Nori Says No

Beneath the ground lives Nori, a tiny creature who loves red berries and feels at home in nature. But one day, a giantess throws something into his cave, destroys his table and chair, and tears Nori away from his familiar world. To the giantess, Nori is just a toy meant to live in a dollhouse and eat green berries. For Nori, it’s a nightmare.

In despair, he cries out: NO! And the giantess understands. She brings Nori back to his world. Now everything is fine again. Almost just as it was before.

Antje Damm tells a powerful story about self-assertion and self-determination. Children learn to defend their own boundaries while also recognizing how quickly they themselves can cross the boundaries of others. With her expressive paper cutouts—a technique that has become rare—Antje Damm adds a striking, artistic touch to the picture book landscape.

A powerful picture book for ages 4 and up that encourages children to say “no” and “yes” to themselves.