No, David!

No, David!	Scholastic, Inc.
Written and Illustrated by David Shannon	1998
Fiction	32 pages
Reading Level age 3-5	Caldecott Honor Book

Summary

This is a book based on a book David Shannon wrote as a child. David is told ‘No’ all the time. He can’t color on the walls, eat cookies from the cookie jar, bring mud into the house, play ball inside, or use his bathtub as a battle ground. He isn’t supposed to run around naked, bang pots together, chew with his mouth open, bounce on his bed, pick his nose, or leave his toys out. He breaks a vase and his mother, impatiently yells again, ‘I said no, David!’ He sits on his stool in the corner. He is sad because all his mother says is no and how he can’t do all these fun things. His mother calls to him, yes I love you. She gathers him up in her arms and holds him close.

Response

This was great. I love how it explains that even if your parents say no and not allow you to do all these things, they still love and care for you. The drawings are pencil outlines with backgrounds in paint, and colored pencils. It is drawn in a child like style, but much better than I could create. I love the detail of the whole picture and not focusing on one aspect of the page. I could relate with David and remember all the things that I was told not to do.

Possible Problems

This is a book of curious and misbehaving David learning what he can’t do. It is important to stress that these aren’t ideas to try but things that aren’t acceptable to do. Caution: there is a scene where he is running down the street with no clothes on.

Recommendations

This would be a good book for a parent to read with their child, at the end they could stress that they too love their child. Even after all the frowned upon things the children do.