Perri’s Pencil Problem sparked a conversation on microaggressions and natural hair; now its teen author is turning that story into a national campaign.
BOSTON, MA, UNITED STATES, August 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Teen author and entrepreneur Marleigh Brown is expanding her impact on children’s literacy and social-emotional learning with the launch of Say Something Sweet, Inc., a nonprofit movement built on the message of her debut picture book, Perri’s Pencil Problem. Together, the book and the movement give children, parents, and educators a shared language for confronting bias and choosing kindness.
Brown wrote Perri’s Pencil Problem, a picture book for readers ages 5 to 8, drawing on her own childhood experience with a racial microaggression involving her natural hair. The book follows a young Black girl whose classmate puts pencils into her afro at school. It can be used for dining room and classroom conversations about identity, respect, and belonging. Now available on Amazon, PerrisPencilProblem.com and your favorite online booksellers such as Barnes & Noble, the book has reached readers and educators well beyond Brown’s home community.
Building on that momentum, Brown founded Say Something Sweet, Inc. to turn her story into sustained action. The movement’s core framework, “sweet words” versus “sour words,” gives children an accessible way to recognize the impact of their language and choose empathy over harm. Through saysomethingsweet.org, Brown has built a volunteer Say Something Sweet Squad with a public pledge campaign; and social-emotional learning curriculum tailored to grade bands from kindergarten through high school.
“Perri’s Pencil Problem started as my story. Say Something Sweet can further the impact of the book by turning the sour vs. sweet words conversation into a movement. I want every kid who has felt left out, unheard, self-conscious or unimportant to know their voice matters.”
— Marleigh Brown, Founder, Say Something Sweet, Inc.
A Teen-Led Model for Change
What sets Brown apart is that she is not simply the subject of a feel-good story; she is the founder and driving force behind an entire ecosystem built around it. In addition to her book and nonprofit, Brown runs Meadow Angel, LLC, a personalized diverse stationery business with international reach, giving her firsthand experience across publishing, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship before she has finished high school.
For Educators and Families
Perri’s Pencil Problem is designed as both a classroom read-aloud and a springboard for social-emotional learning discussions, supporting culturally responsive teaching around empathy, identity, and belonging. Say Something Sweet extends that work with free, grade-banded resources for parents and educators, including lesson plans, discussion activities, and a live pledge counter that tracks the movement’s growing reach.
Book Details
Title: Perri’s Pencil Problem
Author: Marleigh Brown
Age Range: 5–8 years
Genre: Children’s Picture Book / Diversity & Inclusion
Availability: Available now on Amazon, PerrisPencilProblem.com, Walmart.com, BN.com and other online booksellers
About the Movement
Organization: Say Something Sweet, Inc.
Status: Pending 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Website: saysomethingsweet.org
About Marleigh Brown
Marleigh Brown is a Northeast-based teen author, entrepreneur, and advocate for diverse representation in early childhood literature. Inspired by her own experience with microaggressions as a child, she writes stories and builds programs that speak directly to the hearts of Black children while equipping families and educators with tools for meaningful conversation. Perri’s Pencil Problem is her debut picture book and Say Something Sweet, Inc. is her first nonprofit venture. Brown is not simply the subject of a feel-good story; she is the founder behind an entire ecosystem built around representation, also running MeadowAngel.com, a personalized stationery business for diverse kids with international reach.
Media Contact
Marleigh Brown
Author & Founder, Perri’s Pencil Problem / Say Something Sweet, Inc.
Email: media@perrispencilproblem.com
Book Website: perrispencilproblem.com
Movement Website: saysomethingsweet.org
Amazon Link: https://bit.ly/perrispencilproblem
Marleigh Brown
Say Something Sweet, Inc.
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