Big Kids No Everything

In this delightfully fizzy board book exploration of refusal’s power, the “no” of the title is meant quite literally. Rendered by Kirwan (Baby Bug) in fluid black lines and portrayed with various skin tones, the title’s so-called “big kids”—all of whom appear to relish resistance—resemble preschoolers. Following an initial spread that shows a passel of children each saying “No” via speech bubbles, categories of the word unspool across the pages. “There are small nos...” opens text next to a portrait of a child retreating from a cactus, holding an apparently poked finger to their face. A page later, “there are BIG nos” is pictured as another child scowling fearlessly from the palm of a smiling, Godzilla-size creature. The descriptions continue (refutations brave and timid, “nudie-tudie,” and “won’t-let-go”) before a turn probes the important work that the word “no” performs: “When you’re a big kid, all of this NOing is part of GROWing.” Kirwin embraces the idea that “no” isn’t so much chaotic rebellion as it is an important stepping stone to autonomy—an idea that’s bound to earn a “yes” from its listeners. Ages 1–5. Agent: Nicole Tugeau, Tugeau 2. (Apr.)