No, David!
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this simple story caters to the desperado in most every child.
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- Kids say
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What's the story?
Here comes trouble! David Shannon's disorderly little devil--a balloon-headed, snaggle-toothed, high-octane piece of work--digs himself into a deep hole with his endless horseplay. But when David finally hits bottom, his mother is there with a pair of loving arms. The artwork brims with youthful energy. Parents and children will chuckle (or groan) in recognition.
Is it any good?
David 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. 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 4-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.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about David's behavior. Does he mean to cause so much trouble? How does he feel after breaking the vase? How does his mother feel?
Book details
- Author: David Shannon
- Illustrator: David Shannon
- Genre: Picture Book
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date: January 1, 1998
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 32
- Award: Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated: February 22, 2019
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