C'Est Noël, David! (David Books)

David

by David Shannon

Readers of all ages will vividly remember trying to peek at hidden gift packages; writing scrolls of wish lists to Santa; and struggling to behave at formal Christmas dinner parties. Always in the background, we know Santa Claus is watching, soon to decide if David deserves a shiny new fire truck or a lump of coal under the tree. From playing with delicate ornaments to standing in an endlessly long line for Santa, here are common Christmas activities--but with David's naughty trimmings. A surefire hit that is destined to be an annual classic.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Humor, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

David Shannon is the author and illustrator of many highly praised books for children. Born in Washington, D.C., he grew up in Spokane, Washington. He graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, with a fine arts degree, and then moved to New York City. His editorial illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, Time, and Rolling Stone, and his artwork has appeared on numerous book jackets. Shannon is a passionate baseball fan and softball player. He and his wife now live in Los Angeles.


David Shannon @ Scholastic

Reviews

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. This was my childhood. I have to read more of the David books.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My youngest daughter loves the David books, she always gets a hoot out of them. We did this one together for a Christmas book report :)

[Rossy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bahahahaha, this was so funny! Poor David, he's so naughty but he's still so cute! I loved when he run around naked, and loled when he peed on the snow :X

[Clara Jane Isch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t stop reading early, or it will be pretty scary!!

-Read to me by Grandma Kate

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another David Shannon book that my whole family loved and enjoyed. Too easy to be of any value for any kind of leveled reading book, still a lot of fun to be read out loud. David's difficult plight to be good around Christmas time is something any kid can relate to. A cute ending coupled with Shannon's usual detailed imagery make for a win win all around.

[Cady · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Liberty K · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those childrens books about Christmas that will put a smile on your face :)

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the David books when I was little haha I just needed a short little book to work on my reading goal :)

[TrEnToN · Rating 4 out of 5]

6 year old me was a goofball for reading David’s whole entire Christmas list on the back of this book

[Hafeez Amreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text to teaching connection:This book is about the spirit of Christmas and the excitement the festive season brings with it.I can imagine reading this book to my students and asking them what are the things they like about christmas.My students can make a list of things they would do to be on the good list of Santa . There can be drawings that can be done by the students about what comes to their mind when they hear about christmas tree/presents/Santa clause.Glittery and bright colors can cheer any child.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little One love love LOVES the "David" books! This one was no exception.

[nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A NEW DAVID BOOK!

That's what I said upon finding this on the shelf in my local library. I love that. When something you would have anticipated the arrival of, had you known it was about to exist, is just There one day. Hurrah!

But about the book... I know David isn't for everyone. I know some find it garish, but I'm not one of those people. I might develop a staring problem looking at this book because David Small is SO. DAMN. GOOD. The expressions are perfect and funny, as usual, and his painting achieves a feeling of texture I've truly never gotten from any other picture book. References to earlier books (running down the street with nothing but a winter hat and boots on, for example) make a person "HA" outloud. And those snowman pajamas... I want a pair.

My only disappointment is that David himself, as well as the stories, don't mature at all. I wish there was juuuuust a bit more to the text, that David looked juuusst a bit older than he did in his last book. Without that, I fear the series (and the repeated joke) may grow stale because while I was (audibly) excited to see a new book in the series, while reading it I also thought for a second "why is he still telling the same joke?"

That said, it certainly fits perfectly into the series, and it's a fun holiday read, and an awesomely painterly picture book.

[Mikhail Seymour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:David is a young boy who is extremely excited for Christmas to happen. However, he keeps being told to stop doing things that he wants to do including opening presents early and playing with decorations in his house like toys. He is disciplined and told he could be on the naughty list. David wakes up on Christmas morning and thought he was on the naughty list, but it was actually a dream. David ended up getting presents and having a good Christmas.

The main themes of this book were family, holidays, and discipline.

I thought this book was okay, but it was not my favorite. The entire book was about discipling David rather than actually teaching a lesson like many children’s books do.

I would recommend this for parents or teachers of children who have very disruptive children as this could teach them what is wrong and right. I wouldn’t recommend this to children who are easily scared of being on Santa’s naughty list.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always in the background, we know Santa Claus is watching, soon to decide if David deserves a shiny new fire truck or a lump of coal under the tree. From playing with delicate ornaments to standing in an endlessly long line for Santa, here are common Christmas activities--but with David's naughty trimmings. (Goodreads Summary)

It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon is another in the No, David series. As a 'David', I enjoy these stories, but it's becoming the same old joke. Some parts were very funny. The fake ending was sad for a moment. For me the pee in the snow was too much, too crass. It also could make use in storytime problematic. If you love the series, you'll enjoy the book. For ages 3 to 5.

[Dianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

We love the David books. My 1 1/2-year-old and my four-year-old both love them. But this one didn't live up to the others for us. There weren't as many giggles, and the kids didn't understand everything going on—and frankly, I didn't want them to. The pee in the snow crossed the line between funny and crass for me. I'm glad we didn't buy this one.

[Annie Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book to read! There's something in here for all ages--wee littles to parents and everywhere in between! This should definitely be on your Christmas reading list!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

David books are always a hit with the kids and this one was no exception. This is about David at Christmas time.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE all the David books.

[Sadia Mansoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This David series is getting better and better ^_^

[Kaylee Mouser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named David, who is very bad. He doesn't listen, he walks outside without clothes, he pee’s outside. He even breaks windows. HE is supposed to be on his best behavior because Santa is coming and he knows he can get coal. But, he is still acting out. Everyone is always yelling at David, telling him he will get coal. He is so excited to see the presents under the tree that he wants to open one early, they tell him not to so he doesn't. He ends up finding a note from Santa telling him he has been naughty with some coal...except it was just a dream. He wakes up the next morning with gifts under the tree, it looks like David ended up doing enough nice things to stay on Santa’s nice list. The illustrations were unique to me. They have a childlike feel, and all of them take up both sheets of paper. The back grounds were usually bold colors like reds and yellows. The handwriting is the writing of a child and the pages were covered in many details. This book was okay, but the message wasn't strong. I feel like David did a lot more bad than good and the book didn't show him taking accountability of his actions which isn't the best message for kids.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It's Christmas, David!" is a really quick and easy book for children. Most of the book features two word sentences, so it would be a good book for kids who are just learning how to read. The premise is cute, it shows little David doing some naughty things at Christmas time (a time when children usually try to be on their best behavior). In one picture, David is seen peeking at his presents and in another, David is seen running out in the street without much on. Will David get coal in his stocking? You'll have to read the book to find out.

The book is cute but I didn't really care for the illustrations of David. Like, another review that I saw, I think David is slightly creepy. He's got sharp, wide spaced teeth and his fingers are really pointy. He kind of reminds me of the drawings from those "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" books that I read when I was a kid. If David had been drawn a bit cuter, it would have been a five star review book for me.

*Book received through the Amazon Vine program*

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

What child hasn't been excited about Christmas? It's Christmas, David! (2010) is about a boy named David who can't wait for Christmas, but everybody is telling him "No!" constantly. They decide that he's a naughty child and won't be getting presents this Christmas. Oh no! Personally, I thought by the looks of this kid (deranged looking with shark teeth) that he was going to set fire to his parents while they were asleep or something. But nothing like that happens here. Instead, it's all just a dream... Yawn... But there are some funny moments, like David streaking down the street in the middle of the daytime in the middle of winter, or peeing his name in the snow. I'm surprised this is by the same author as A Bad Case of Stripes. The artwork is so different that I wouldn't have known they were one in the same author. I think little kids with lower reading levels will enjoy this. Big font, not much story, very easy read. My rating - 3/5

[Lupe Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

David is more than ready for Christmas and he has no fear in showing it. As David lets his excitement run wild, he continues to get in trouble by his mother, he cannot stop looking into the gifts or snatching the cookies. Just like all other David! books, Shannon makes sure to make readers relate to his books. Readers of any ages will see themselves in David as he accomplishes his naughty actions, from playing with the ornaments to standing in line in order to be able to see Santa. I would use this book as a read aloud in order to entertain kids for the holidays as the pictures are perfectly illustrated and will catch any readers attention. Along with the illustrations, Its Christmas, David! has humor and will surely entertain any young audiences. After reading a variety of these books, David is always being naughty, I wonder if there will ever be a moment where he is behaving?

[Leilani Moody]

Another book by David Shannon that is loved by so many children. David can't contain his excitement for Christmas and begins to run wild but begins to get in trouble by his mom because he is looking all around for his presents and eating the cookies for Santa. David Shannon makes every picture book very relatable to children who read them. He brings everyday things to life with his colorful illustrations and the excellent use of space on the page. I would use this book in my class when it is almost Christmas time to get students excited about the holiday's. The lessons in the book are about figuring out how to listen to their parent and stop being naughty which the kids can learn and not do these things at home so they won't get in trouble.

[Rayeann Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I use to read all the books about David when I was growing up. I found them so relevant and fun to read. This would be a good book to read around the holidays to remind our students how they should be acting. It’s also just a fun book to read in general. This book is about a little boy named David. It is Christmas time and David aren’t behaving. He is peeking and trying to open presents early. He is told he will get coal if he doesn’t start listening. No breaking things, to have manners at the dinner table, and to be patient. He is reminded that Santa is watching. The naughty behavior continued, and he got a note from Santa that he won’t be getting Christmas this year. It turned out that it was all just a dream and a reminder on how he needed to act. .

[Joecel Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

David and his family are celebrating Christmas. But! David has been a naughty boy so he got a lump of coal from Santa. As always, David tried to take all the things he sees and plays with them like the Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree. But, even though David is a little naughty sometimes, he is just another kid who’s excited to celebrate Christmas, meet Santa, and receive a bunch of gifts.

Being a kid is such an exciting part of our lives. There are a lot of things to look forward to especially during holidays. It seems like everybody you knows has a present for you. That's the reason why David is so excited to open his presents one by one.

[Mary Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

I strongly dislike this book. I dislike this book because I believe that it can encourage misbehavior in children. All of the trouble David causes is played off as something silly to laugh at. He gets rewarded in the end for his misbehavior; the book shows David's living room filled with presents on Christmas Day, right after doing a fake-out showing David getting coal for Christmas. I dislike that he ended up receiving tons of presents despite his behavior; I think that gets the wrong message across to children. I think the book should've ended with David getting coal for Christmas to show children that actions have consequences.

[Exponent II · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s Christmas, David!” by David Shannon is another family favorite. True to the form of the other David books by Shannon, David is hilariously naughty and is constantly being reprimanded. The illustrations are hilarious and bright, and the page where David runs down the road without pants with the words, “Santa’s watching, David!” make my kids cackle hysterically every single time. It does a good job of showing just how hard it is to follow all the rules as a kid (there are so many rules!) and has a heart-warming ending.

[Nicole Woolwine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5
2010
Contemporary realistic
2nd-6th grade
This was an okay book for me! I didn’t like the outline of the story how it kept reinforcing all the negative things David was doing when he is just a kid, kids don’t always follow the rules! Turns out David was just dreaming of being bad and not receiving a Christmas but I wish the story would’ve been told alittle differently! This book can be read in a perspective on what not to do so you can be a great child, but in reality, no child is always on their best behavior!

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

David celebrates Christmas with his usual misbehavior.

David, of No, David! fame, exhibits the same poor impulse control for which he is known during Christmastime celebrations. But despite dreaming Santa left him a lump of coal for being on the naughty list, he receives lots of presents and has a merry Christmas.

Young readers will doubtlessly be amused by David's holiday-themed hijinks although older readers and parents may be less so.