Noni Says No

Heather Hartt-Sussman • Geneviève Côté

3-7 years

Noni can do many things: she can give her baby brother his bottle, she can help her mother in the kitchen, and she can even walk over to her friend Susie’s house. But Noni just can’t say “no.” When she was very small, it was easy saying “no” to everybody, but now that she has a best friend, she wants to please. Noni can’t say “no” to her friend, even when it means she has to hand over a precious toy, or when it means agreeing to a hideous haircut, or even giving up her bed at a sleepover. But when Noni finally finds her voice, the consequences are not what she – or the reader – expects.

Heather Hartt-Sussman’s story, complemented by the playful illustrations of Geneviève Côté, is a comforting exploration of friendship and of the importance of trusting one’s own judgment. Many children (as well as many adults) will root for Noni as she learns that you can stand up for yourself and still be a good friend.

What People Are Saying:

Blue Spruce Award nominee

NONI SAYS NO is among a ”handful of treasures worth checking out.”

- The Montreal Gazette

“Children will find it a little easier to speak up and say no after reading this book… they will benefit from the confidence boost demonstrated so clearly in this book.”

- Resource Links

“Here is a fine book that explores how to be a friend without being a doormat… Young readers trying to figure out the challenges of friendship and teachers trying to shore up the timid will find a new friend in Noni.”

- Kirkus Reviews

“Hartt-Sussman’s perfectly paced and pitched text carries the story forward in a most engaging fashion.”

- Globe and Mail