Review of No, David!

Written and illustrated by David Shannon

I have never read this book before.

Reviews: Amazon: 4.8 out of 5 stars. Goodreads: 4.17 out of 5 stars.

On Amazon, this book is tagged as a teacher’s pick. This book is a Caldecott Honor winner.

Summary: A book about a five year old boy who struggles with bad behavior.

This book is banned because there is an illustration of David’s bare buttocks, streaking down the road. For the 2023-2024 school year, it was tied for 12th on the most-banned picture book, according to PEN America.

My take: This is an adorable book that is fun for beginner readers because it has a low number of words with very colorful and fun illustrations. It is difficult for kids to see that what they do can affect others, and it’s easier to see it when others do it, like in this book. To me, the illustration with his bare butt is not a big deal, and it adds to the fun for kids.

Why Would You Put Pants on David? That’s the Funny Part. | Feedback | School Library Journal