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5 Minutes for Books: 1000 Times No!

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

As a mom to three angelic children ranging from toddlerhood to pre-adolescence, I’m perfectly accustomed to stating things such as, “It’s clean up time,” or “It’s time to leave now,” and being met with a chorus of, “Okay, Mom!”

Yeah, right.

The reality is that the word “no” is spoken approximately 14,927 times a day in my world, whether it’s coming out of my mouth as my toddler is found standing on the kitchen table or it’s being shrieked at such an incredibly high-pitch that the area dogs have simply packed their belongings and left. To my delight, Tom Warburton, an author who obviously has been around a toddler or two in his days, has created a whimsical new children’s book, 1000 Times No to help bring some much needed levity and humor to these oh-so-familiar scenes.

As you open to the first page, Noah the diaper-wearing tot appears, big cartoonish curls popping off his head and sucking away on his thumb. When his mother appears and informs him that it is time to leave, the real story begins. The storm starts to rage as Noah expresses his feelings to this announcement in one creative way after another. The word “no” is spoken in a variety of languages, some authentic and some just plain silly, and each is accompanied by a visual illustration that made me and my little ones giggle time and again. At one point, even the little bear on his diaper is matching his changing expressions face for face!

This simple and very relatable story appealed to my young ones, each on his or her own level– my 20 month old laughed at the pictures and the funny voices that simply have to be used to read this aloud, while my 3 year old had a look of absolute understanding as the fit went on and on. (She should. She’s a champion.) I’m a sucker for the illustrative style- cartoon-like, with thick black outlines and splashes of soft colors. 1000 Times No is a book to help us mamas (and papas!) explore the darker side of learning to express oneself with our children, in a humorous and light-hearted way.

Have I convinced you that you simply need to have a copy of this book? Leave a comment to win a copy, complete with personalized inscription from the author! (US and Canadian residents only, please.)

Dawn lives in Maryland, but she’s pretty sure that her children’s protests can be heard at least as far west as Kansas. Her chronicles of parenthood can be found at my thoughts exactly.

The winner of If Your Kid Eats This Book, Everything Will Be Okay is #23 Adele

The winners of I Spy A to Z are
#176 Hesper F., #11 Linda White, #165 Steph, #123 etirv

Reader Interactions


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56 Comments

  14. This sounds like such an adorable book, I’d love to win it for my grandson. Thanks for the chance.

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  15. Well not only will be 16 month old grandson love this book but maybe my 22 year old son would enjoy reading it.

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  16. This sounds like a great book. I hear “no” around here more times a day than I could possibly count!

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  17. Oh, wow! I have a five-year-old and twin three-year-olds, and I definitely hear “NO!” at least a 1000 times a day! Though I say it just as much!

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  20. I think these days are coming for me and this book would be great to see the humor in children.

    member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com

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  24. Running a daycare, I must use the word no a zillion times a day. I’m sure the kids would get a kick out of this book.

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  26. I’ve heard wonderful things about this book, and think it would be perfect for my very stubborn 3 year old.

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  32. My guys all know this word (since the youngest was able to learn it from the oldest from an early age). We’d love to win this!

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  34. I NEED this book for myself and my 3 boys. Thanks for the great recommendation 🙂

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  35. Would love to win this! My 3 year old’s new version of “no” is “You do it.” Uh, someone needs an attitude adjustment!

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  40. I would love a copy of this. Somehow it would be so appropriae for my daughter who loves to scram NO! at the top of her lungs.

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  41. No? I don’t think I have heard that today… well at least not in the past 30 seconds. OH, never mind. I have now heard it 3 times in the last 30 seconds. 🙂

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  42. I’m the mom of three boys – youngest is five – I babysit toddlers. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve said “no!” 😉 This book looks super cute.

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  51. This sounds like a really great book. The waiting list for it in our library system is currently at 19, so we’re going to be waiting at least 38 weeks before we get to read it if we don’t win a copy.

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  55. Definitely cute. I’m going to have to try and find a copy of this one sometime. Because the word “no” is one that I’m more than willing to laugh at; not just dread.

    Reply