Caldecott #5

No, David! by David Shannon is a 1999 Caldecott honor book. This funny book has also won the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award and the School Library Journal Best Book and American Bookseller Pick Up The Lists Award.

This book can be described using two words: funny and honest. David is a young boy who is caught tracking in mud, overflowing the bath tub, and even streaking down the street naked! It also shows his various punishments such as being sent to his room and time-out in the corner. At the end, it shows his mother hugging him and her telling him she loves him. This book is honest because it portrays how often parents have to say no to their children when their being naughty. The book was written based on the author's life as a child.

The illustrations bring out David's character traits. When David is getting in trouble the artist uses pointy teeth, sharp eyebrows, and round eyes. Towards the end when David is with is mother, he is portrayed with a smile, rounded eyebrows, and eyelashes. The illustrations are drawn in a child-like manner as if David drew them himself.

Any parent or child can relate to this book. Parents constantly have to tell their children "No" and "Don't do that." Children also hear the word countless times a day. I can relate to this book as a teacher and as an aunt. Seems like I say "No" more than any other word. Luckily, my niece is too young to get into the mischief that David gets into, but I'm sure that time will come. I think it was very important at the end that the author showed that no matter how many times a parent says no, they still love their child very much.