No, David!

Shannon, D. (1998). No, david. New York, NY: Blue Sky Press.

Age Range: This book is suitable for readers four and up.

Summary: This book is full of illustrations that follow a child named David making continuous mistakes. David's mother looks at these mistakes as being naughty and always says "No, David!" There are several events of cause and effect. For example, David tracks mud into the house and the result is his mother scolding him. The illustrations throughout the book help the events become reality and understand the havoc David seems to create in his house.

Reflection: Most children enjoy this book, because they can easily relate to the main character. The illustrations are so realistic they can easily picture themselves doing the same things as David. All children have experienced a mistake with a parent correcting them. Realistic fiction focusing on families, such as this, are great additions to any library. It could even be used with older students (3-5) to show examples of cause and effect. It would be difficult for students in the middle grades and up to relate to the text and get beyond its overall appeal to younger children.

Big Question: Why do you think David's mother continues to scold him? What could David do to not continue to get in trouble? In the end, David's mother says "I love you, David." Why do you think she does this? Have you had any experiences similar to David? If so, explain what happened and why?