Oh, David! A Pocket Library: David Shannon

Today's recommend is Oh, David! A Pocket Library from David Shannon. The Blue Sky Press has gathered the previously published Diaper David board books into a perfect set for small hands. And if your totz haven't met David, here's a great format to introduce them to that realistic rascal.

The included three works in the boxed set are Oh, David!, Oops!, and David Smells! The latter covers senses, and Oops! is a collection of adorable first words like "Ahh!", and "Whee!" Oh, David! illustrates what Mommy always said to David, including, "Oh, David, I love you."

Shannon's illustrations continue to feel fresh with great energy. David's scribbled black eyes will engage every reader. Perspectives are varied and carry rich color. When you line the three books up in their case, the spines collectively show David peeking at you, one more time. There's a sweet reminiscence conjured in two of the books being told in past tense.

I can imagine the older sibling reading Oh, David! picture books, and then thoroughly enjoying sharing this board book set with readertotz. Everyone will love seeing David as a toddler in these three works!

Oh, David! A Pocket Library
by David Shannon
The Blue Sky Press, 2011

David Shannon: Oh, David!

I’m a fan of David Shannon’s picture book, No, David!, which was named a Caldecott Honor Book, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, and which lead to two more bestselling picture books about David. So I was interested when I ran across the three “Diaper David” board books, which explore the mischievous David’s toddler years.

Oh, David! is my favorite of the three board books, though I like them all. There are only twenty-one words in this sturdy fourteen-page book in which a gleeful David takes center stage as he unrolls toilet tissue, rebuffs his dinner, and empties a box of cereal. But no matter what he does, his mother loves him--and I do, too.













Trying to choose which pages to display wasn’t easy because the illustrations in this book are all hilarious. The expression on David’s face here is so endearing, and he seems so proud of his, um, accomplishment. The little skunk on his blanket is a nice touch. There’s another spread that ties with this one for my affections. It's the one in which David seems to have more than the usual number of arms and legs as Mom tries to wrangle him into a pair of pjs.

Inside Scoop:

You can view a series of five video interviews with David Shannon on Scholastic’s site, including one in which he offers advice for kids who want to be artists. I also found this cool quote on the site:

"A few years ago, my mother sent me a book I made when I was a little boy. It was called No, David, and it was illustrated with drawings of David doing all sorts of things he wasn't supposed to do. The text consisted entirely of the words "no" and "David." (They were the only words I knew how to spell.) I thought it would be fun to do a remake celebrating those familiar variations of the universal "no" that we all hear while growing. Of course, "yes" is a wonderful word...but "yes" doesn't keep crayon off the living room wall." -- David Shannon

Interested in owning the original art from Oh, David! or some of David Shannon's other books? Some of it’s available at Every Picture Tells A Story.

If your readertotz enjoy Oh, David!, they’ll be pleased to know there are two more in the “Diaper David” board book series: Oops! and David Smells.

Oh, David!

David Shannon, author-illustrator

Scholastic, Blue Sky Press, 2005

~ Joan Holub, author/illustrator