David

David Balfour (Kidnapped) David Balfour is the main character and narrator of Kidnapped, Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, first published in magazine serial form in 1886 . Young David, orphaned at age 16 by his father’s death, travels from his home in the Scottish Lowlands to his Uncle Ebenezer in Edinburgh, in the hopes of being taken in. Uncle E, however, having quarreled with David’s father many years earlier over the boy’s deceased mother, has no such tender intentions. He arranges to have the boy kidnapped by the evil ship’s captain, Captain Hoseason and taken aboard the Covenant, with the intention of selling him into slavery in America. Surviving an accident at sea, David makes his way back to Scotland, sees his way through numerous adventures and escapades, and finally is able to claim the title and the fortune that his uncle tried so hard to keep from him. A first-rate adventure story, Kidnapped is also a fine work of literature and a portrait of a winsome young man.

David Copperfield (David Copperfield) David Copperfield is the title character in Charles Dickens’ novel, first published in 1850. It is the self-narration of his life, looking back as an adult. In true Dickensian fashion, poor young David endures a cruel stepfather, loses his mother and baby brother, goes to a brutal boarding school, works as a child laborer in a factory, runs away, is reunited with an aunt, finds love, becomes a successful author, marries, loses his wife, remarries, has several children, and still presumably has many more years to go! It is said that this is the closest to an autobiography that Dickens ever wrote, and the compassionate nature of David appears to be that with which Dickens himself approached the world. As one who had suffered himself, he considered the social evils of his day to be truly threatening, spiritually as well as physically. David is a good and kind boy and adult, but it is not through his character alone that he prospers, but through the kindnesses and guidance of others as well, and in spite of the hardships routinely experienced by the poor and helpless.

David Bowie - a song by Phish

David's Song - a song by Cher

Little David - a song by James Taylor

Play Little David - a song by Joni Mitchell

Remember David - a song by A Flock Of Seagulls

Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein (Johanna Hurwitz) - Eight-year-old David Bernstein discovers life is much more exciting when he calls himself Ali Baba Bernstein. Only Ali Baba would have dared to grab the class snail and escape to the boys' room for his own magic experiment. David would never have invited every David Bernstein in the phone book to his birthday party — or find himself hailed as a great detective — or discover adventures and misadventures everywhere he went. But Ali Baba Bernstein does! Recommended ages 8-11.

Caveman Dave (Nick Sharratt) - Caveman Dave is very brave, but his sister, Ava, is even braver. Recommended for ages 2-5.

David Goes to School (David Shannon) - This light-hearted companion to the Caldecott Honor Book "No, David!" and is an entertaining, laugh-out-loud romp from the beginning of class to the end of the day. David's activities in school include chewing gum, talking out of turn, and engaging in a food fight, causing his teacher to say over and over, "No, David!" Recommended for ages 3-7.

David's Father (Robert Munsch) - Julie meets her new neighbor David and is invited over for dinner. There she meets David's father, a giant. A great book to read out loud to your children. Recommended ages 2-6.

Dogger (Shirley Hughes) - When Dave loses his favorite toy, Dogger, he is very sad. But when Dogger turns up for sale at the neighborhood fair, everything seems all right—until someone else buys him before Dave can get the money! This timeless classic uses simple words and detailed pictures to show the distress the loss of a toy can cause a child. Filled with humor and Shirley Hughes’s artful touch, this is a book for young readers to tackle by themselves, as well as a delight to read aloud. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Good if it Goes (Gary Provost) - Twelve-year-old David, juggling the demands of Shrimp League basketball and preparations for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, strives to please Kelly, his dream-girl classmate, as well as his ailing grandfather and traditional parents. Recommended for ages 9-12.

It's Like This, Cat (Emily Cheney Neville) - Meet Dave, a boy growing up in New York City who doesn't see eye to eye with his Dad on anything. So when his father suggests getting a dog, Dave gets a cat. The cat loves an adventure as much as Dave does and together they meet all sorts of characters and Dave eventually learns to accept his father. Recommended for ages 9-14.

No, David! (David Shannon) - David is high-energy, mischievous little boy who repeatedly gets into trouble. Again and again he is told "No David!" The story ends however with a loving hug from his mother. Recommended for ages 2+

Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet (Eleanor Cameron) - In print since the 1950's, the Mushroom Planet series is back with a new design by illustrator Kevin Hawkes. Don't miss the adventures of Chuck and David, two boys who travel to the alien planet Basidium in their homemade spaceship. This timeless series is a classic that is sure to be read over and over again. Recommended for ages 8-12.

The Boy Who Lost His Face (Louis Sachar) - David receives a curse from an elderly woman he has helped his schoolmates attack, and he learns to regret his weakness in pandering to others for the sake of popularity before new friends. Recommended for ages 9-12.

The Voyage of the Frog (Gary Paulsen) - When David goes out on his sailboat to scatter his recently deceased uncle's ashes to the winds, he is caught in a fierce storm and must survive many days on his own as he works out his feelings about life and his uncle. Recommended for ages 9-12.

Famous People Named David - David Arquette (actor); David Carradine (actor); Dave Chappelle (comedian); David Duchovny (actor); David Hasselhoff (actor); David Letterman (comedian/ entertainer); David Niven (actor); David Schwimmer (actor); David Spade (actor); David Bowie (musician); David Gray (musician); David Lee Roth (musician); Dave Matthews (musician); David Byrne (musician); Davy Jones (musician); Dave Navarro (musician); David Mamet (playwrite); David Beckham (soccer player); David Lynch (director)

Famous People who Named their Son David - Bob Marley (musician); Harry Belafonte (musician); Hugh Hefner (businessman); J.K. Rowling (author); Jennifer Hudson (actress/musician); Madonna (musician); Mickey Mantle (baseball player); Princess Margaret (royalty); Ralph Lauren (designer); Ray Charles (musician); Robert Kennedy (politician); Robert Redford (actor); Steve Allen (entertainer); William Randolph Hearst (businessman)

Biblical King David (circa 11th to 10th Century B.C.) - David is, according to the Bible, the second King of Israel, of the line of ancestry from which Jesus, the Messiah, was prophesized to have come. Almost as importantly, he is revered as both a warrior and a poet, credited with many of the Psalms (“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want”). David also played the harp exquisitely enough to soothe King Saul’s misadventures with evil spirits. And he is known as the man who slew the Philistine giant, Goliath, with the clever use of a slingshot. For all this goodness, David is richly rewarded – he is named commander of the armies and is offered Saul’s daughter in marriage. But, having gained so much popularity with the people now makes him the object of Saul’s envy and distrust. He plots to kill David, but Saul’s own son, Jonathan, warns David and helps him to flee. When both Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle, David becomes king. He restores the Ark of the Covenant to the people and establishes Jerusalem as the center of Israel. All is not holy among David’s deeds, however. Lusting after Bathsheba, he impregnates her and has her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. God’s punishment is severe – the child of David and Bathsheba is made to sicken and die. David has much trouble with many of his sons – his son, Absalom, rebels against his father and causes a civil war; Absalom also dies. David truly repents his sins and asks forgiveness of God. And God does forgive him. David lives long and rules well and dies in the virtue of his years. The next child of David and Bathsheba is Solomon, who continues the line of divinely appointed kings of Israel and who will erect the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.