Picture Book Spotlight: Please Say Please
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.
Theresa says:
Oh, that sounds great! Making learning manners fun and funny, what a concept! I think it will be perfect for JBug! Thanks!
On August 21, 2006 at 6:29 am
Amy says:
Perfect timing! I have to teach a manners and health class at our co-op for the littles – this will fit RIGHT in! Thanks!! 🙂
On August 21, 2006 at 6:33 am
Franki says:
The 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.
On August 23, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Carol McBride says:
We 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!
On August 25, 2006 at 4:28 pm