Module #6: No, David!

Module #6:  No, David!

Book Summary:

This is the story of a very rumbustious little boy named David. David is always getting himself into one kind of mischief or another, while mom is constantly shouting “No” at him.  David tracks in dirty footprints, tries to knock over the fishbowl, and runs around the neighborhood naked, yet at the end of the story, mom does not punish David, but simply loves and hugs him.

  APA Reference of Book:

Shannon, D. (1998). No, David! New York, NY: Blue Sky.

Impressions:

I have mixed feeling about this book. I did not like the art work, as I found it rather fighting - David almost looks as if he has fangs for teeth! David is constantly doing destructive things, but in the end mom loves him unconditionally.  Is the book a cautionary tale for kids to not be bad or a tale for parents, urging them to be grateful they don’t have children like David? I do like that David Shannon uses a whole page spread for each David’s mischievous endeavors, though.

 Professional Review:

David is an energetic little boy who manages to get in all sorts of trouble, so it is little wonder that all he ever hears his mother say is, “No, David!” Shannon effectively uses facial expressions to portray David’s lively personality. When reaching for the cookie jar, David is pictured with his tongue sticking out. When caught tracking mud on the floor, his eyes and mouth are round to feign innocence. Equally revealing are David’s actions, which are shown through the illustrations. We see David banging on a pan, jumping on his bed, and running naked down the street.  Shannon also communicates David’s feelings through artwork. When Mom sends her mischievous child to his room, David’s downturned mouth and clenched fists show how angry he is. Then, when he is sent to the corner for breaking a vase, we see a tear rolling down David’s cheek. In the end, though, Mom calls, “Davey,” and reassures him that, yes, she loves him.

Prior, L. l., & Willson, A. W. (2013). No, David!. Journal Of Children's Literature, 39(1), 58.

Library Uses: This book could be used to teach manners and mindfulness to younger children during storytimes.