No, David! by David Shannon

32 pages. Scholastic, 1998.

Rambunctious children often feel that their parents always seem to be saying No to them. In this story, David tracks mud across the living room floor, runs down the street naked, plays elaborately with his food, picks his nose, and plays baseball in the living room. Each time, his mom tells him No! But on the last page, she hugs him and tells him that she loves him. This book might help kids understand that their parents don't stop loving them when they say No. On a more subtle level, it might also help children separate their inappropriate behavior from who they are as individuals, which allows them to change their behavior and still be themselves.

Ages: 2-6
Cultural Context: European American