Don't Want to Go!

by Shirley Hughes

A resistant Lily discovers that new experiences don’t need to be scary in this engaging, deftly told story certain to resonate with young children.

One morning, Lily’s mom wakes up with a sore throat and achy head and needs to stay in bed. But Lily’s dad needs to go to work. Who will look after Lily? When Dad arranges for her to spend the day at Melanie’s house, Lily is none too happy. "Don’t want to go!" she says. Even though Melanie has a friendly dog named Ringo and a funny baby named Sam, Lily is shy and wants to sit under the table with her toy Bobbo. But maybe a chance to make silly collages, or feed Sam lunch, or hold Ringo’s leash might make her feel braver—and maybe she’ll start having so much fun she won’t want to leave at the end of the day! With illustrations that keenly convey emotion through the subtlest gesture, Shirley Hughes mines a familiar situation for its most genuine moments and creates a truly reassuring story for young children.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Fiction, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Shirley Hughes is the illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books and has won many prestigious awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She is the author-illustrator of DON'T WANT TO GO! and OLLY AND ME 1 2 3. She died at her home in London on the 25th of February, 2022.

Reviews

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can have all your hip, cool authors who write books that enthrall childless children's librarians and well meaning book reviewers who know about kids in theory but not in practice. I'll take someone like Shirley Hughes, who writes for real kids and their parents.

Shirley Hughes KNOWS kids. She knows how they feel, and she knows how to express that both in text and art. Look just at that cover--and you will see Lily's emotions clearly--the title is just underlining what the art tells you.

Another wonderful book from someone whose books parents and children will still share long after the flavor of the week authors are in the remainder bins and second hand book stores.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great if you have a preschooler who struggles with transitions or separation anxiety. Hughes really speaks to kids on their level.

[Jessie Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t remember where I heard of Shirley Hughes (I know she’s classic, but she wasn’t for me growing up) but I think we’ll have to go down the rabbit hole… cute story with incredible drawings. The text is just okay, but the expressions in the characters faces is spot on.

[Slow Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say I love the illustration as much as the story. Especially the scene when Lily went with Melanie to pick up her elder son Jack. The drawing is so alive. This is one of the reasons why I continue to read picture books. They could be so charming. And Ms Hughes sure makes it so.

[Jillian Cryder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't Want to Go! had a really good theme throughout the book that shined more in the end than it did during the beginning or middle. The theme of the book was that no matter if you think that you wont like something or don't want to do something, you still need to give it a try because you will usually end up liking it. That's what happened in the book, the little girl in the story had to go to a friends house because her mom was sick and her dad had work but the whole time they were getting ready to leave and walking there she was saying she didn't want to go. After getting to the friend's house she still didn't want to play or eat or do anything, until the dog came to play, that's when her attitude changed. The reason I gave it two stars was because the book was pretty long and for most of it, the little girl had an attitude and if I am reading this to a young child, I want them to hear the happy ending of how she ended up liking being there, not only hearing the beginning of how much she complained, which is the reason I wouldn't bring it into my classroom despite the positive theme revealed at the end.

[Jessica Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't want to go gives an accurate depiction of a child feeling cautious to leave her family and visit a new home. The text feels reassuring as the character Lily slowly feels more comfortable with her new surroundings and slowly adapts. The illustrations beautifully show the change in Lily's emotions. At the start she is lonely and isolated, even hiding under the table with her teddy. However as the story continues, she allows herself to become more involved and her teddy is forgotten as she has fun. In a classroom, this could be a great text to read at the start of the year to reassure children that they can get used to their new environment and have fun.

[Miss Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily's mom is sick and can't take care of her and dad has to go to work- so she's off to Melanie's hous but Lily "don't want to go". When she arrives she meets Sam and Ringo and it takes a little bit, but Lily becomes a little more comfortable and when dad comes to get her, do you think she'll want to go?

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this cute short story to my sister and she enjoyed it. The illustrations are nice and the conversations are funny. (3/5) stars

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom is sick so it’s off to the babysitter’s for Lily. Very expressive faces depicting the ups and downs of the day.

[Rachel F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book read to Henry 📚

[Isobel Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shirley Hughes, just like Lucy Cousins, seems to know how to inhabit the world of the toddler. Nothing is out of place or superfluous, it's a longer story but my almost three year old was handing on every word.

[Lillian Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was kind of fun but she was mad most of the time but I really like dogs! I think others would like this book.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I certainly agree with the idea of giving things a try before declaring you don't want to do something, and we often don't have a choice in a given situation and things often turn out better than we thought they would. But this story seemed off to me. It's longer than it needs to be with some extraneous parts that don't add a lot (like the dropped mittens) and throughout I think the interactions between the father and daughter are odd in that he never directly acknowledges what she says or how she's feeling, which maybe is part of the humor but was odd.

[carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

One morning, Lily’s mom wakes up with a sore throat and achy head and needs to stay in bed. But Lily’s dad needs to go to work. Who will look after Lily? When Dad arranges for her to spend the day at Melanie’s house, Lily is none too happy. "Don’t want to go!" she says. Even though Melanie has a friendly dog named Ringo and a funny baby named Sam, Lily is shy and wants to sit under the table with her toy Bobbo. But maybe a chance to make silly collages, or feed Sam lunch, or hold Ringo’s leash might make her feel braver—and maybe she’ll start having so much fun she won’t want to leave at the end of the day! With illustrations that keenly convey emotion through the subtlest gesture, Shirley Hughes mines a familiar situation for its most genuine moments and creates a truly reassuring story for young children.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the message here and Julia enjoyed the story also but I wish the little girl had been portrayed just a little younger. She seemed a little too old to say 'Don't want to go!'. A longer, more complete sentence maybe. But that?
Kids talking like they're younger, unless playing a game, is definitely a pet peeve of mine so maybe this is just a result of that.
Either way it was neat to watch Julia realize how the little girls feelings changed from the beginning to the end of the book.

Update 12/5/11:

We read this again after Julia saw it in the library and had to have it. I was somewhat surprised she remembered it since she reads an astronomical amount of books. But she did and apparently has fond memories of it.
I admit I liked it a little more this time around myself. I'd say it's definitely a 3.5'er for sure.

[Allyson Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily doesn't want to stay at a sitter's house for the day but all in all she has a pretty good day, so good in fact that she is reluctant to go home. I have just read this to Angus (2 years 3months) for the first time and he loved it (and so did I)! He smiled at the end and said more and tapped the front of the book a couple of times which is an endorsement. I think one of the nice things about the book is that it conveys the experience of a parent leaving their child in the care of some one in a way that is accessible to both parent and child. Lovely, warm, intelligent and perceptive book.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My audience and I truly enjoyed this story about Lily, whose mom has fallen ill and as a result will be staying at another house hile her dad is away at work. Reassuring not just for children who are unfamiliar with playdates/visits but also for those who may be transitioning into preschool for the first time.

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly wonderful book for preschoolers. I love that the illustrations and the text so easily convey Lily's emotions.

Lily doesn't want to go to her sitter's house. Once she is there though she finds that she is really enjoying herself and is reluctant to go home when the day is over.

I think parents and kids will relaly be able to connect with this book and enjoy the story.

[Laura Salas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily has to go to a family friend's house when her Mom is sick and Dad has to work. She does not want to go. But then she ends up grudgingly having a good time. It's pretty predictable (to grown-ups, at least) when Dad comes to pick her up and she doesn't want to go.

Story is cute. I don't like the illustrations.

Long text for a pb. 1046 words.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the book, but overall it didn't impress us much. The kids didn't really care for it, and I felt certain parts wordy and others just felt odd. Mom has the flu was so specific and yet that is all we see of Mom...the parts with the dog were cute, but overall the flow of the words was just a little off for reading out loud.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Lily's mom catches the flu, young Lily--who initially doesn't "want to go"--slowly warms up to the idea of spending the day with her neighbor Melanie, Melanie's son Jack, her baby Sam, and their dog, Ringo.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

appropriate for preschool crowd - definitley a "been there, done that" kind of story for all to appreciate!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hughes is great at getting exactly right the messy preschool daily grind.

[Nicole Deming · Rating 2 out of 5]

3 stars for story

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lily's mom falls ill, Lily must go to a babysitter's house. She doesn't want to go. But then she discovers that it might not be so bad.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrated book in gouache. Three (?) year old Lily spends the day at Melanie's...and didn't want to go.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations! And they really help with telling the story.

This is a great story of any child getting ready to go to daycare/babysitter for the first time.

[TwoDrinks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the drawings.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book selected by my 6 year old, but I enjoyed reading as well. The moral is that sometimes when you try new things, you find that they are fun.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

so sweet