No David

No David

Shannon, D. (19 98). No, David! New York: Blue Sky Press.

The story follows a mischievous young boy, as he reeks havoc at home. Some of his escapades include reaching for the cookie jar, digging in his nose, tracking mud on the carpet, pounding pots, playing with food, and making a naked escape from the house. All the while, his mother is verbally reprimanding him for his bad behavior. She screams phrases like "Come back here!", "Be quiet!","Not in the house, David!" and the most frequent one "No!""  Even after he breaks a vase during an indoor gaem of baseball, David's mother still assures him of her love. 

The story is written in relatively simple language. No David would be best for beginning readers. The illustrations of David are childish looking, while the background illustrations are fully developed. This presents an interesting contrast and a clear message that David is out of place. Moreover, the book presents a sweet message that although all children break the rules and make mistakes, they are still loved and valued. 

Additionally, this story would best be read at the beginning of the year when going over the classroom rules. It might demonstrate to the children, although they may be reprimanded, the teacher still cares about each of of them. It could also lead a to a discussion on whether or not the students think David's actions are appropriate and why they think that. 

Here are some potential activities!