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A Thousand NO's
This empowering picture book teaches readers that even great ideas sometimes get a NO―but that NO can actually help great ideas become the best ideas!
There was a little girl who had a great idea. She had the most amazing, superb, best idea ever!
NO? Wait, what do you mean NO? NO again?
What is she supposed to do with all these NO's?
NO after NO after NO come the little girl's way, twisting and squishing her idea. But by persevering, collaborating and using a little imagination, all those NO's become the building blocks for the biggest YES ever!
A Thousand NO's is a story about perseverance and innovation. It shows what amazing things can happen if we work with others and don't give up, and teaches kids not to let expectations of how things should be get in the way of what could be.
There was a little girl who had a great idea. She had the most amazing, superb, best idea ever!
NO? Wait, what do you mean NO? NO again?
What is she supposed to do with all these NO's?
NO after NO after NO come the little girl's way, twisting and squishing her idea. But by persevering, collaborating and using a little imagination, all those NO's become the building blocks for the biggest YES ever!
A Thousand NO's is a story about perseverance and innovation. It shows what amazing things can happen if we work with others and don't give up, and teaches kids not to let expectations of how things should be get in the way of what could be.
44 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2016
19 people are currently reading
1127 people want to read
About the author
DJ Corchin
30 books44 followersDJ Corchin is an author and/or illustrator of over 24 children's books. A Thousand NO’s illustrated by Dan Dougherty launched to wonderful reviews, became a Barnes & Noble Bestseller, and won the Eric Hoffer Award for Best Children’s Book. Additional award-winning titles include Do You Speak Fish?, The I Feel... Children’s Series, The Band Nerds Book Series, and If You Find A Unicorn, It Is Not Yours To Keep.
He visits groups and schools all over the country discussing his stories and how people can find a path through their own creative universe.
DJ loves to connect people through humorous stories about communication, kindness, and social-emotional awareness. His books are known for being fun and thoughtful discussion starters for both kids and adults in this crazy, complex, human world.
He visits groups and schools all over the country discussing his stories and how people can find a path through their own creative universe.
DJ loves to connect people through humorous stories about communication, kindness, and social-emotional awareness. His books are known for being fun and thoughtful discussion starters for both kids and adults in this crazy, complex, human world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
April 19, 2020
I don't even know how to rate this. Is the message great? Yes. Are the illustrations engaging and adorable? Yes. So what's the problem? If you're a grammar nerd like me, you probably spotted it right away... and you wouldn't even have had to read the book.
I'm talking about the title. Actually, I'm talking about that one word in the title, the word that's repeated throughout the book. The word that's the centrepiece of the entire book. In the singular, it's fine. But I simply cannot believe that, in the age of the Internet when a grammar/spelling/punctuation lookup is just a few keystrokes away, this book thought it could get away with using an apostrophe to indicate a possessive. Yes, I get that "nos" looks weird. But the word "no" is capitalized throughout, so I really don't see why the author couldn't have written "NOs" when he was talking about more than one. To make matters worse, this book was originally published in 2016... so this 40-page grammar annoyance has been out for 4 years already.
This just irks me. The story is kind of cute. A little girl has an idea. But then she gets a NO. Then another... and another. Soon, all those NOs are altering the shape of her idea. She calls in friends to help. Eventually, her idea is transformed, but not in spite of the NOs; it's transformed because of them. The illustrations are sweet and show a nice amount of diversity, especially when the girl's friends get involved. They're black and white in the beginning, but slowly start to accumulate some colour as the idea progresses. I thought that was a nice touch.
As it is, I can't recommend this. There are already too many people who throw apostrophes around willy-nilly. Without this repeating error, I probably would've given this around 4 stars. With it, though, I can't really go any higher than 3.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for providing a digital ARC.
I'm talking about the title. Actually, I'm talking about that one word in the title, the word that's repeated throughout the book. The word that's the centrepiece of the entire book. In the singular, it's fine. But I simply cannot believe that, in the age of the Internet when a grammar/spelling/punctuation lookup is just a few keystrokes away, this book thought it could get away with using an apostrophe to indicate a possessive. Yes, I get that "nos" looks weird. But the word "no" is capitalized throughout, so I really don't see why the author couldn't have written "NOs" when he was talking about more than one. To make matters worse, this book was originally published in 2016... so this 40-page grammar annoyance has been out for 4 years already.
This just irks me. The story is kind of cute. A little girl has an idea. But then she gets a NO. Then another... and another. Soon, all those NOs are altering the shape of her idea. She calls in friends to help. Eventually, her idea is transformed, but not in spite of the NOs; it's transformed because of them. The illustrations are sweet and show a nice amount of diversity, especially when the girl's friends get involved. They're black and white in the beginning, but slowly start to accumulate some colour as the idea progresses. I thought that was a nice touch.
As it is, I can't recommend this. There are already too many people who throw apostrophes around willy-nilly. Without this repeating error, I probably would've given this around 4 stars. With it, though, I can't really go any higher than 3.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for providing a digital ARC.
October 1, 2020
Normally when I’m about to review a picture book I make a point to eschew all of the other reviews out there. I don’t want to accidentally take anyone else’s thoughts or opinions or ideas. Heck, I won’t even read the bookflap half the time! A Thousand No’s was different. In its case, I wanted to get a very clear sense of what other people were saying about it. Normally a new picture book might be lucky to get as many as ten reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. A Thousand No’s, as of this writing, has more than 90. Why the fervor? Was everyone complaining about the titular spelling of a plural "no" or was there something more at work? And as I scrolled through the reviews I was struck by the sheer number of people for whom the central idea of the book, that a “no” can ultimately be a force for good, is intolerable. There were people flabbergasted that you could receive many a “no” from many a source in a collaborative fashion and yet still call your idea your own. People thought kids wouldn’t get the message. That “no” means “stop” and that the central premise didn’t work. And why, oh why, would anyone ask to be told “no”? As I read through these I alternated between bemused and dumbfounded. For anyone that believes that creativity is a pure, untouchable process and that any criticism you may receive will taint your beautiful baby beyond all recognition, this book may not be for you. But if you think the process of creation is sometimes painful and collaborative and ultimately fun, this book is the first that I’ve ever seen to express that idea. You want to get to yes? Then you gotta slog through no.
“She had a great idea.” On the page stands a girl, her little idea pulsing in her hand, glowing faintly. She looks very proud of it. Proud of it, that is, until the first No arrives. It falls right onto her and she doesn’t like it at all. The first one she figures she can handle, but then a second comes, and then a third. Next thing she knows the Nos have actually gotten inside her idea and that idea is now getting bigger. Nos of all sorts of shapes and sizes are getting in on the action now. Surely the girl can’t handle them all, right? Right. Realizing she needs help, drastic times call for drastic measures. She calls in some friends and they help her out, some bringing Nos of their own until, at the very end, she has something that looks nothing like her original idea. And she has NO objections to that.
The grammar nerds of the world (may their numbers increase exponentially throughout the years) would insist that I not write one more word in this review without acknowledging the great big glaring problem with the title. I will admit, I was a bit flummoxed when I read A Thousand No’s rather than A Thousand Nos. I know that “Nos” is funny looking. Yet, as a friend pointed out, when you look at the cover and how small the apostrophe and “s” are, why not just leave the “s” small and do away with the apostrophe altogether? To not do so isn’t just strange, it’s shooting yourself in the foot. People will call it a typo, dismissing your book out of hand without even reading it. So I pondered and putzed about and then flipped the book over to note the very tiny statement on the back. “Also, the author is perfectly at ease with his use of apostrophes in this book.” Well, all right then. For further information you can go to this post on the author's site where he explains the choice at length. You may not agree with his choice, but clearly he's thought this through and his publisher has backed him up.
Now if you can somehow push past this travesty of the modern age and get to the meat of the matter, you may discover that this is a truly original book. As I mentioned before, you can’t throw a dart in a library’s children’s room without hitting a book that tells you to “follow your dreams”. Don’t let those naysayers tell you no! Rise above their criticism and pursue what makes you special, kids! Never change! Never listen to them! Believe in yourself! All well and good but can we get a little realistic here? Kids have terrible ideas. Not always. Not inevitably. But often and particularly at the beginning. So you fill their heads with these platitudes about being this island of purity, true to your vision alone, and then you send them out into the world. They come up with an unformed idea, declare it to be perfect, and then they are crushed when no one else sees it the way that they do. And if you try to say to them, “No, I don’t think that’s quite right. Why don’t you try . . .” prepare to have your head bitten off at the neck. They have been inculcated with the idea that creativity is a party of one.
This is why a first encounter with Corchin and Dougherty’s book feels as shocking as it does to parents. First and foremost the book makes it very clear that being told “NO” is not a pleasant experience. “It was heavy. It was hard to carry. And it kinda hurt.” Interestingly, when the Nos get inside the idea itself, it starts to change. So our heroine asks for help, a point that some readers of the book couldn’t quite stomach. But anyone who has ever been creative will understand that getting feedback, or even some level of collaboration, on your ideas can make them better. To that point the book mentions that some Nos can be helpful and the girl starts inviting more in, in a sense. Now if you want to nitpick, maybe it would have been a good idea to show her rejecting some and incorporating others into the idea. After all, if you incorporate EVERY No you receive you’ll just end up having some Nos contradict other Nos. But as a whole, the metaphor stands strong.
Some folks worry that kids won’t “get” the book. Sure, maybe not. Maybe you’ll have to explain it to them a little. That’s actually a totally legitimate thing to do with picture books. In fact, I could see a teacher reading this book to a class without explanation and then diving deep into it with them to pick apart what exactly it’s saying. I mean, if you can do that with everything Peter H. Reynolds writes, I suspect you can do it with other authors too. And imagine what the kids might say! Depending on their age, you might spark some lively debates. When is “No” the right thing to say, and when is it the wrong thing? Is there ever a time when saying “No” to someone’s idea is good? Does it matter how you say it? What are some famous cases of artists or writers being told No and then making something better in the end? If I were a teacher I’d use the example of Eric Carle and his first picture book “Willie the Worm”. It was an editor that told him “No” and helped him change that worm into a very hungry caterpillar. Whew!
In a bold publishing move, this book is also 95% black and white. This, we are often told, is not something publishers like to do. General wisdom dictates that children don’t like black and white books. But the fact of the matter is that younger children don’t mind black and white picture books. It’s b&w comics that kids eschew more often than not. Now for this particular book Dan Dougherty’s art has, in some circles, been compared to that of Tim Burton’s. This is not a particularly inspired comparison. True, this book is black and white and Burton favors his contrasts. But not all vaguely creepy pictures and images travel solely in that man’s direction. To my mind, artist Dan Dougherty owes much more of his style to someone like the animator Vivziepop, albeit with less noses. The bulk of his energy had to be in coming up with this many way to illustrate the word “No” (Mr. Warburton of 1000 Times No would relate). It does make for a rather impressive, even monolithic-by-way-of-Monty-Python-esque ending too. Could you illustrate this book a bunch of different ways? Of course! But for this first outing, Dougherty’s style works.
I like a picture book that makes people wake up, sit up, and take notice. One that’s a little odd, but promulgates an idea that is worthy and rarely touched upon. We hear folks complaining all the time about the dangers of high self-esteem. You know what pops that bubble right quick? Being told no often and repeatedly. Not every No you encounter is helpful and some do damage. But in the context of this book, you see that when it comes to improving an idea, knowing how to handle your Nos can yield something unforeseen. Put another way, criticism, taken and chosen and incorporated, can make an idea better.
A novel idea, no?
“She had a great idea.” On the page stands a girl, her little idea pulsing in her hand, glowing faintly. She looks very proud of it. Proud of it, that is, until the first No arrives. It falls right onto her and she doesn’t like it at all. The first one she figures she can handle, but then a second comes, and then a third. Next thing she knows the Nos have actually gotten inside her idea and that idea is now getting bigger. Nos of all sorts of shapes and sizes are getting in on the action now. Surely the girl can’t handle them all, right? Right. Realizing she needs help, drastic times call for drastic measures. She calls in some friends and they help her out, some bringing Nos of their own until, at the very end, she has something that looks nothing like her original idea. And she has NO objections to that.
The grammar nerds of the world (may their numbers increase exponentially throughout the years) would insist that I not write one more word in this review without acknowledging the great big glaring problem with the title. I will admit, I was a bit flummoxed when I read A Thousand No’s rather than A Thousand Nos. I know that “Nos” is funny looking. Yet, as a friend pointed out, when you look at the cover and how small the apostrophe and “s” are, why not just leave the “s” small and do away with the apostrophe altogether? To not do so isn’t just strange, it’s shooting yourself in the foot. People will call it a typo, dismissing your book out of hand without even reading it. So I pondered and putzed about and then flipped the book over to note the very tiny statement on the back. “Also, the author is perfectly at ease with his use of apostrophes in this book.” Well, all right then. For further information you can go to this post on the author's site where he explains the choice at length. You may not agree with his choice, but clearly he's thought this through and his publisher has backed him up.
Now if you can somehow push past this travesty of the modern age and get to the meat of the matter, you may discover that this is a truly original book. As I mentioned before, you can’t throw a dart in a library’s children’s room without hitting a book that tells you to “follow your dreams”. Don’t let those naysayers tell you no! Rise above their criticism and pursue what makes you special, kids! Never change! Never listen to them! Believe in yourself! All well and good but can we get a little realistic here? Kids have terrible ideas. Not always. Not inevitably. But often and particularly at the beginning. So you fill their heads with these platitudes about being this island of purity, true to your vision alone, and then you send them out into the world. They come up with an unformed idea, declare it to be perfect, and then they are crushed when no one else sees it the way that they do. And if you try to say to them, “No, I don’t think that’s quite right. Why don’t you try . . .” prepare to have your head bitten off at the neck. They have been inculcated with the idea that creativity is a party of one.
This is why a first encounter with Corchin and Dougherty’s book feels as shocking as it does to parents. First and foremost the book makes it very clear that being told “NO” is not a pleasant experience. “It was heavy. It was hard to carry. And it kinda hurt.” Interestingly, when the Nos get inside the idea itself, it starts to change. So our heroine asks for help, a point that some readers of the book couldn’t quite stomach. But anyone who has ever been creative will understand that getting feedback, or even some level of collaboration, on your ideas can make them better. To that point the book mentions that some Nos can be helpful and the girl starts inviting more in, in a sense. Now if you want to nitpick, maybe it would have been a good idea to show her rejecting some and incorporating others into the idea. After all, if you incorporate EVERY No you receive you’ll just end up having some Nos contradict other Nos. But as a whole, the metaphor stands strong.
Some folks worry that kids won’t “get” the book. Sure, maybe not. Maybe you’ll have to explain it to them a little. That’s actually a totally legitimate thing to do with picture books. In fact, I could see a teacher reading this book to a class without explanation and then diving deep into it with them to pick apart what exactly it’s saying. I mean, if you can do that with everything Peter H. Reynolds writes, I suspect you can do it with other authors too. And imagine what the kids might say! Depending on their age, you might spark some lively debates. When is “No” the right thing to say, and when is it the wrong thing? Is there ever a time when saying “No” to someone’s idea is good? Does it matter how you say it? What are some famous cases of artists or writers being told No and then making something better in the end? If I were a teacher I’d use the example of Eric Carle and his first picture book “Willie the Worm”. It was an editor that told him “No” and helped him change that worm into a very hungry caterpillar. Whew!
In a bold publishing move, this book is also 95% black and white. This, we are often told, is not something publishers like to do. General wisdom dictates that children don’t like black and white books. But the fact of the matter is that younger children don’t mind black and white picture books. It’s b&w comics that kids eschew more often than not. Now for this particular book Dan Dougherty’s art has, in some circles, been compared to that of Tim Burton’s. This is not a particularly inspired comparison. True, this book is black and white and Burton favors his contrasts. But not all vaguely creepy pictures and images travel solely in that man’s direction. To my mind, artist Dan Dougherty owes much more of his style to someone like the animator Vivziepop, albeit with less noses. The bulk of his energy had to be in coming up with this many way to illustrate the word “No” (Mr. Warburton of 1000 Times No would relate). It does make for a rather impressive, even monolithic-by-way-of-Monty-Python-esque ending too. Could you illustrate this book a bunch of different ways? Of course! But for this first outing, Dougherty’s style works.
I like a picture book that makes people wake up, sit up, and take notice. One that’s a little odd, but promulgates an idea that is worthy and rarely touched upon. We hear folks complaining all the time about the dangers of high self-esteem. You know what pops that bubble right quick? Being told no often and repeatedly. Not every No you encounter is helpful and some do damage. But in the context of this book, you see that when it comes to improving an idea, knowing how to handle your Nos can yield something unforeseen. Put another way, criticism, taken and chosen and incorporated, can make an idea better.
A novel idea, no?
April 30, 2020
*thank you to Netgalley, DJ Corchin and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
1 star
...and I'm going to make it 1001 No's because this wasn't something I enjoyed. Though it would make a great colouring in book and if I had purchased a physical copy that's exactly what I would have used it for.
It had too many gaps. Like, why was there a 'No' in the first place? No to what? It was confusing even as an adult and I'm not ashamed to admit that. While I started to get a better idea of what was going on by the end of it, it was too late by that stage.
Unfortunately this want for me but I can see others enjoyed it so I'd say give it a go and see which side you end up on. Maybe this will turn into a 'Yes' book for you.
1 star
...and I'm going to make it 1001 No's because this wasn't something I enjoyed. Though it would make a great colouring in book and if I had purchased a physical copy that's exactly what I would have used it for.
It had too many gaps. Like, why was there a 'No' in the first place? No to what? It was confusing even as an adult and I'm not ashamed to admit that. While I started to get a better idea of what was going on by the end of it, it was too late by that stage.
Unfortunately this want for me but I can see others enjoyed it so I'd say give it a go and see which side you end up on. Maybe this will turn into a 'Yes' book for you.
September 24, 2020
A little girl has an idea. But before she can do anything with her idea, she receives a “No” . . . and another . . . and another . . . and another . . . until she has so many “NOs” she must find a way to handle all of them and, at the same time, hold on to her brilliant idea.
What will she do? And what will happen to her idea?
Clever [albeit a tad creepy . . . think Tim Burton] drawings accompany the narrative. Done primarily in black and white, children are likely to notice the pops of color that appear late in the story. And there’s a positive unspoken message in the diversity illustrated in the drawings of the children.
Underlying the narrative is an important message, one that champions perseverance, imagination, and collaboration. Unfortunately, it is likely to confuse the young readers it is trying to inspire. Who is sending our intrepid unnamed heroine all those “No” messages? And why are they sending them to her? How can “No” change and become something else? Parents should be prepared to provide an extensive explanation of the message the author is trying to convey.
Note to author/editor:
In the title of the book and in the telling of the tale:
“NOs” is a plural, not a possessive or a contraction . . . there’s no reason to use an apostrophe.
What will she do? And what will happen to her idea?
Clever [albeit a tad creepy . . . think Tim Burton] drawings accompany the narrative. Done primarily in black and white, children are likely to notice the pops of color that appear late in the story. And there’s a positive unspoken message in the diversity illustrated in the drawings of the children.
Underlying the narrative is an important message, one that champions perseverance, imagination, and collaboration. Unfortunately, it is likely to confuse the young readers it is trying to inspire. Who is sending our intrepid unnamed heroine all those “No” messages? And why are they sending them to her? How can “No” change and become something else? Parents should be prepared to provide an extensive explanation of the message the author is trying to convey.
Note to author/editor:
In the title of the book and in the telling of the tale:
“NOs” is a plural, not a possessive or a contraction . . . there’s no reason to use an apostrophe.
Read
May 10, 2021can we pls as a society decide that we have had enough with this 'growth mindset' crap and look to the bigger systemic problems?
anyways, beyond that, there's just something about this book that makes me so uncomfortable. who is sending those 'no's? what is their angle? this ignores power dynamics at play and places the onus, as our society loves to do, on an individual rather than a system.
help i'm overanalyzing children's picture books again.
anyways, beyond that, there's just something about this book that makes me so uncomfortable. who is sending those 'no's? what is their angle? this ignores power dynamics at play and places the onus, as our society loves to do, on an individual rather than a system.
help i'm overanalyzing children's picture books again.
April 24, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
A Thousand No's by DJ Corchin, while certainly inspirational in many ways, is not the book I expected when I picked this up. In truth, I was expecting something more of a comedy, slightly fueled by the image on the cover. But, this book isn't exactly the funny story of a girl wanting to get into mischief and not being able to take no for an answer. It's different in a good way, though. So, I didn't quite get the amusing story that I wanted.
What I got was perhaps even better.
You see, A Thousand No's is really the story of perseverance, of taking the downturns and pitfalls of life and every moment that someone has said 'no' to an idea and turning them around into something grand. It's about building something amazing out of disappointments. And in so many ways, this is an incredible and important message to give to young children. It's not about whether or not your idea gets a yes on the first shot, but rather it's about how much work you put in to continuing on until your idea--or perhaps even a new idea--comes to fruition.
As a children's book, I think it may be somewhat difficult for kids to grasp the ultimate meaning behind it. But this is something they can grow with, something they can learn from. And if parents continue to foster these ideas even after reading a book like this, that kid is going to have a bright future.
Now, I'll be honest, I didn't love the artwork.
It was very Tim Burton-esque in its dark and somewhat creepy nature. I kept getting flashes to The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and Coraline as I was reading. For me, this isn't necessarily a good thing. I happen to actually hate literally all of those films (to be fair, I've never been one to care for horror, grotesque, and macabre). So, the slight creepiness in the little girl's smile and the faces of many of the other children just didn't help me appreciate the book.
I definitely wanted something brighter, something less...scary looking.
All in all, this is an inspirational book.
And it's one that is definitely worth reading for yourself and for your children. It may even be worth it to have a special place on your shelf for it.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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A Thousand No's by DJ Corchin, while certainly inspirational in many ways, is not the book I expected when I picked this up. In truth, I was expecting something more of a comedy, slightly fueled by the image on the cover. But, this book isn't exactly the funny story of a girl wanting to get into mischief and not being able to take no for an answer. It's different in a good way, though. So, I didn't quite get the amusing story that I wanted.
What I got was perhaps even better.
You see, A Thousand No's is really the story of perseverance, of taking the downturns and pitfalls of life and every moment that someone has said 'no' to an idea and turning them around into something grand. It's about building something amazing out of disappointments. And in so many ways, this is an incredible and important message to give to young children. It's not about whether or not your idea gets a yes on the first shot, but rather it's about how much work you put in to continuing on until your idea--or perhaps even a new idea--comes to fruition.
As a children's book, I think it may be somewhat difficult for kids to grasp the ultimate meaning behind it. But this is something they can grow with, something they can learn from. And if parents continue to foster these ideas even after reading a book like this, that kid is going to have a bright future.
Now, I'll be honest, I didn't love the artwork.
It was very Tim Burton-esque in its dark and somewhat creepy nature. I kept getting flashes to The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and Coraline as I was reading. For me, this isn't necessarily a good thing. I happen to actually hate literally all of those films (to be fair, I've never been one to care for horror, grotesque, and macabre). So, the slight creepiness in the little girl's smile and the faces of many of the other children just didn't help me appreciate the book.
I definitely wanted something brighter, something less...scary looking.
All in all, this is an inspirational book.
And it's one that is definitely worth reading for yourself and for your children. It may even be worth it to have a special place on your shelf for it.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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June 23, 2020
Thank you to the NetGalley and the Publisher for granting me an ARC of this book. The review below is entirely my own opinion.
I rated this book 2 stars purely because of the drawings in this book. I loved the illustrations! BUT I found that the narrative/story itself was way too vague, which is disappointing especially because this is a children's book.
I had so many questions and issues:
> Why did the NO's get *INSIDE* her idea and why would it get bigger?? No means "stop"; so I would have thought that the idea gets smaller.
> I liked the part of the NO's twisting and changing her original idea. But then the next words of the book say that "HER idea got so big" ---- Ummmm, it's no longer her idea anymore, precisely because she took all the NO's inside her idea. Yes, the idea gets heavy (and that's shown in the illustrations) but the idea is no longer purely, truly hers.
> Lastly, I didn't understand WHY she kept on asking for NO's. I didn't understand how or why she was getting others to help even as NO after NO kept coming. Who was saying or giving the NO's? NO to what???
While I understand and believe that a group of people that have the same NO thought (for example, NO TO RACISM), that when they work together, they can make a powerful YES statement and they can effect change. BUT if this is the point/moral of this story --- the story/narrative as it stands is, imo, too vague; and in addition, leaving it as is, this book maybe too deep for a child to comprehend.
I rated this book 2 stars purely because of the drawings in this book. I loved the illustrations! BUT I found that the narrative/story itself was way too vague, which is disappointing especially because this is a children's book.
I had so many questions and issues:
> Why did the NO's get *INSIDE* her idea and why would it get bigger?? No means "stop"; so I would have thought that the idea gets smaller.
> I liked the part of the NO's twisting and changing her original idea. But then the next words of the book say that "HER idea got so big" ---- Ummmm, it's no longer her idea anymore, precisely because she took all the NO's inside her idea. Yes, the idea gets heavy (and that's shown in the illustrations) but the idea is no longer purely, truly hers.
> Lastly, I didn't understand WHY she kept on asking for NO's. I didn't understand how or why she was getting others to help even as NO after NO kept coming. Who was saying or giving the NO's? NO to what???
While I understand and believe that a group of people that have the same NO thought (for example, NO TO RACISM), that when they work together, they can make a powerful YES statement and they can effect change. BUT if this is the point/moral of this story --- the story/narrative as it stands is, imo, too vague; and in addition, leaving it as is, this book maybe too deep for a child to comprehend.
September 12, 2020
I will run out of hands writing this review. On one hand, this book is very inspirational, and has a great message about going after your dreams, no matter what.
On the other hand, this book is unclear about what that dream may be, and why exactly you would invite people to shoot down your dream (really? that just does not make any sense whatsoever! I am all for constructive criticism and improvement, but that is not what the author says here, nope, it verges on masochism, really.)
And still yet on another hand, there is the flagrant misuse of "no's" which just irked me beyond belief and made it hard to take this book seriously. It is "nos." Honestly. Let's all try to straighten out our apostrophe use, please.
Then on still yet another hand are the possibly creep-tastic illustrations. I leave that topic up to you. They are unforgettable!
And finally on the last hand, is the fact that the original idea is changed by the nos and everyone else's nos that it doesn't even survive and yet...somehow it does?! Zombie idea? Odd. I think I understand what the author is trying to say, but still, there has to be a better way of expressing this all.
5 hands later, someone please give this author a hand, for they certainly need it.
On the other hand, this book is unclear about what that dream may be, and why exactly you would invite people to shoot down your dream (really? that just does not make any sense whatsoever! I am all for constructive criticism and improvement, but that is not what the author says here, nope, it verges on masochism, really.)
And still yet on another hand, there is the flagrant misuse of "no's" which just irked me beyond belief and made it hard to take this book seriously. It is "nos." Honestly. Let's all try to straighten out our apostrophe use, please.
Then on still yet another hand are the possibly creep-tastic illustrations. I leave that topic up to you. They are unforgettable!
And finally on the last hand, is the fact that the original idea is changed by the nos and everyone else's nos that it doesn't even survive and yet...somehow it does?! Zombie idea? Odd. I think I understand what the author is trying to say, but still, there has to be a better way of expressing this all.
5 hands later, someone please give this author a hand, for they certainly need it.
January 13, 2021
This is a one of A kind book. A little girl has an idea, but she gets a NO. Then she gets a 2nd No that's bigger and heavier. She keeps getting more and more NOs, and her idea keeps changing, and when she gets her thousandth No, her idea Is totally different and it's an enormous colorful YES! I think this could start a discussion with Young elementary students. I love the illustrations of the little girl and all of the different NOs and the final YES
April 25, 2020
I think the best part about this book is the message. The books message is basically to not let the word no stop you from creating what you want to create. This book is an excellent read for not only children but people in general. I would recommend this book educators, creatives, artists, counselors, anyone trying to achieve a dream. I recieved this as a ARC via NetGalley and I will be purchasing when this book is published!
December 8, 2020
This empowering picture book teaches readers that even great ideas sometimes get a NO―but that NO can actually help great ideas become the best ideas!
There was a little girl who had a great idea. She had the most amazing, superb, best idea ever!
NO? Wait, what do you mean NO? NO again?
What is she supposed to do with all these NO's?
NO after NO after NO come the little girl's way, twisting and squishing her idea. But by persevering, collaborating and using a little imagination, all those NO's become the building blocks for the biggest YES ever!
A Thousand NO's is a story about perseverance and innovation. It shows what amazing things can happen if we work with others and don't give up, and teaches kids not to let expectations of how things should be get in the way of what could be.
There was a little girl who had a great idea. She had the most amazing, superb, best idea ever!
NO? Wait, what do you mean NO? NO again?
What is she supposed to do with all these NO's?
NO after NO after NO come the little girl's way, twisting and squishing her idea. But by persevering, collaborating and using a little imagination, all those NO's become the building blocks for the biggest YES ever!
A Thousand NO's is a story about perseverance and innovation. It shows what amazing things can happen if we work with others and don't give up, and teaches kids not to let expectations of how things should be get in the way of what could be.
Read
August 11, 2020In this story about how ideas get made, Corchin inspires kids to believe in their ideas and understand how negative feedback can help their ideas become better ones. Since the main character doesn’t have a name, any kid can relate to her and learn to model her experience. A THOUSAND NO'S shows that everyone needs help when coming up with a great idea, and inspires kids to keep persevering even if it seems impossible. This is a perfect read for any creative or inventive child aged 4 to 8 (grades 1 to 3).
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/08/05/a-tho...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/08/05/a-tho...
August 25, 2020
This is a children's picture book, but the story is clearly more directed towards adults. It's very abstract and I don't think it would interest most children.
August 8, 2020
A THOUSAND NO'S is a cute picture book about the way that feedback can change an idea. A girl has an idea, but she gets her first NO. It feels awful, but she places it inside, and it changes it. She gets another NO and then some more, and soon, her idea is hard to handle, so she needs to get help. After she gets her thousandth NO, her idea has turned into something else- a YES!
This book has a simple idea- how criticism changes our ideas, sometimes for the better. The illustrations are really simple, sketches in black and white, except for the final YES. If you think about it too hard, it loses its appeal, but at the simplest surface level, it is a cute book about persistence and evolving ideas.
I would recommend for children who enjoy simple illustrations and cute ideas. The word art here is really well done. Please note that I received a review copy through Sourcebooks Early Reads program. All opinions are my own.
This book has a simple idea- how criticism changes our ideas, sometimes for the better. The illustrations are really simple, sketches in black and white, except for the final YES. If you think about it too hard, it loses its appeal, but at the simplest surface level, it is a cute book about persistence and evolving ideas.
I would recommend for children who enjoy simple illustrations and cute ideas. The word art here is really well done. Please note that I received a review copy through Sourcebooks Early Reads program. All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2020
I received an ARC through NetGalley from Sourcebooks Explore. This picture book is all about perseverance. One little girl with a great idea keeps getting told No, but she doesn’t stop. Dramatic black and white illustrations that eventually add color drive this book forward. The graphics jump off the pages and the illustration of the “no’s” allows for interesting reading and creative read-aloud options. While the story might be a little lacking, it is clear the message is Don’t Give Up. Recommended ages 4-7.
July 19, 2020
I received an ARC of this novel thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Kids and NetGalley.
I LOVED A Thousand No’s. It is a book that should be in every child’s library, and should be read to every child by every adult they know!
The illustrations are simple, but beautiful, and really show the burden the girl feels by all of the no’s she is getting. I loved how the book transitioned into color as she embraced the nos and used them to help change her idea into something bigger.
I cannot recommend this book enough!
I LOVED A Thousand No’s. It is a book that should be in every child’s library, and should be read to every child by every adult they know!
The illustrations are simple, but beautiful, and really show the burden the girl feels by all of the no’s she is getting. I loved how the book transitioned into color as she embraced the nos and used them to help change her idea into something bigger.
I cannot recommend this book enough!
August 11, 2020
I started my census position today and got a lot of No’s so this book coming in the mail was pretty timely. It’s a cute children’s book about a girl with an idea. She didn’t let a few (or more) No’s stop her from trying.
It’s a great reminder for children, teens, and adults too. Think outside the box, be willing to collaborate, accept constructive criticism, continue to work towards your goal and try to turn No into Yes, even if it takes a thousand.
I received a free copy from the publisher.
It’s a great reminder for children, teens, and adults too. Think outside the box, be willing to collaborate, accept constructive criticism, continue to work towards your goal and try to turn No into Yes, even if it takes a thousand.
I received a free copy from the publisher.
September 22, 2020
I love the final message, but I feel like this book is more for adults than for kids, including the slightly charicature-esque, predominantly black and white illustrations. A little girl is told "No" over and over when she has a good idea. I feel like this might just be confusing to kids though, because kids hear "no" in situations to keep them safe, not just to crush their ideas. This felt more like a meta-story on grit required in the publishing industry than anything.
August 11, 2020
What a great way to show children how the word "No!" can be transformed into a "Yes!" through hard work and perseverance. With excellent illustrations, A Thousand No's is an interactive novel that children of all ages will enjoy.
September 15, 2020
I won this adorable book in a Goodreads giveaway.
It's a cute story about a girl with what she believes is a great idea and all the no's she's given regarding her idea. It's a lesson in perseverance as she allows all the no's she receives to change the shape of her idea. I'm looking forward to reading it to my 1st grader.
It's a cute story about a girl with what she believes is a great idea and all the no's she's given regarding her idea. It's a lesson in perseverance as she allows all the no's she receives to change the shape of her idea. I'm looking forward to reading it to my 1st grader.
October 31, 2020
A little girl has an idea. She gets her first NO. Another NO. A flood of NO falls around her. What does she do with them? Some of them weigh her down. But she uses some of them to try again. And again. Until finally she can use all of them to make something completely new. And good.
December 20, 2020
Simple, original and entertaining story
Beautiful story teaching growth mindset, resilience and collaboration. As an educational therapist I’m always looking for ways to teach these concepts to young learners. Happy Amazon recommended this. Thank you!
Beautiful story teaching growth mindset, resilience and collaboration. As an educational therapist I’m always looking for ways to teach these concepts to young learners. Happy Amazon recommended this. Thank you!
April 1, 2021
One intrepid young lady gets an idea, but the 'no's' start getting the better of her....until she gets the better of them by asking for help, thinking her ideas through, and turning all of those 'no's into something different!
September 16, 2020
*I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway*
Perfect for my first grade classroom!
Perfect for my first grade classroom!
November 30, 2020
I loved how the illustrations went from black and white into color.
December 30, 2020
Great idea and message just... something was off...
Oh, and interesting blog post about THAT apostrophe: https://www.djcorchin.com/post/give-a...
Oh, and interesting blog post about THAT apostrophe: https://www.djcorchin.com/post/give-a...
December 7, 2020
Making the negative into positive (with the help of others).
December 2, 2020
this was so freaking cute!!
i wish i had a book like this when i was growing up to teach me that NO and teamwork are not bad words, and all you need is one yes, hard work, determination, and a little help along the way :))
i wish i had a book like this when i was growing up to teach me that NO and teamwork are not bad words, and all you need is one yes, hard work, determination, and a little help along the way :))
July 27, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and @NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I absolutely loved this simple story of perseverance. We all have those ideas that are blocked by “No” and they truly are heavy feeling like the book suggests. I enjoyed how the book showed how sometimes we need help to turn our no’s into yes’s!
An excellent lesson for all.
An excellent lesson for all.
May 5, 2020
A very cleverly visual portrayal of a girl with a big idea, facing up to negativity. You can probably see where it's going from quite early on, whatever age you're at reading it, but it's a good hook on which to hang a lesson of positivity.
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