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Don't Say Ain't
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. In 1957, a young girl is torn between life in the neighborhood she grew up in and fitting in at the school she now attends.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Irene Smalls
33Ìýbooks10ÌýfollowersIrene Jennie Smalls has been a model, an actress, a radio reporter, and a small business owner, but her favorite job is being a children's author. She lives in Boston Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 23, 2015
Don’t Say Ain’t by Irene Smalls in a very interesting picture book about an African-American child who is able to go to private school with Caucasian students. As can be seen by the writing in this book, there is a very obvious cultural difference in the mannerisms and the way of speech in the characters. In the beginning, three girls named Dana, Ellamae, and Cindybelle are playing jump rope and reciting a rhyme in which the word “ain’t� is being warned against. However, during their fun, Dana’s godmother yells at them for using improper words, as others will judge them on their manner of speech. Her godmother then announces that Dana is going to “advanced school and become a doctor�. This causes Dana and her friends to have a fallout, until they realize that just because Dana attends an advanced school did not mean that she thought that they were no longer meant to be good friends. This book is very valuable in allowing children to see that they may not be the only ones with misunderstandings due to differing lifestyles. Furthermore, this book allows for readers to empathize with Dana, since this is about the mixing of two cultural worlds into one person, which is often the case for many international children, who go to schools in many different places. This book is definitely a valuable read.
November 1, 2017
This book is beautifully written and illustrated. The story follows the author as she is growing as an African-American in the 50s. Smalls is re-located from her school to a Caucasian one, where she feels out of place because of the way she speaks. Smalls has the learn a balance between her home language and school.
The is a wonderful book about friendship, identity and overcoming obstacles. I loved the way the story was told, and how vibrant the water colors are. I think this is an all-around wonderful story that blends history and personal experience into something relatable.
I would use this book to talk about segregation and integration in the 1950s. Scholastic does not include this book on their website, but according to TeacherVision, this book is for grades 1-4. I'm not sure that a first grader would grasp the intention of this book, but they could definitely appreciate the artwork.
The is a wonderful book about friendship, identity and overcoming obstacles. I loved the way the story was told, and how vibrant the water colors are. I think this is an all-around wonderful story that blends history and personal experience into something relatable.
I would use this book to talk about segregation and integration in the 1950s. Scholastic does not include this book on their website, but according to TeacherVision, this book is for grades 1-4. I'm not sure that a first grader would grasp the intention of this book, but they could definitely appreciate the artwork.
February 8, 2018
This book was great at showing what language to use in specific environments. It's very informative.
Read
July 3, 2018good book
July 23, 2021
A stunner by both author and illustrator. If I had prizes to give, they would go to this book.
February 8, 2023
Wonderful book. I loved how the coming-of-age experience of straddling two worlds is depicted in the book.
August 15, 2023
I read this book as a child and it still remains my FAVORITE book ever.
January 24, 2010
I chose Don't Say Ain't for the CORA Diversity Roll Call when we were asked to recommend early readers. I chose it for the beautiful watercolor cover.
The setting for Don't Say Ain't is Harlem in 1957. Three neighborhood friends are being broken up because on of them has been given a chance to go to an advanced school. The remaining girls shun their friend and the children at the new school shun her too because she's new.
Don't Say Ain't introduces children to life in Harlem in the early days of the Civil Rights movement. The vibrant painted illustrations bring this era to life. While I read the book once, I spent another couple of times just admiring the artwork by Colin Bootman.
The book though isn't just about Harlem or civil rights. There's also the timeless tale of finding the balance between private life and public life. The lesson of Don't Say Ain't isn't to never say ain't but to know how when to be formal and when to be informal. It's also about self respect and self improvement and sacrifice while keeping friendships and family ties.
The setting for Don't Say Ain't is Harlem in 1957. Three neighborhood friends are being broken up because on of them has been given a chance to go to an advanced school. The remaining girls shun their friend and the children at the new school shun her too because she's new.
Don't Say Ain't introduces children to life in Harlem in the early days of the Civil Rights movement. The vibrant painted illustrations bring this era to life. While I read the book once, I spent another couple of times just admiring the artwork by Colin Bootman.
The book though isn't just about Harlem or civil rights. There's also the timeless tale of finding the balance between private life and public life. The lesson of Don't Say Ain't isn't to never say ain't but to know how when to be formal and when to be informal. It's also about self respect and self improvement and sacrifice while keeping friendships and family ties.
May 15, 2013
As an African American woman, I must say that this book teaches a valuable lesson about the difficulty many Black children have with balancing their at home language with school language. This book is not just a good story, it portrays a realistic conflict that inner city, minority youth face when dealing with their peers. Irene Smalls has taken the academic topics of Discourse and code-switching and placed it in a fictional, but realistic, setting. I will be recommending this book to a friend to use in her Socio-Cultural Discourse course. This would make a great segue into a discourse analysis assignment.
April 17, 2014
"Don't Say Ain't" follows a little girl who struggles with balancing home and school language. This book addresses and issue many students deal with and have a hard time understanding. The beautiful illustrations are what drew me in to this book. It is a book that would be great for a read aloud and grand discussion.
May 2, 2011
This book is in improper use of English, but I would say, I like the way it sounds when I read it out loud. It is different! It makes me feel black on the outside.i apologize first, but i'm Not trying to offend or sterotypical anyone.
Integrated schools, advanced school,black and white,
Integrated schools, advanced school,black and white,
November 9, 2011
Talks about how things were different during segregation.
February 11, 2012
Grades 2-4
I might read this story to my class when we discuss English and the correct way to speak.
I might read this story to my class when we discuss English and the correct way to speak.
August 21, 2013
I loved it
March 9, 2018
This book focuses on language differences in different cultures, but teaches that those differences don’t make anyone better than another.
February 8, 2019
Summary:
It begins with girls playing double dutch and saying that you can't say the word ain't. This is reinforced by various members in the community, including Dana's godmother. She explained to Dana that speaking proper proves that you have a good education, and she wants nothing more for Dana than to learn as much as she can and even become a doctor. She wants her to be more successful than herself. The book then follows Dana as she gets ready for her first day of school, and how it was a privilage to go to an advanced school. Her teacher there also reinforces that she shouldn't use the word 'ain't' in school. By the end of the story, she has come up with a new double dutch saying and finally conceeds that she won't say ain't.
My Thoughts:
I loved this book because of the diction. The way that the writer captured the slang and showed great apppreciation and respect in writing this book to expound upon a different ethnic background than I am familar with was very appealing. I LOVED the illustrations. It was just an amazing book and kids who are not from this background will be able to understand the culture a little better.
Classroom Usage:
I would use this as a grammar activity and open up a discussion as to whether or not we should or shouldn't use the word ain't, as well as other slang or improper words. We would also discuss if it's right to judge somoeone and their education status based only on how they speak.
It begins with girls playing double dutch and saying that you can't say the word ain't. This is reinforced by various members in the community, including Dana's godmother. She explained to Dana that speaking proper proves that you have a good education, and she wants nothing more for Dana than to learn as much as she can and even become a doctor. She wants her to be more successful than herself. The book then follows Dana as she gets ready for her first day of school, and how it was a privilage to go to an advanced school. Her teacher there also reinforces that she shouldn't use the word 'ain't' in school. By the end of the story, she has come up with a new double dutch saying and finally conceeds that she won't say ain't.
My Thoughts:
I loved this book because of the diction. The way that the writer captured the slang and showed great apppreciation and respect in writing this book to expound upon a different ethnic background than I am familar with was very appealing. I LOVED the illustrations. It was just an amazing book and kids who are not from this background will be able to understand the culture a little better.
Classroom Usage:
I would use this as a grammar activity and open up a discussion as to whether or not we should or shouldn't use the word ain't, as well as other slang or improper words. We would also discuss if it's right to judge somoeone and their education status based only on how they speak.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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