available on Amazon and through Marleigh’s website, PerrisPencilProblem.com for signed copies or bulk orders.

If you’d like to see it stocked at your local library or bookstore, ask them to order it.

 

Is Perri’s Pencil Problem based on a true story?

Yes. The pencils-in-the-afro incident in the book happened to Marleigh herself as a child. She wrote the book she wishes she’d had — one that validated her experience, celebrated her hair, and gave her the language to understand what had happened.

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“This story happened to me. I wrote the book I wish I had as a little girl — one that told me my hair was beautiful, my feelings were valid, and my voice mattered.” — Marleigh Brown

 

What age is the book written for?

Perri’s Pencil Problem is a picture book written for children ages 5–8. It works beautifully as a read-aloud for ages 4 and up, and as an independent read for confident readers in grades 2–3.

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Educators can use it as a discussion anchor for conversations about microaggressions, identity, and allyship. The story’s simplicity is a strength: it makes a nuanced topic feel accessible at any age.

 

Is there a discussion guide that goes with the book?

Yes, a free classroom discussion guide is available on the Resources page. It includes read-aloud prompts, vocabulary for discussing microaggressions in age-appropriate language, discussion questions for before and after the read, and a “sweet vs. sour” activity students can complete individually or in small groups.

 

A separate conversation guide for parents is also available on the Resources page, with prompts tailored for home reading and kitchen-table conversations.

 

Will there be more books from Marleigh?

Perri’s Pencil Problem is Marleigh’s debut picture book, and it’s the beginning of a larger body of work. She is committed to writing stories that center Black children’s experiences and give every young reader — especially those who rarely see themselves in books — a story that says "you belong here".

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To stay updated on new releases and projects, join the Squad newsletter and follow @perrispencilproblem on social media.