{"id":8828,"date":"2014-09-01T19:03:30","date_gmt":"2014-09-01T23:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/?p=8828"},"modified":"2021-08-15T15:58:29","modified_gmt":"2021-08-15T19:58:29","slug":"manners-please","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/manners-please\/","title":{"rendered":"Manners, Please"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manners count. They really do. Check out these resources (for perfectly polite kids).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Elizabeth Verdick\u2019s Best Behavior series<\/a> (Free Spirit Publishing) gets right to the point with such titles as Teeth Are Not for Biting<\/i>, Hands Are Not for Hitting<\/i>, and Words Are Not for Hurting<\/i>. For ages 2-3.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Richard Morgan\u2019s Oops, Sorry<\/i> (Barron\u2019s Educational Series, 2005) is written in the form of a helpful quiz. \u201cIf someone gives you something nice, what do you say?\u201d Turn the page to find out. (\u201cThank you!\u201d) For ages 2-5.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nIn Jane Yolen\u2019s clever rhyming How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?<\/i> (Blue Sky Press, 2000), dinosaurs model proper going-to-bed behavior. \u201cDoes a dinosaur slam his tail and pout?\/Does he throw his teddy bear all about?\u201d (No. No, he\/she doesn\u2019t.) For ages 2-7.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nThere are many well-behaved dinosaur sequels, among them How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends?<\/i>, How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?,<\/i> and How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Room?<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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In Mo Willems\u2019s Time to Say \u201cPlease\u201d<\/i> (Disney-Hyperion, 2005), a gang of mice \u2013 armed with colorful word bubbles \u2013 deal with the basics of please, thank you, excuse me, and I\u2019m sorry. For ages 3-6.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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In Jennifer Morris\u2019s May I Please Have a Cookie?<\/i> (Cartwheel Books, 2005), Alfie, a little alligator, tries everything he can think of to get a cookie \u2013 grabbing, disguises, tears \u2013 before finally realizing that he only needs to say \u201cplease.\u201d For ages 3-6.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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In Richard Scarry\u2019s Please and Thank You Book<\/i> (Random House, 1973), short stories starring the familiar Scarry characters \u2013 cats, pigs, and hippos, and, of course, Lowly Worm – demonstrate good and bad behavior. For ages 3-7.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Ellen Javernick\u2019s picture book What If Everybody Did That?<\/i> (Two Lions, 2010) shows the consequences of breaking rules as a boy feeds the bears at the zoo, races with a supermarket cart, interrupts at storytime, and tosses a soda can out the car window \u2013 each time to be confronted with a cross adult saying \u201cWhat if everybody did that?\u201d On the next page, there\u2019s a picture of the awful consequences. For ages 3-7.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAlso see Javernick’s What If Everybody Said That?<\/em> (Two Lions, 2018), which covers what happens if everybody said “No boys allowed!” or “Me first!”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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In Stan and Jan Berenstain\u2019s The Berenstain Bears Forget their Manners<\/i> (Random House, 1985), rudeness has gotten out of hand as Brother and Sister Bear push, shove, grab for food, call names, and kick each other under the table. Mama Bear comes up with a helpful Politeness Plan. For ages 3-7.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nAliki\u2019s charmingly illustrated Manners<\/i> (Greenwillow Books, 2007) explains good and bad manners through clever panel cartoons and speech bubbles, with some side comments from a trio of little birds. For ages 3-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nBy Carol Wallace, Elbows off the Table, Napkin in the Lap, No Video Games During Dinner<\/i> (St. Martin\u2019s Griffin, 1996) is touted as a modern guide to teaching kids manners. Many suggestions for parents of kids ages 3-12.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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By Cindy Post Senning and Peggy Post, Emily\u2019s Everyday Manners<\/i> (HarperCollins, 2006) features best friends Emily and Ethan who ride the bus, go to the playground, visit friends, and go out to dinner, all with exemplary manners. For ages 4-7.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Sesyle Joslin\u2019s wonderful What Do You Say, Dear?<\/i> (HarperCollins, 1986) \u2013 with illustrations by Maurice Sendak \u2013 is filled with zany hypothetical situations, to each of which is appended the question \u201cWhat do you say, dear?\u201d What to say if you inadvertently bump into a crocodile? Or if you’re introduced to a baby elephant? For ages 4-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nDavid Shannon\u2019s No, David!<\/i> (Blue Sky Press, 1998) is an object lesson in what not to do, as irrepressible David goes from bad to worse. (But is still loved anyway.) For ages 4-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nKarla Kuskin\u2019s wonderful etiquette poem Rules <\/a>appears in The Random House Book of Poetry for Children<\/em> (Random House, 1983). (\u201cDo not jump on ancient uncles\/Do not yell at average mice\/Do not wear a broom to breakfast\/Do not ask a snake\u2019s advice.\u201d)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Munro Leaf\u2019s Manners Can Be Fun<\/i> (Universe, 2004) \u2013 illustrated with goofy little stick figures \u2013 begins \u201cHaving good manners is really just living with other people pleasantly. If you lived all by yourself out on a desert island, others would not care whether you had good manners or not.\u201d But, since most of us don\u2019t live on desert islands, the author – with the help of some bad behavers – \u00a0covers polite ways of meeting people, table and conversation etiquette, treating people and objects with respect (don\u2019t act like Smash, Rip, or Ruin), and taking responsibility for yourself. For ages 4-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIn the same format, also by Leaf, see How to Behave and Why<\/i> and How to Speak Politely and Why<\/i>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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By Audrey Wood, Elbert\u2019s Bad Word<\/i> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1996) is the witty and hilarious story of Elbert who, whacked with a croquet ball on his great toe at a garden party, lets loose (to the horror of all) a very bad word. The word \u2013 a little rat-like creature \u2013 persists in following Elbert around until finally the wizard-like estate gardener comes up with a magic spell that replaces Elbert\u2019s bad word with a lot of sparkling creative alternatives. (RATS AND BLUE BLAZES!) For ages 4-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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In Diane Cuneo\u2019s Mary Louise Loses Her Manners<\/i> (Yearling, 2000), poor Mary Louise has simply lost her manners, with awful consequences. So off she goes to try to get them back. For ages 4-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Beth Brainard\u2019s Soup Should be Seen, Not Heard<\/i> (Good Idea Kids, 2012) \u2013 with cartoon illustrations and cute chapter titles (\u201cDear Grammy,\u201d \u201cYou Can\u2019t Wear Your Sweats to Sunday School\u201d) \u2013 covers greetings, telephone etiquette, table manners, messages, personal grooming, and party manners. For ages 5-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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In Laurie Keller\u2019s Do Unto Otters<\/i> (Square Fish, 2009), Mr. Rabbit\u2019s new neighbors are otters\u00a0and he has no idea how to treat them.\u00a0 What if they don\u2019t get along? Helpful Owl suggests he follow the Golden Rule: treat the otters like you\u2019d like them to treat you. For ages 5-8.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Sandra Dutton\u2019s Dear Miss Perfect: A Beast\u2019s Guide to Proper Behavior<\/i> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007) is a tongue-in-cheek guide to manners through the problems of young animals, all described in letters. \u201cDear Miss Perfect,\u201d fourth-grader Emily Possum writes. \u201cMy problem is that I like to hang upside down. Mama lets me do it at home. That\u2019s how I\u2019m most comfortable and the way I learn.\u201d But Emily teacher says NO. How to cope? For ages 6-9.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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By Emilie Barnes, A Little Book of Manners: Courtesy & Kindness for Young Ladies<\/i> (Harvest House Publishing, 1998) \u2013 through the eyes of young Emilie Marie – covers such topics as thank-you notes, dinner-table etiquette, party and telephone manners, and more. For ages 6-10.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nBy Bob and Emilie Barnes, also see A Little Book of Manners for Boys<\/i> (Harvest House Publishers, 2000).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nRoald Dahl\u2019s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory<\/i> (Puffin, 2007) is \u2013 I would argue \u2013 a book about the triumph of manners, as kind and honest Charlie Bucket is put up against such obnoxious contestants as greedy Augustus Gloop, spoiled Veruca Salt, and aggressive Mike Teavee. For ages 7-12.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nIn Gary Schmidt’s Pay Attention, Carter Jones<\/em> (Clarion, 2019), Carter’s fraught family inherits a very proper British butler. For ages 8-13.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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By Cindy Post Senning and Peggy Post, Emily Post\u2019s Guide to Good Manners for Kids<\/i> (HarperCollins, 2004) is what Emily Post would have said if Emily Post were still around. The book is divided into seven sections, covering Everyday Life, At Home, At School, At Play, Out and About, On the Go \u2013 Away From Home, and Special Occasions. For ages 8-13.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Elizabeth Verdick\u2019s 128-page humorous Don\u2019t Behave Like You Live in a Cave<\/i> (Free Spirit Publishing, 2010) \u2013 in which cartoon-style Cave Boy and Cave Girl display thoroughly bad manners throughout the book \u2013 makes a good case for the advantages of good behavior. For ages 9-12.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nBy Pamela Espeland and Elizabeth Verdick, Dude, That\u2019s Rude<\/i> (Free Spirit Publishing, 2007) \u2013 illustrated with Simpson-like cartoon characters \u2013 is a catchy guide to etiquette using lots of real-world scenarios and a sense of humor. For ages 9-13.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Sheryl Eberly\u2019s 365 Manners Kids Should Know<\/i> (Harmony, 2011) has an etiquette instruction for every day of the year, covering everything from proper jewelry and when to wear a hat to texting, television, thank-you letters, and swimming pool behavior. Included are \u201cgames and activities\u201d to help kids learn etiquette. The author suggests a lot of parental quizzing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Hilaire Belloc\u2019s Cautionary Tales for Children<\/i> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002) \u2013 in this edition, with great illustrations by Edward Gorey \u2013 was originally published in 1907. It\u2019s a spoof on 19th\u00a0<\/sup>century moral tales and consists of ten tales (in verse) about the awful consequences of bad behavior. Titles include \u201cJim, Who ran away from his Nurse, and was eaten by a Lion\u201d and \u201cRebecca Who Slammed Doors for Fun and Perished Miserably.\u201d The eleventh tale and final tale is \u201cCharles Augustus Fortescue, Who Always Did what was Right, and so Accumulated an Immense Fortune.\u201d For ages 12 and up and all with a wicked sense of humor.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nBy Gelett Burgess \u2013 author of the immortal poem \u201cI Never Saw a Purple Cow\u201d – Goops and How to Be Them<\/i> (Applewood Books, 2005), originally published in 1928, is an upside-down guide to manners by way of the perfectly awful Goops. (Don\u2019t be one!) A fun read for all ages.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Alex J. Packer\u2019s How Rude!<\/i> (Free Spirit Publishing, 2014) is a tome \u2013 over 500 pages long \u2013 but packed with helpful and polite advice on everything from texting and tweeting to bullying, breakups, and jerks. Includes lots of \u201cDear Alex\u201d etiquette questions. For ages 13 and up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nJohn Bridges\u2019s elegant How To Be a Gentleman<\/i> (Thomas Nelson, 2012) \u2013 which opens with the \u201c10 Eternal Truths of the Gentlemanly Life\u201d \u2013 has ten helpful chapters, variously titled \u201cA Gentleman Gets Dressed,\u201d \u201cA Gentleman Goes to Dinner,\u201d and \u201cA Gentleman Goes to a Party.\u201d For teens and adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nFor those of the opposite sex, check out Candace Simpson-Giles\u2019s How to Be a Lady<\/i> (Thomas Nelson, 2012).\u00a0 (\u201cA lady does not use her camera phone in ways that intrude upon the privacy of others.\u201d) For teens and adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Judith Martin\u2019s Miss Manners\u2019 Guide to Rearing Perfect Children<\/i> (Touchstone, 2002) is perfectly delightful (as are all the Miss Manners etiquette books). Sections have introductions with basic information, followed by many begging-for-advice letters, each with a terrific response from Miss Manners. An addictive read for adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nCheck out George Washington\u2019s Rules of Civility<\/a>.\u00a0 (\u201cIn the Presence of Others, Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.\u201d)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nLord Chesterfield\u2019s Letters<\/i> (Oxford University Press, 2008) to his son, Philip, are a fascinating window on life, society, politics, and etiquette for the 18th<\/sup>-century young man. For older teenagers and adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nCaroline Taggart\u2019s How to Greet the Queen<\/i> (National Trust, 2014) is a catchy compendium of manners for interacting with royalty. For older teenagers, adults, and royal groupies.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFrom Emily Post, see this list of Top Table Manners for Kids<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Need help with setting the table? The Tot Talk Table Setting & Etiquette Placemat<\/a> shows just where to put silverware, plates, glasses, and napkin.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Manners count. They really do. Check out these resources (for perfectly polite kids). Elizabeth Verdick\u2019s Best Behavior series (Free Spirit Publishing) gets right to the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[949],"tags":[931,930],"class_list":["post-8828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-skills","tag-etiquette-for-kids","tag-manners-for-kids"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8828"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19431,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8828\/revisions\/19431"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}