That rascal David is at it again! You won’t want to miss reading Dr. Toughlove’s October 2025 column about David’s antics! That’s Not Funny, David! is the latest installment of the No David! series. Enjoy!
Dr. Toughlove’s Book Club
By Carol Franks-Randall, EdD
Are you ready to laugh out loud? If the answer is yes, you won’t want to miss author/illustrator David Shannon’s latest book, That’s Not Funny, David! This book is the latest in the wildly popular semi-autobiographical No David! series. The first No David! book was written in 1998, so David’s shenanigans began over 25 years ago.
Dr. Toughlove recently went to an author event in Washington, DC, featuring David Shannon. She learned that David Shannon wrote and illustrated a book about himself as a young boy, which his mother dutifully saved. Even as a youngster, David Shannon had a distinctive artistic style that permeates his books today.
One of the hallmarks of the No David! series and That’s Not Funny David! in particular is Shannon’s ability to use very few words to convey David’s antics. For example, when at school, his teacher (who is heard but not seen fully) says “Did you say something, David?” The colorful, cartoon-like two-page illustration tells the story, as David’s classmates’ facial expressions range from shock to hysteria and everything in-between. One of the many delightful features of That’s Not Funny, David! is its ability to infer meaning with very few words. Youngsters who read this story will enjoy pointing out all of the unspoken messages that are embedded in the vibrant, child-friendly illustrations. It is also an excellent book for emergent readers to master and enjoy.
If David Shannon’s name sounds familiar, it may be because Dr. Toughlove reviewed one of his other books, Alice the Fairy in April 2023. The storyline is different, but David Shannon’s sharp wit is present in both books. If your child enjoys That’s Not Funny, David!, Dr. Toughlove strongly recommends that you check out the entire No David! series. Each book is unique, but David’s irascible behavior is ever-present. Shannon’s unique ability to use bold illustrations to provide context and meaning is evident as well. It is no wonder that David Shannon is a Caldecott Honoree and has been sought out to be an illustrator for many renowned authors.
That’s Not Funny, David! written and illustrated by David Shannon is suggested for youngsters aged 4-8 and can be found at your local library.
Here is a picture of David Shannon signing Dr. Toughlove’s copy of That’s Not Funny, David! at an author event in March 2025!