Generally, No Means I Love You (Generally, No Means I Love You Sequence)

Good book with a good lesson for both the parent and the child
I enjoyed this book. I thought the art was well done and went well with the story. The message of saying “no” is an important one and it’s good for kids to understand that a parent telling them “no” is not always a bad thing. Overall I think this book was well done.

A heartfelt lesson for parents and children
“Sometimes, No Means I Love You” is a beautifully tender and heartfelt book that every parent and child should have on their shelf. The author masterfully takes a word that’s often hard to hear—“no”—and transforms it into a powerful expression of love.As a parent, I found this book to be a gentle reminder of the nurturing intentions behind the boundaries we set for our children. The story, accompanied by heartwarming illustrations, delicately explores how a simple “no” can be one of the most loving things we say. It’s a lesson that is both profound and reassuring, showing that “no” isn’t just a refusal, but a way of guiding our children towards what’s best for them.The book is a wonderful conversation starter for families. It helps children see the love behind the limits, making it a perfect read for bedtime or any time of day. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to parents who want to instill the value of boundaries in their children in a warm and loving way. This book is a true gem, and one that will surely become a cherished part of our nightly reading routine.

Teaching the Positive Power of saying “No”
This book shifts a child’s perspective, helping them understand that “no” doesn’t necessarily come with negative feelings. Instead, it can guide them toward correcting behaviors and developing a more positive outlook. The book is especially relatable, as children at certain ages often struggle to understand why they are told no. It also helps parents show their children that not everything can be a “yes,” and being told no doesn’t mean they are not loved or appreciated. The book is beautifully written and very easy for children to understand. The illustrations are colorful and gorgeous, too!

A Great Read for Young Language Learners
I teach junior and senior high school students in Japan, and this book is an amazing read for my young EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students who are just beginning their language acquisition journey. The grammar is actually just right for my 2nd year junior high school students as they have just learned the conditional forms of “if” and “when”. Not only that, but as a Homeroom teacher as well, I feel like I can relate to the content of the book, as teachers often have to tell their students “no”, as a means of creating the best learning environment for everyone. In a similar manner, students may think that we are trying to control them, when in actuality we want what’s best for their mental, physical, and psychological well-being in the long-run. I hope to share this book with my students, as well as with my school’s librarian as I believe it will be a great asset to have on-hand for our students.

A lovely book. Short and clear with beautiful illustrations. The reality that limitation defines life and builds integrity needs to be understood by children and parents alike. Well done. A much needed lesson in a world that is starting to flounder by saying yes to everything.

I think this clever book tackles the important concept of helping children manage frustration. Although it’s beautiful and poetic (my mom loved it), I feel it slightly falls short in addressing the extremely difficult task of helping children understand the role of parents. However, it’s a very good start.