Customer Reviews

No, David! (Spanish language version)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Note: A single cyber stalker at work! A first grade teacher in California is responsible!

At the end of the day-- all day-- do you wonder, really, whose children are in your house? Those can't be MY children! MY children would be much quieter, less rambunctious, and certainly models of good behavior.

What child has sharp, pointed teeth--the better to resemble something monstrous? What child has beady monster eyes--the better to see his way into more mischief? And what child would put on his baseball uniform and hit pop flies in the living room even though you just told him to go outside?

Not David! Poor David, just trying to have fun: writing on walls, standing precariously on chairs to get the cookie jar, tracking in mud, creating a Niagra Falls water flow over the side of the bathtub, running down the street naked, banging a pot with a metal spoon, playing with his food, chewing with his mouth open and on and on.

Wait, he does have feelings. He is put in the corner, but sitting there breaks his heart. Does Mommy still love me?, he cries. She calls him to her, holds him affectionately with the teeniest show of exasperation and says, "Yes, David..I love you!"

His relieved and softened face leaves me in tears. David is just a little boy. We must wait a bit for him to mature before we expect too much.

Here's the story behind the story. David Shannon is the illustrator/writer. "A few years ago, my mother sent me a book I made when I was a little boy. It was called 'No, David,' and it was illustrated with drawings of David doing all sorts of things he wasn't supposed to do." So Mr. Shannon did a remake.

It may be called hyperbole in literature, maybe in art as well, or artistic license. So when David tracks mud in, you have to accept that toadstools and little plants are growing from David's scalp and feet. Would David really have sharp, pointed teeth, or does his noise factor make him seem like a little monster? Can he really stick his finger up his nose all the way to the first knuckle toward the hand part? Or, is Shannon exaggerating for effect?

"No, David" is a self-study of a rambunctious childhood, playfully rendered and wildly caricatured to make sure the child reader understands that little David in NOT a monster and that actions have consequences.

This is a book that children love and delight to "read."

My mother, a 2nd grade teacher, read this to her class and they howled with laughter. They request this book daily. So she bought a copy for my 3-year-old neice, Daphne, and she LOVES it just as much! She wants it to be read over and over again, in part because of how dramatic we are when we read it to her (and yes, we hug her at the end). The dramatic, colorful illustrations are captivating. She does ask why his teeth look like that, we dont want to say becuase he's a little terror, we just say that it's okay for everyone's teeth to look different. One day, though, when my brother, her father, was eating with his mouth open she said, "Daddy, don't be like David!" It was so funny, to see her mind working and remembering that. It's a funny book that should be a part of every child's collection. Heck, I want if for myself even though I haven't any kids yet!

Both my kids love this story and we read it every night. They love to tell David "no" and relate to his troubles. I have boy and a girl ages 3 and 18 mos and they both love the book equally.

I have been through several copies of this book. I have read this book in the classroom and read it to my 5 children. They ALL love this book. They get a big laugh out of David and all the crazy stuff he does. We talk about what he is doing wrong and what he should be doing instead. The kids always love to shout "No David!" As a mother of 5 children, 4 of them being boys, I can totally appreciate the craziness of this book. I can't think of one mother who wouldn't want to scream, "No!" if her children came tromping through her freshly mopped floor caked in mud. One of the things I like to do is ask my children, oh no, what do you think David is doing wrong? Or Why do you think Mom is saying, "No David!" I also ask, "Why should David not do....." What do you think will happen? It gives children the chance to think in a fun way. It also shows that even though David got punished (which every child I have agrees that he should have been punished), Mom still loves him. We all love this book.

My three-year-old son absolutely loves this book. I have read it several times to him since he got it out of his stocking. It is one that we will read again and again.

I didn't pay attention and purchased the Spanish version. Nothing wrong with that, except I don't speak Spanish. I'm keeping it to avoid the hassle and am re-ordering... just letting the rest of you know. :)Other than that, I'd give it 5 stars... so, technically, I'm rating Amazon's marketing.

I was worried that this book would send the wrong messages (a book full of a kid misbehaving), but I trusted the other reviewers here, and they were right - this book sends the _right_ messages. Firstly, it lets your child feel both superior and empathetic - our child howls with gleeful recognition on each page of the 'no-nos' David is committing. Secondly, the fact that the child is scolded (not rewarded) for his mis-behavior, and that the book ends with love and a hug, reinforce parenting.

My son LOVES the No,David series of books, and at 2 years old knew them all by heart. This book is a great way for him to be exposed to Spanish. He is starting to read along in both Spanish and English, which is great! I would highly recommend this book!

No David! is a wonderful book. As a parent, it is easy to forget to say yes to our kids, No David! lets us see what a child seems to hear all day long. The illustrations are colorful, fun and inviting. David is a delightful figure that all of us will see in ourselves and our children. Be sure to follow up by reading David Goes to School. Children and adults will enjoy this book for a long time!

My daughter loves this book, her teacher read it to her inschool and she can't stop talking about it! When she talks about itshe just giggles and giggles and giggles! Per a conversation I hadwith my 5 year old about this book, "David didn't do any thinggood, but the end is a happy part. David picks his bugurs and Davidgoes out only Nakid, without any underwear too, likes he's going tothe bathtub. It was fun to read because we got to say "NO David,NO!".

I like it because in the end David learned that youcan't do bad stuff!"