Shannon won a Caldecott Honor for this book, and the reasons are obvious. The images are utterly endearing. The colors are deep, the images are graphic, the action is direct and oh-so-real.

One three-year-old excitedly pointed to David the superhero jumping on his bed in star-covered pajamas, red cowboy boots, yellow blanket-cape, and blue mask. "Me too," he crowed to his mother. In David's outrageous behavior, Shannon has caught that thin yet real line between a mischief maker and a brat.

During a library read-aloud, a group of four-year-olds readily took to the parental role, giving David a good tongue-lashing. For every crayon applied to the wallpaper, for every toy left carelessly on the floor they cried with glee, "No, David!" and then dissolved in giggles.

David's antics are relentless, but he is also extremely lovable. He is truly sorry when he breaks his mother's vase, and he finds his ultimate happiness safely wrapped in her loving arms.