NO Is All I Know!

March 15, 2023
Oliver McSnow says, "No!" to everything until his cousin Jess teaches him the power of "Yes!" A word all too familiar to caregivers of little ones, no echoes around Oliver's house. He turns down food, a request to clean up a mess, and even the chance to use the swings. When Jess comes to play, he says, "Yes!" before Oliver can say "No!" and off they go, swinging, scootering, and even enjoying ice cream. As it turns out, Jess just might change Oliver's mind forever, showing him the joyful wonder of saying yes. Grabenstein's naysayer is wholeheartedly believable, as is the exuberant, gleeful Jess. Espinosa's illustrations perfectly capture Oliver's exasperated parents, who are exhausted by the boy's rejection of everything except for macaroni and cheese. The story will have readers realizing right alongside Oliver just how much fun there is in trying and doing new things. Text and illustrations are well balanced, never belaboring the message and letting Oliver's experiences speak for themselves. Espinosa's black-outlined illustrations capture the characters midmovement: Oliver biking through the house with one socked foot or sprinting naked through the front door. The story strikes just the right note of on-the-nose kid behavior and parent feelings with a hint of silly and a satisfying resolution. Oliver is tan-skinned, his parents are lighter-skinned, and Jess is brown-skinned. There are background characters of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Say yes to each reread of this one. (Picture book. 3-6)

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March 13, 2023
In another socially themed picture book from the creators of No More Naps!, young Oliver McSnow responds “NO!” when faced with any ask, big or small. Whether the inquiry is about the necessary (teeth-brushing, getting dressed) or the potentially enjoyable (playing on the swings, even getting ice cream), big red dialogue balloons emanate from the child with Oliver’s signature oppositional. “His NO! became so strong... there was no way to stop it,” Grabenstein writes, and readers will sense that Oliver, who now smells “cheesy” from never bathing and eating only mac and cheese, is just as weary of it as his parents. A solution arrives in the form of tenaciously positive cousin Jess, who “liked to say YES” and pulls Oliver along. Pencil and digital cartoons by Espinosa show the two boys, both portrayed with light brown skin, embracing puddle splashing, hanging out with other kids, and playing in the bathtub with “toys that could become whatever they yessed them to be.” Some readers may see Jess’s approach as more fait accompli than friendly nudge, but the creators make it clear that when one is in as deep a rut as Oliver, a teaspoon won’t do an excavator’s job. Ages 3–7.

September 1, 2023
In this rhythmic picture book, Oliver McSnow finds himself stuck in a cycle of contrariness. He answers "NO!" to tedious requests such as cleaning up and brushing his teeth but also "NO!" to treats including ice cream, pizza, and popsicles. "His NO! became so strong...there was no way to stop it." Bright cartoonlike digital and pencil illustrations capitalize on the self-imposed drama of the situation, ramping up humor on every page. The impacts of small Oliver's strength of will play out in the funny details of his environment and the exaggerated expressions of those around him. All this negativity eventually starts to wear on Oliver too; though he grows more tired, grouchy, and smelly as the story bounces on, he seems unable to turn the situation around. Mercifully, cousin Jess comes over to play, and Jess likes to say "YES!" as much as Oliver likes to say "NO!" Jess brings Oliver along for a whole day of "YES!"; Oliver gains much-needed perspective on what he has been missing. The engaging and silly details of the text and art help offset the forcefulness of the lesson being presented. Endpapers that start the story with a barrage of red "NO!"s wrap things up hopefully by sneaking one striking green "YES!" into the template. Julie Roach

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
In this rhythmic picture book, Oliver McSnow finds himself stuck in a cycle of contrariness. He answers "NO!" to tedious requests such as cleaning up and brushing his teeth but also "NO!" to treats including ice cream, pizza, and popsicles. "His NO! became so strong...there was no way to stop it." Bright cartoon digital and pencil illustrations capitalize on the self-imposed drama of the situation, ramping up humor on every page. The impacts of small Oliver's strength of will play out in the funny details of his environment and the exaggerated expressions of those around him. All this negativity eventually starts to wear on Oliver too; though he grows more tired, grouchy, and smelly as the story bounces on, he seems unable to turn the situation around. Mercifully, cousin Jess comes over to play, and Jess likes to say "YES!" as much as Oliver likes to say "NO!" Jess brings Oliver along for a whole day of "YES!" and Oliver gains much-needed perspective on what he has been missing. The engaging and silly details of the text and art help offset the forcefulness of the lesson being presented. Endpapers that start the story with a barrage of red "NO!"s wrap things up hopefully by sneaking one striking green "YES!" into the template.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)