August 21, 2006 @ 3:37 am | Filed under: Books, Picture Book Spotlight
Please Say Please: Penguin’s Guide to Manners by Margery Cuyler.
This charming picture book was one of last week’s library discoveries, and Beanie likes it so much she just about has it memorized. Penguin has invited a small menagerie of friends to dinner, and let’s just say their manners leave something to be desired. But they’re amiable creatures, willing to improve.
“When a hippo sits down for dinner, she should put her napkin on her head. HOW PRETTY! Is that right?”
This is a great approach to teaching manners—presenting extremely silly behaviors and asking if they’re appropriate. Beanie belly-laughed over the animals’ hijinks and delighted in shouting “Noooo!” every time the narrator asked, “Is that right?”
“No, that’s wrong,” the book continues. “When a hippo sits down for dinner, she should lay her napkin on her lap. THAT’S BETTER!”
Likewise, we learn that a lion shouldn’t say “Ew, I hate cauliflower” without a taste, a pig shouldn’t wipe his muddy hooves on the tablecloth, and a giraffe shouldn’t burp on purpose, no matter how tasty her serving of leaves.
The art is fun and lively, and the colorful text interjections (”Splat!” “Sticky-poo!”) were a fun opportunity for my emerging reader to practice sounding out.
Picture Book Spotlight, picture books
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Oh, that sounds great! Making learning manners fun and funny, what a concept! I think it will be perfect for JBug! Thanks!
Posted on August 21st, 2006 at 6:29 amPerfect timing! I have to teach a manners and health class at our co-op for the littles - this will fit RIGHT in! Thanks!!
Posted on August 21st, 2006 at 6:33 amThe author/illustrator just came out with a companion book, Please Play Safe: Penguin’s Guide to Playground Safety. It is a fun one too and would be great to start conversations with kids about playground safety.
Posted on August 23rd, 2006 at 7:34 pmWe just found this in our library after your recommendation and both my 4 and 8 year olds love it. I’ll have to look for the companion and more from this author now, too. Thanks!
Posted on August 25th, 2006 at 4:28 pm