Don't Say Ain't by Irene Smalls

Illustrated by Colin Bootman. 32 p., Charlesbridge, 2003.

It is 1957, and Dana, who is African American, is chosen to attend an advanced (integrated) school. Her best friends assume that she thinks she's "better" than they are, yet she doesn't feel she knows how to fit in at the advanced school. The two worlds have different languages: at home, people talk "like real people" and use the word ain't, whereas at school, ain't isn't allowed, and people talk "strange." Dana struggles with the idea that the language of school is somehow more acceptable (which her godmother encourages) and the idea that the language of home feels familiar and real. When Dana's teacher says ain't while visiting her home, Dana finally realizes that both languages are OK, just in different situations. At the same time, she's able to repair her friendships, telling her friends that she isn't better than them; instead, each has something she's especially good at, including Dana's academics. This story offers a way to value and belong to two cultures simultaneously.

Ages 4-10
Main character's cultural background: African American
Cultural context: multicultural