John Peters (Booklist, September 1, 1998 (Vol. 95, No. 1))
The author-illustrator of How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball (1994) and A Bad Case of Stripes (1998), among others, aims at a younger audience with this tally of no-nos inspired by a plainly autobiographical book he created as a small child. All little David hears from his mother as he writes on the wall, runs naked down the road, lets water pour over the side of the tub, sticks his finger far, far up his nose, and the like is "No, David!" "That's enough, David!" "Settle down!" Although Shannon's painterly technique is sophisticated, here he artfully gives his illustrations a childlike look, depicting David as a wooden-doll-like figure with a big, round head, cavorting through a neatly kept home replete with invitingly blank walls and fragile knick-knacks. As the book ends with a parental hug and "Yes, David . . . I love you!" it's not completely negative, and because young listeners will know ALL the words, the temptation to chime in will be irresistible. Category: For the Young. 1998, Scholastic/Blue Sky, $14.95. Ages 3-5.

Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D. (Children's Literature)
Poor David. He is constantly doing things that elicit stern words of discipline. He hears "No David!" when he walks over white carpet with muddy shoes, and then again when he climbs a chair to reach the cookie jar. His mother tells him to "Settle down!" when he gets too rowdy in his room, and to "Come back here!" when he runs up the street without clothes on. Surely, this is how life must seem to a spirited child--always being scolded and always being held back. But David's mother does love him. The book ends on a high note with a mother's reassuring hug and words of love--and a smile on David's face. 1998, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $14.95. Ages 2 to 5.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1998)
This autobiographical (according to the author's note) story from Shannon (A Bad Case of Stripes, 1998, etc.) features a young hellion, also named David, who is forever at the receiving end of a sharp "No!" Among his prime escapades: over-reaching for the cookie jar, excavating his nose, tracking mud on the carpet, pounding pots, playing with food, making a naked escape from the house--classics all. "That's enough," his mother shouts, and other familiar adult admonishments show up as well--be quiet, come back here, go to your room, settle down, stop that this instant, not in the house. This last comes as David prepares for a little indoor hardball. Does he listen? Does he break a vase? Does he get sent to the corner, nose to the wall? Readers or listeners will be gripped by this episode right out of their own lives, through to the stray tear, the look of contrition, and the moment of redemption: "Davey, come here. Yes, David . . . I love you." The illustrations are wonderful, full of good-time trouble-making tomfoolery, borrowing on the energy of children's drawings and the determined strokes of their early attempts at lettering. David is a small, snaggle-toothed piehead whose mischief--for those who don't have to clean up after him--is nothing short of exhilarating. 1998, Blue Sky/Scholastic, $14.95. Starred Review. © 1998 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 1998 (Vol. 52, No. 1))
The text rings soooo true, comprised solely of "off stage" warnings and directives to an obstreperous toddler from his exasperated mom: "No, David, no!"; "DAVID! BE QUIET!"; "That's enough, David!" Each double spread gloriously realizes the breadth of havoc that can be wrought by a small guy who tracks mud across a cream-colored carpet with weeds sprouting from his encrusted feet and mushrooms springing from his hair, dive-bombs his bath toys in a overflowing tub, runs naked down the street, jams his finger up his nose (full frontal nostril alert!), and hits fungoes among Mom's delicate gewgaws. Shannon's genius lies in his ability to switch off among the little miscreant's many moods--from the shark-toothed wickedness of David beating the cooking pots, to the gleeful innocence of David sprinting bare-butted down the sidewalk, to the tear-streaked contrition of David sitting on a stool in the corner, surrounded by china shards and an errant baseball. David is just cartoonish enough to allow the audience to disavow any similarities, even though his antics may be guiltily familiar (or even inspirational--David's potato/green bean/chicken leg/fork man creation is pretty cute). If David is beyond reform, he's not beyond forgiveness, and the final spreads offer comrades-in-crime hope of reconciliation: "Davey, come here. . . . Yes, David . . . I love you!" says Mom, as he angelically nestles in her arms. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R* -- Denotes books of special distinction. (c) Copyright 1998, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1998, Blue Sky/Scholastic, 32p, $14.95. Ages 2-5 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 1999)
No"--the word toddlers hear most--figures prominently in this spirited book as it tags along after an impishly drawn boy constantly reprimanded for doing something he shouldn’t. Robustly colored close-ups of David flooding the bathtub and jumping on the bed convey his surplus energy while endearing him to readers, who will be glad to see his mother reassuring him of her love at the end. Category: Picture Books. 1998, Scholastic, 32pp, $14.95. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.