David Shannon

In an autobiographical picture book by the creator of A Bad Case of Stripes, a mischievous boy is depicted doing a variety of naughty things for which he is repeatedly admonished, but finally he gets a hug.

No, David!

Sarah Sammis

No, David! by David Shannon is is one of those picture books that both my children discovered on their own and love. It's Harriet's turn now to be fascinated by it.

David Shannon explains at the end of the book that his mother gave him a copy of the book he had written as a child. The word he knew most was "No!" and David, being his own name, seemed like a good one to use for the book. I have to wonder if there's not a tiny bit of roman à clef in picture book form happening here too.

So David is this nearly bald, snaggle-toothed toddler who gets into everything and has lots of bad ideas. While not every page is a "No, David!" the phrase is used often throughout.

I'm still not as enamored with No, David! as my children are, preferring instead Duck on a Bike and A Bad Case of Stripes but I am warming to the book. There are other books in the series including David Goes to School and David Gets in Trouble. We haven't read them but I think we will in the near future.

Kate

I just realized this is written by the same author as A Bad Case of Stripes, which probably explains why the illustrations scare me for no particular reason. I mean, I think I actually liked this book, maybe, but David must be the most stressful child in the world.

No, David!

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