No, No, No! written by Justine Avery and illustrated by Naday Meldova is a children’s book that would be best suited to parents, or soon-to-be parents, of babies and toddlers. The book shows numerous different activities that toddlers might engage in which would be considered no-no’s and then the equivalent 'yes, you may' activities. Each activity combo is designed to be a light-hearted way of teaching toddlers the difference between good and bad choices. Do you have a toddler who is always getting into trouble? If so, this is the book for you.

No, No, No! by Justine Avery is a simply loveable book for toddlers filled with adorable pictures. The book is well suited for toddlers with repetitive language on the pages, which would allow for toddlers to chant the words alongside the reader. The pictures offer a clear image of each activity that allows the toddler to understand the action without the author needing to use words to explain them. I personally liked the way the book did not just focus on the most expected activities like playing and napping, but also activities like playing in a sandbox instead of a cat’s litter box or how scissors should not be used to cut a dog’s fur, but instead only for crafting with a parent. I particularly liked the scene with the scissors as the craft scene made sure to include not just the toddler, but also the adult in the activity so that the child would know that they should not use scissors alone. Overall, this is a very sweet book filled with important lessons for toddlers and is a must-have for parents trying to teach their children acceptable behaviors.

“No.” How many times does a baby’s Mom have to say “No?” More than you can imagine. Moms don’t want to say, “No,” but sometimes it’s a matter of safety, not just for the baby, but other members of the family, too. For example, standing on a step stool to touch a hot stove is not a good idea. So, of course, Mom says, “No.” Playing in the cat’s litter box as if it’s a sandbox is not a healthy activity. So, of course, Mom says, “No.” It’s also not a good idea to play with the garbage or to tear up a book. So, what can Mom do other than say, “No?” Well, this Mom has some creative alternatives. If the baby wants to touch a stove, encourage him/her to play with their very own toy stove. If the baby wants to play in a sandbox, make it a real sandbox outside, instead of the cat’s litter box.

Justine Avery’s picture book story, No, No, No!, will have young readers laughing along with this baby’s antics. The author uses the repeated "No" for each forbidden activity, complete with an illustration of the forbidden activity, followed by an “Okay, okay, Yes, you may,” and an illustration of a creative, more positive alternate activity. There is no other text. The story of ‘no’ versus ‘yes’ is clearly revealed in the illustration. The repeated words will become familiar to the young reader and perhaps encourage early word recognition which is the beginning of reading skills. This is very much an interactive book, as the young reader will be encouraged to discuss what is forbidden and what is allowed. It presents the message with clear simplicity, marginal use of vocabulary, and bright, colorful illustrations. The young reader will learn good behavior, right from wrong, what is safe and what is not safe, good manners and respect for others and other people’s property. A simple but thorough presentation.