When David Shannon was 5 years old, he wrote the basis for what would becomeNo, David!
a whole book dedicated to the many, many things he was told not to do.
(No, David!
Credit: Jesse Grant/WireImage
being the dominant phrase, with occasional detours into sharper scoldings like, Stop that this instant!)
The ride hed go on from there was hardly expected.
(Its now available for purchase.)
Its simplicity has rendered it timeless.
Read on for Shannons reflections on the series, the surprising impact its had, and much more.
[Laughs] Did you get No, David!
It was very relatable!Im sure.
I know you wrote it, initially, when you were 5.
Getting into Christmas tree ornaments.
Stealing cookie dough, too.
That was the only way you could get it then.
The only way you could get it was to steal it when your mom was making cookies.
So thats one I remember well.
There are two categories of what it means to people For kids, its just fun for them.
David doesnt do anything that they havent at least thought of doing.
Hes not really that unusual.
The only thing unusual about him is that he does all of them.
Kids can identify with that, and they feel good about having fun with being told no.
Then for parents that last page, the I love you part, thats really for the grownups.
The kids kind of get uncomfortable with that.
Do they know I love them?
So they respond to that.
I didnt see this coming.
Teachers use it to have a discussion about rules.
David is like the anti-example.
And of course, they get told no a lot too.
Did the success of the book, broadly, take you by surprise?The degree of success.
But you never know if its going to be a success or not.
I started out doing folk tales, and thats really hit-or-miss.
Sometimes they just fall flat, sometimes theyre big.
You dont really know.
Scholastic was very cool to say, Yes, David!
So how did that process change for you?
It was also a departure, artwork-wise, for me.
Everybody I showed it to responded pretty strongly.
I said, The next level where you get told no all the time is school.
Thats where I got in even more trouble than at home.
The truest sequel isDavid Gets in Trouble, because that has his responses to being told no.
And then of course, watching over the whole thing is Santa.
The biggest no you could be told is [in the form of] a lump of coal.
And with this new one?I wasnt going to do anymore.
This is the first one in eight years or so.
At first I said, No, Im done with David, doing new things.
It was a whole different area to explore, that relationship with an older brother.
So you drew from your own life for it?Well, a lot of it!
But thats where I start: What do I remember from school?
From having a brother?
I just start jotting down things.
I always say its semi-autobiographical.
The originals visuals are still so memorable.
There would be, like, Youre too little.
So what do I match that with?
Well, Im not allowed to play with the big boys yet so those will match up.
Trying to show what something smells like in a picture?
Its much easier to just describe it.
Thats the good thing about being the author and the illustrator.
I get to pick and choose.
Plus if theres something I cant draw, I can just take it out altogether.
[Laughs]
These books are far from the only ones youve written.
DoesNo, David!have a special place in your heart?It does.
One is that it is semi-autobiographical, which can be weird, too.
It is kind of me.
As far as my career, it put me on the map.
So that was very exciting.
It allowed me some freedom to explore different things with other books.
I didnt just have to stick with David all the time.
Im all about trying out new stuff.
Thats where David came from trying out new stuff.
Sometimes the magic works, and sometimes it doesnt.
What are you trying out now?
Any new stuff?Who knows!
Im always so grateful when I get a new idea.
You know, youre only as good as you last one.
They dont come all the time.
If its a new idea thats all new and different, Ill go in that direction.
I did also want to ask you about the sense of responsibility that comes with writing childrens books.
My first consideration is if its going to be fun for a kid to read.
Thats the whole deal.
Something Ive learned over the years too is the importance of just reading.
Because its easy: you might get eight pages in by just knowing two words.
That builds up confidence.
Ive had it read to me!
[Laughs] Thats the first step: Theyre pretending to read.
Its really funny because they always change it a little bit according to what they hear around the house.
When hes picking his nose in the book it says, Stop that this instant!
The little kid pretending to read will go, Get your finger out of your nose!
Thats what they hear.
Thats the last thing I want.
I hated books like that when I was little.
I hear that from authors across genres, trying to find that balance.Yeah, absolutely.
And I must end with, is this your last David?
You thought you were done.I know, I cant say that anymore!
I said that before this one so who knows?
If a new area of rule-breaking presents itself.
There sure are a lot of titles that my friends joke with me about.
But some of them are kind of grown-up for this.
[Laughs]
This interview has been edited and condensed.
