Ordering Information
$14.95, 5.5″ x 7.5″, softcover, 96 pages, 30 b/w illustrations
Publication date: August 5, 2025
ISBN: 978-1-942155-94-2
Smalltown City and the Spirit of Town Hall
by Nancy Pearson
Smalltown City and the Spirit of City Hall is the first book in an early chapter series focused on civics and community engagement. The series demonstrates how children can influence local decision-makers, even before they are old enough to vote. The book takes young readers on a third-grade field trip to city hall during a climate-related storm. The story’s protagonists, Laila, Kehinde, Sasha, Mae, Martin, and a service dog named Dolly, all have front row seats as they watch city hall in action. With a little help from a friendly spirit, they discover what it takes to run a small city, and the true meaning of community.
The book is at a third grade reading level and appropriate for grades 1-4.
Advance Reader Comments:
Nancy Pearson has crafted a valuable resource for parents, teachers and students with Smalltown City, championing the power of the people – especially children. This warm and engaging story helps fill a gap in elementary education as it inspires young people to explore their community, understand how government works and, most importantly, recognize the role they can play in driving meaningful change.
—Denise Wheeler educator, writer, and grassroots community advocate
What a valuable and delightful learning tool to teach young school children about American civics! Nancy Pearson’s Smalltown City and the Spirit of City Hall encourages students to take on the roles of municipal leaders to understand their important functions, exploring how they work together to overcome adversity and help communities thrive. A+!
—Barbara McQuade, University of Michigan Law School professor and author of Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America
Written with humor and humanity, Smalltown City and the Spirit of City Hall fills an urgent need for engaging resources to educate and inspire our youngest citizens. Smalltown City will be a classic in elementary schools for years to come.
—Martha Madsen, lifelong educator, former NH Civics executive director, current civics outreach coordinator at the NH Bar Association
My kids dove right into this book, and it allowed me to share something I love with them! Thank you to the author for entering a new space where kids can understand their civic parents and their activities – not to mention their own power!
—Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, NH Senate Minority Leader, and former city councilor
About the Author
Nancy Pearson is a former elementary school teacher and community organizer in Portsmouth, NH, where she served as a two-term city councilor. Nancy earned her Master of Public Administration in 2012, and her PhD in 2023, after conducting a multi-city case study on civic participation during the Covid-19 government lockdowns. Dr. Nancy knows how to bring innovative ideas to life, as a speaker, in workshops, and in her children’s book series. As a self-titled local government evangelist, Dr. Nancy’s passion lies in creating pathways for empowering citizens. Learn more https://www.drnancypearson.com.
