No, David!

Shannon, D. (1999).  No, david!  New York: The Blue Sky Press. 

Grade Level: Pre-K-1

Genre: Picture Book- This book is primarily composed of illustrations that tell the story and is aimed at young readers.

Summary: In No, David!, Shannon tells a story that all children will be able to relate to as they grow up. David is a young boy who is constantly doing something he shouldn’t be doing and constantly being told “No!” David tries to get in the cookie jar, tracks mud on the living room floor, and overflows the bathtub with water, among other things. Finally, he does something that pushes the limit with his mother.

Reflection: Shannon’s illustrations are great at depicting the mischievous side of children.  Each picture is done with a sense of humor that shows through to the reader.  There is a lot of person-against-person conflict between David and his mother, but also a lesson to be learned in this story and that is one of forgiveness. The use of repitition in this book is a big part of what makes it fun to read.  In teaching this book, I would make sure we began by taking a picture walk because most of the story is told through the pictures. I would have ask student about their own experiences and make text-to-self connections. Students could make their own book, using their own name in the title. Introducing young readers to books like this, that are relatable and fun,  will make them want to read more and more and more.