Customer Reviews

No, David!

5 star:		(151)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I found No, David! three years ago while teaching a special education class for preschoolers with Austism. I was certain that I would receive a response from reading this book to them, as how many times are they told "NO"! Being a speech language pathologist I did expand on the dialog, saying what David was doing wrong. The students would paraphase the dialog with the same intonation or melodic intonation (scolding) I had used. We even wrote books about No, David!, doing inappropriate acts in our class room. It's amazing how well this book worked as a "social story". Many bad habits were reduced. Best of all, when I read "Come here, David" my students would come up to get a hug. This was the most verbally requested book from my students with Autism. At reading free choice, they would look at the pictures and preread using the dialog. I currently run a preschool special education preschool program for children with speech, language, and learning delays and start off the Fall reading No, David to decrease bad social behaviors. My students 3.0 to 5.0 love this book. I also give this book as a baby present.

As a Kindergarten teacher and a lover of children's literature, I can tell you that No, David! is a very special book. This story does not need a lot of words in order to be captivating. Instead, it grabs the reader because it so accurately depicts the spirit of the child. Children will be children, and what to them is great fun, to an adult can be a definite no-no. It is through David's innocence, and his precarious foothold in the world, that we are instantly transported back to our own childhoods, where we too had to learn that there were consequences for our actions. I can't imagine that there is a person out there that cannot identify with the round-headed, gap-toothed David.

No, David! is one of those rare books that helps young children believe that they can read. Part of learning to read is memorization, and little ones quickly remember the exact words on each page of this book that they love to look at over and over again. And of course, there is no need to ask which page is their favorite. You'll know it when you see it, and when they see it, they can't stop laughing!

David Shannon has created several more entries in his "David" series, but for sure, the original is a modern children's literature classic.

I am a volunteer reader to three classes of second graders. This book was read and (by popular demand) re-read to each class - over two months ago. Since that time, I have shared many, many excellent books with them. Not a week passes that they do not ask for this book - sometimes in the middle of another story! Before I leave the classroom, they often ask,"When are you going to read us 'No,David' again?" and then proceed to retell their favorite parts of the story. They absolutely LOVE this book and are fascinated with the wonderful drawings of David and his world. They definitely identify with David and the childhood travails of living with Mommy's NO! Ah, but the wonderful ending that has nothing to do with that awful word....

My four-year-old twin boys read this book over and over again! They recite the "No, David!" story in the car, in the store, in the tub, and just about any other place! Every child (and adult!) can relate to this story...we've ALL been David! It's a wonderful book for teaching kids to read and recognize words. I have recommended this book to all of my friends with preschool age children.

UPDATE: This book seems to be everywhere - they read it in preschool but luckily my son is now 3.5 and loves it now! He thinks its hysterical. You definitely have to be the right age for this book.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Ok, now I have a "No David" problem in my house. The first time we read this book to my 2.5 year old son he completely freaked out and started bawling his eyes out. We were totally taken aback at this reaction from our normally happy and inquisitive toddler. The content (David engaging in bad behavior and having his mother say NO) combined with the scary pictures really upset him. Unfortunately, even though we have tried to put this book away and not read it again and have also tried to reassure our son that even when David does things he shouldn't do his mommy always loves him, our toddler is still - weeks later - both fascinated with and terrified by this book. He is always asking about David, saying things like "David played ball in the house", David was broke his toys, etc. etc., he wants to talk about David all the time. Unfortunately, the couple of additional times we tried looking at it with him (on the theory that if he was obsessed with it anyway it would be better to look at it with him and reassure him again rather than just hide it from him, which might be more upsetting and confusing) the same thing happened. Like a scary movie that you can't get out of your head, this is what "No David!" is, at least for my toddler.

I was amused by this book, and its companion, David Goes To School, when I saw them in the bookstore. I didn't realize just what a smart purchase they would turn out to be. These books have caught the interest of even the most reluctant readers in my first grade class. They have memorized the text and all want to read it to the "little kids." It has them working on all the skills they need to transfer to other texts--pointing to each word as they say it, using beginning sounds, etc. The words are ones that they have experienced personally, and the pictures are just gross enough to appeal to any not-so-happy-to-be-in-school first grade boy!

I heard great reviews of this book back when I was student teaching. So, I checked it out one day while I was at the library. I read it to my Pre-K class and THEY LOVED IT!!! The "David" books are pretty much the only ones they truly enjoy and listen to. Practically all 21 of them memorized the book word for word after I read it the first time. I was worried that some of the kids would pick up David's mischievous behavior, but they all pointed out how David was a "bad" boy who made excuses. They, thankfully, knew NOT to act like David. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

The book No, David! is the perfect book for any adult to share with a child. The illustrations of the devilishly cute David make both children and adults laugh at his antics while at the same time feeling sorry for him and the trouble he finds. David seems oblivious to all the actions that elicit the responses "No, David!" "No, No, No!" "Come back here David!" and "Settle down!" The illustrations of David walking across the rug covered in mud, overflowing the bathtub, jumping up and down on his bed dressed as a cowboy, and watching TV while every toy he owns is spread all over the floor make all children laugh with the understanding that they've been there before. What child hasn't been so deeply engrossed in an activity only to be jolted out of it by an adult pointing out the "mess" they have made? Children closely follow the story, even though the words may be few, the pictures tell the whole story. The bright and funny illustrations tell the story of David's mischief. The illustrations become hilarious when David is corrected for picking his nose and for running down the street without clothes. Children revel in the delight of knowing what he's doing wrong and understanding how it feels. The book is wonderful for adults too; it is refreshing to remember the simple joy of childhood imagination. No matter what David does throughout this day, he needs cleaning up, reprimanding and constant supervision. David seems to do all this with the innocence of childhood, he doesn't realize that his 'fun' creates a huge mess. The end of the book satisfies all readers, child and adult. David is in 'time out' for his latest mischief when his mother says, "Davey, come here," and reminds him that "Yes Davey, I love you". The simple text and the detailed illustrations make the reader feel that all is better, and David is forgiven for his mis-adventures. This is a wonderful book to share with children, they respond with lots of prior knowledge, lots of elaboration, and lots of love for this devilish little boy all adults and children can relate too. The author has written another book about David going to school, I wonder what trouble he'll find next.....

My students absolutely love this book. It is really simple to read and lets kids know that even after their screwing around and getting scolded that they are still loved. Definately a favorite of mine.

All of our young children have days like David's. Some of our children have lives like David's. David does a series of typical toddler no-nos like writing on walls and trying to steal cookies. The text consists almost entirely of "No, David!" but the illustrations speak volumes. They appear crude, but for all of that they are strangely realistic. And they convey very well the awkwardness of toddlerhood.

There was definitely something in it that spoke to my youngest child. When my youngest was two and a half, he would sit in my lap to allow me to read No, David! to him -- would go find the book and give it to me to read to him --and pointed out all the details in the pictures with me. He still finds this book hilarious, and he's five years old. If you want quiet time with your rambunctious child, offer him this book. Allow your child the opportunity to read about a little boy who also has trouble behaving like Mommy wants him to.

But does this book encourage misbehavior in toddlers? Does it Give Them Ideas? Does this subversive book give toddlers ideas about new ways to rebel against parents? Is this book visual proof of bad parenting? Such concerns presuppose that toddlers misbehave on purpose. In fact, the world is a frustrating place for toddlers, who crave and fear independence from mommy, and have the same wants we do without a lot of the physical competence we have, and who are only just learning impulse control. This book empathizes with these impulses, but does not encourage them.

The illustrations portray the consequences of childish misbehavior in a way that toddlers can hear it, and the humor in the book is exactly the ultraviolet brand that parents of toddlers -- and their toddlers -- need. This book strengthened my relationship with my challenging child, and I can frequently invoke portions of the book when my child misbehaves and the resulting hilarity defuses a situation and redirects the behavior.

It is an enjoyable, hilarious book by a delightful author.