Artwork by Melva Medina
In the wake of a conversation about, well, just about everything, a son flagged up an article to me called "How to be Polite". It was excellent and funny and true. As I read, I thought "Yes! This is such good advice!" and then also "Yes! Politeness is the writer's friend!"
Listen, if you will, to this -
My ability to go to a party and speak to anyone about anything, to natter and ask questions, to turn the conversation relentlessly towards the speaker, meant that I was gathering huge amounts of information about other people.
Here’s a polite person’s trick, one that has never failed me. I will share it with you because I like and respect you, and it is clear to me that you’ll know how to apply it wisely: When you are at a party and are thrust into conversation with someone, see how long you can hold off before talking about what they do for a living. And when that painful lull arrives, be the master of it. I have come to revel in that agonizing first pause, because I know that I can push a conversation through. Just ask the other person what they do, and right after they tell you, say: “Wow. That sounds hard.”
Because nearly everyone in the world believes their job to be difficult. I once went to a party and met a very beautiful woman whose job was to help celebrities wear Harry Winston jewelry. I could tell that she was disappointed to be introduced to this rumpled giant in an off-brand shirt, but when I told her that her job sounded difficult to me she brightened and spoke for 30 straight minutes about sapphires and Jessica Simpson. She kept touching me as she talked. I forgave her for that. I didn’t reveal a single detail about myself, including my name. Eventually someone pulled me back into the party. The celebrity jewelry coordinator smiled and grabbed my hand and said, “I like you!” She seemed so relieved to have unburdened herself. I counted it as a great accomplishment. Maybe a hundred times since I’ve said, “wow, that sounds hard” to a stranger, always to great effect. I stay home with my kids and have no life left to me, so take this party trick, my gift to you.
A friend and I came up with a game called Raconteur. You pair up with another Raconteur at a party and talk to everyone you can. You score points by getting people to disclose something about their lives. If you dominate the conversation, you lose a point.
And you lose a chance. As a person and as a writer.
The next time you're asked where you get your ideas, try answering, "By being polite."
P.S. Please don't jump on me because you think I'm implying politeness is nothing more than a cynical tool for doing your job. I'm not. And really, I'd much rather hear about you ...
Here are two wonderful board books for the youngest kids out there ready to open a book or two. Both are colorful and made me laugh. First up, an appropriate book for the mess my shotty computer has caused.
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Monster Knows I’m Sorry
written by Connie Colwell Miller
illustrated by Maira Chiodi
Picture Window Books 3/06/2014
978-1-4795-2964-3
8 x 8 18 pages
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“Monsters are at Plooble School. There’s time for work and play. Monsters make mistakes at times. “I’m sorry” is easy to say.”
Opening
“At Pooble School the monsters play. They also learn the words to say.”
Review
The monsters at Plooble School are a fearsome bunch. From one eye to three eyes or no eye at all, these monster will not scare the little reader. Every monster wears a smile and is glad to be at school. The words to learn today are “I’m sorry.”
All the monsters are seated at their desks, except for one. This monster is goofing around, but when he realizes what he is doing, he faces his classmates and says,
“I’m sorry, friends. I’ll calm down.”
I’m sorry is used in many ways.
“I’m so sorry you feel bad.”
“Oops, I’m sorry, I forgot that rule.”
“I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair.”
What a great way to help young children understand how and why one says, “I’m sorry.” The monsters are funny, kind, and considerate. What wee one does not want to go to school like their big brother or sister? Now, they can go to school at Plooble School with the friendliest monsters seen around books this year. In addition to Monster Knows I’m Sorry, there are three more manner books: Monster Knows Excuse Me, Monster Knows Please and Thank You, and Monster Knows Table Manners. Each book is colorful and uses fun situations to help little children understand the concept of that particular book. I really like this series. I think kids will like the series and may just learn some manners faster than they might otherwise learn them.
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But we are not done. No, not yet. Now we have the biggest beast know to man—the elephant. Meet Eddie and Ellie.
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Eddie and Ellie’s Opposites
written by Daniel Nunn
llustrations by Steve Walker
Heinemann Raintree 8/29/2014
978-1-4109-5355-1
8 x 8 18 pages
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“Eddie and Ellie are good friends. But sometimes, Eddie and Ellie can’t stop arguing. You see, everything that Eddie likes . . . Ellie likes the opposite!”
Opening
“This is Eddie the Elephant. And this is Ellie the Elephant. Eddie and Ellie love animals! But they can never agree which ones are best.”
Review
Eddie and Ellie are the cutest elephants you will ever see anywhere. I love their big white curious eyes and the green bow atop Ellie’s head. Eddie and Ellie are so adorable a stuffed toy companion of each would be irresistible to hugs. Oh, who would not enjoy a “real” Eddie and Ellie sitting on their bed ready to show them some terrific animals? If only they could agree!
Eddie likes BIG animals like white polar bears. But Ellie likes SMALL animals like lizards. (I’ll go with Eddie on this one.) Poor Ellie is cross-eyed watching the lizard crawl up her long trunk. Yuck! Some kids will love it and it is funny to see. Eddie likes HEAVY animals like the rhinoceros, but Ellie likes LIGHT animals like the lemur. (I’m with Ellie, light is best for a pet.) Back and forth, these two elephants compare their likes to one another. One likes DIRTY animals while the other likes CLEAN animals. One likes animals that live in COLD places and the other likes animals that live in HOT places. (Hot, definitely wins.)
Kids will get more than a few animals to admire while Eddie and Ellie counter each other. By book’s end, young children should understand the concept of opposites. Young kids will love Eddie and Ellie’s Opposites. They never argue, just compare their likes to the other’s likes. Eddie and Ellie smile, stand up on two legs raising their arms in excitement, and seem to have a good time with the other animals. Ellie rides a hippo and Eddie admires the long neck of a giraffe. Eddie and Ellie’s Opposites is another cute board book from Heinemann Raintree/Capstone.
.Now, off with you. Go get your own Eddie and Ellie’s Opposites and of course Monsters Knows I’m Sorry. Go on. They are waiting for you. Don’t keep monsters waiting. Those elephants will remember how fast you came for them. Now, shoo!
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MONSTER KNOWS I’M SORRY. Text copyright © 2014 by Connie Colwell Miller. Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Maira Chiodi. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Picture Window Books/Capstone, North Mankato, MN.
Buy Monster Knows Manners series at Amazon—B&N—Book Depository—Capstone—your favorite bookstore.
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Learn more about the Monster Knows Manners series HERE.
Meet the author, Connie Colwell Miller, at her website: http://conniecolwellmiller.com/
Meet the illustrator, Maira Chiodi, at her website: http://mairachiodi.com/
Find more board books at the Picture Window Books website
an imprint of Capstone Books
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EDDIE AND ELLIE’S OPPOSITES. Text copyright © 2014 by Daniel Nunn. Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Steve Walker. Reproduced by permission of the publisher Heinemann Raintree, North Mankato, MN.
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Buy Eddie and Ellie’s Opposites at Amazon—B&N—Book Depository—Capstone—your favorite bookstore.
Learn more about the Eddie and Ellie’s Opposites HERE.
Meet the author, Daniel Nunn, at his facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielnunn
Meet the illustrator, Steve Walker, at this website: http://stevejwalkerstudio.blogspot.com/
Find more board books at the Heinemann Raintree website
an imprint of Capstone Books
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This is an educational tool that children will enjoy reading on their own or in a group setting being led by a teacher. Thank you, Loretta Neff, for providing a well-written and entertaining resource that teaches important life skills.
Yesterday was Read Across America Day and the day schools celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday… and I had such a fabulous day! I had the opportunity to visit Mineral Springs Elementary School and share Being Frank with Pre-K through 2nd grade students! Big thanks to Jerry Ethridge for the pics below! Filed under: writing for children […]
Have you ever looked forward to a relaxing dinner a restaurant, only to encounter a family with young wildebeests for children sitting at the table next to you? You cannot control other people’s kids, but you can certainly be the kind of parent who is proud to take your well-behaved children to dinner without worrying about them acting up. Here are some tips:
- Choose the Right Eatery – This may sound obvious, but if your kids are very young, choose a casual restaurant where other families frequently dine. There’s no point in taking them to a fancy quiet place with white linen table cloths and several courses until you’re sure they are old enough to handle that. (One of my favorite casual places near my house in Hollywood, FL is Giorgio’s Bakery. The food is great, the prices are right, and it’s not the quietest place either.)
- Keep ‘Em Busy – Bring a few busy or interactive (but not noisy) toys, perhaps a coloring book, or choose a restaurant that gives the children an activity book and crayons.
- Set the Boundaries – Before you get to the restaurant explain to your kids that you are excited to go out with them and have a fun dinner. Tell them you expect them to behave, stay seated and use their indoor voices.
- Stay in Control – At the first sign of inappropriate behavior, take action. Do not let your kids run around the table, sit on the floor or have a temper tantrum inside the restaurant. Take them outside and explain they will not be able to go with you next time you go out to eat if they behave that way one more time. If they do not comply, have the food packed up to go and leave the restaurant.
- Follow Through – The worst behaved kids have parents who threaten them but don’t follow through. Don’t be one of those parents. If your child did not behave the way you expect, make an effort to go out to eat again soon but get a baby sitter for the child. Explain that you are sad he or she has to stay home this time, but you cannot tolerate that behavior in a restaurant. Explain that you’ll be happy to try again another time if he or she can behave.
- Reward Good Behavior – When an evening out goes well, praise your child. “We’re so proud of you, and we appreciate how well you behaved in the restaurant. We’re looking forward to the next time.”
A to Z Challenge Day 7: G . 4.75 Stars Gimme Jimmy had no friends, which was probably good since Jimmy wasn’t a good friend himself. His favorite word was gimme, as in Gimme my toys, and Gimme my books. Jimmy was also a bully. He took things from little girls at school and [...]
5 Stars Pete has terrible, awful, horrible manners. He burps and he toots, and he picks his nose. Mom and Dad are secretly horrified. Okay, maybe not that secretly, but Pete, he just doesn’t care. To him, good attention, bad attention, it’s all attention, and he loves attention. Pete talks with his mouth full, never [...]
I recently went to visit my brother and family in NYC. I sewed some slip covers for my nephew, Jack’s classroom. He wrote me this adorable thank you note, complete with stickers and a mint attached. It melted my heart!
The Magic Word 4.5 STARS Elizabeth discovers she has no friends when no one wants to come to her birthday party. Elizabeth does not understand why she has no friends until she talks to her mom. Mom suggests Elizabeth learn to be more considerate of her classmates and teacher, and to learn to use the [...]
Confession: Once while playing a board game--and losing badly--I overturned the board, sending the tiles scattering in all directions. Sad to say, this happened when I was in my twenties. So clearly I could have used this book as a child and as an adult. Within its pages, fourteen illustrators tackle the tricky problem of showing kids how to behave in a given setting, such as the school bus, playground, doctor's office, etc. One setting not covered, I was disappointed to see, was the airplane. Not too long ago, on a seven-hour flight to Italy, I and other passengers aboard the plane were entertained by two tiny twin terrors in desperate need of this book's advice.
Note the word "goofy" in the title. The illustrators took it and ran with it. With a few exceptions, most of the illustrations delight in showing kids, animals, space aliens, and monsters acting up and completely disregarding the rules for good behavior. Sophie Blackall, for instance, illustrates proper behavior at the doctor's office. The rules are listed on a wall in the office. For "Don't Gawk" there's a little boy staring at a woman holding her head in her lap. "No Gurney Surfing" shows just that. "Prosthetic Legs Aren't Toys." Need I say more? The last spread, Tao Nyeu's "Please Don't Pick in Public" is a delicate embroidery of an indelicate subject. Various animals are shown, well, picking in public. Who knew there were so many body parts to pick at? A hippo picks its nose, a beaver its teeth, an alligator its scabs, and a bird in a tree its toenails.
My favorite illustration has to be the ghoulish "Table Manners" by Adam Rex, a perfect meshing of art and text. Click picture to view larger.
The book ends with the fourteen illustrators answering the question: "What was your goofiest manners mishap?" From throwing chicken bones at fellow diners to unzipped flies to dissing Santa, the illustrators demonstrate why just about everyone could learn a thing or two about manners from this book. And, yes, "Always play by the rules" is covered in "Good Sports" by Tedd Arnold. So no more flinging Scrabble boards for me.
For other reviews, see
A Fuse #8 Production and
Book Aunt.
Manners Mash-Up: A Goofy Guide to Good Behavior
Illustrations by: Tedd Arnold, Joe Berger, Sophie Blackall, Henry Cole, Frank Morrison, Lynn Munsinger, Tao Nyeu, LeUyen Pham, Adam Rex, Peter H. Reynolds, Dan Santat, Judy Schachner, Bob Shea, Kevin Sherry
Dial Books for Young Readers, 32 pages
Published: February 2011
Character education is best taught through models. But one look at the headlines of any newspaper should reveal that we, as adults, are failing to provide those models for children. Perhaps picture books can better serve this purpose. But rather than focus upon one of the Six Pillars of Character®, let's focus upon the intended result: Peace.Through picture books we can Make Peace with Ourselves, Make Peace with Each Other, and Make Peace with the World.
Make Peace with Yourself Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners
, by Laurie Keller
When Mr. Rabbit discovers that the Otters will be his new neighbors, he exclaims, "I don't know anything about otters. What if we don't get along?" That alone is a fabulous conversation starter for students, who are likely to offer many ways that the two animals might disagree, and agree.
Mr. Owl shares an old saying: "Do unto Otters as you would have otters do unto you." This, in turn, leads Mr. Rabbit to wonder, "How would I like otters to treat me?" He decides he would like otters to be friendly, and polite, and honest, and so on, but more importantly, he describes what those words mean to him, and provides many examples.
So while
Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners at first glance seems to be about manners, it's actually about becoming the kind of person you would like others to be. What's surprising and refreshing is that it doesn't come off as preachy, and Laurie Keller's illustrations are simply hilarious.
- Extension: Using the traits provided in the book, help students create a "Looks Like, Sounds Like" T-chart for each. We all know that Honesty is important, but what does that look like? How can we see it being practiced? And what does it sound like?
Finger Rhymes for Manners is a new book that I wrote for Preschool and Kindergarten children. Teachers and Parents may read this book to encourage rhyming, vocabulary and curriculum subjects through movement. Each rhyme is acted out so the children can move while learning about science, math, social studies and Technology. To order a copy go to:
http://www.millikenpub.com/product.aspx?id=TLC10595&source=AltSearch&ptype=mm&t=Movement+and+Music
Facebook is a wonderful networking in site in many ways, both for personal and professional contacts, and it can be very entertaining. It’s a great way to stay in touch. But I notice there are some habits people have which are really annoying:
- Posting a very personal message on another person’s wall for all to see, such as a phone number or details of meeting someone somewhere. There’s email and private messaging for that.
- Posting messages that hint but do not tell. “Please pray for me.” Why? “I am so happy that I got it!” Got what? “I am mad at her.” Who and why, and why do I want to know? “So depressed I want to die.” What happened? Should I be worried? Posting hints that make readers curious, with no explanation, upset or confused is rude, especially when there are many comments from friends asking what is wrong and the poster does not respond. If it’s no one’s business what’s wrong or why you are happy or devastated, don’t post about it.
- Posting inside jokes or plain weird comments no one else can understand. This is a turn off.
- Requesting a friend you don’t know. I would never send a friend request to someone I do not know.
- Posting inappropriate or unflattering photos of you or any of your friends.
- Sending countless gifts or surveys or quizzes to friends. Who has time for all that stuff? I always ignore this.
- Posting negative comments on someone else’s wall. Rude!
- Making nasty political or religious statements and expecting others to agree with you. This is ignorant and rude.
- Bragging about yourself on your wall.
- Signing up for Facebook, befriending others, but never logging on to check messages or respond to friends. Why sign up?
In addition to these, I have read about and known people who have gotten so addicted to Facebook that it is compromising their jobs or taking time away from family. If you cannot stop yourself from logging in all day and night, you’ve got a problem!
I'm Number One by Michael Rosen. Illustrated by Bob Graham. 2009. (December 2009). Candlewick Press. 32 pages.
"I'm A-One," said A-One.
"I'm BIG A-One.
Let me tell you:
A-One rules.
A-One is number one...
See the toy soldier? He's one big (but silly) bully. He loves to boss the other toys around. He loves to make them feel small and worthless. Is there a way that they can turn the tables around? Make him realize how un-fun he is being? Is there a way for this bully-of-a-soldier to make nice with the other toys?
I didn't much care for A-One. At all. I almost almost felt like calling Sid. Not really. Even bad toys deserve a second chance, right? Maybe? This is a book about what-not-to-do-if-you-want-to-have-friends. Being a bully just isn't right.
What did I think of this one? Well, it wasn't quite for me. But that's okay. It may be right for you.
© Becky Laney of Young Readers
Today as I drove the exhausted Noodle home from lunch with in-laws and friends, she has the nerve to start whining.
You have to understand that I don't believe any child who has a lollypop in their mouth has any right whining.
I explained to Noodle that I cannot understand her, and add the above statement.
There is a little pause.
Noodle very politely uses her best Not Whining voice, "Um, Excuse Me?... I want a blue one."
Although I went on to explain that, again, a) she's fine and b) even if she weren't fine, I do not have a blue lollypop, I relished the moment. The phrase, "Um, Excuse Me?" is pure Q, substantiating my theory that if I can drill manners into Kid 1, my chances of Kid 2 simply absorbing them is excellent.
Through experience it has occurred to me that the younger generation is behind the Baby Boomer’s generation when it comes to manners and work ethic. Yes, there are overachievers and drones in every age group as well as those with impeccable manners and those who are greatly lacking in etiquette. But as a children’s book author meeting many children and as a parent of a teenager with friends who come over (clarification - my daughter is grateful, motivated and hard-working and we are not strict), I have noticed that “pleases” and thank-yous” are so rare among other kids that I am totally impressed and grateful when I receive them. There’s something fundamentally wrong with that, isn’t there? If I failed to say thank you or please as a child, my Mom would have lectured me for an hour about manners. And then she would have relectured me the next day. Thank God.
Other observations have to do motivation and work ethic, pure and simple. I have numerous successful friends with kids who have graduated from high school or college and really do not take the initiative to do anything with their lives. No plan, no job, no drive. They are nice kids, but seem to have no ambition, no passion for anything. In Florida there are many teens who do not bother to get their driver’s licenses. Huh, you say? This is not because their parents do not let them or because they do not have a car to use to practice driving. It’s because they are lazy and do not want to bother studying for the test. I cannot think of a single person my age I know who did not get his license the day he turned 16.
http://media.fastclick.net
I pose these questions:
- Does the Baby Boomer generation expect less from their kids than the Baby Boomers’ parents expected from them?
- Does the increase in cost and quantity of gifts given to kids spoil them by making them think money is easy to come by?
- What can we do as parents to make sure our kids have the manners, motivation and a work ethic that will ensure a successful, independent future for them?
Here’s what I know:
- A child’s manners are learned from her parents and should be taught, with kindness, from birth.
- Children learn by example. If you say please and thank you and write thank-you notes, so will your kids.
- Motivation comes from within. If kids are handed too many material things and tasks are completed for them, they will not be motivated.
- Motivation also depends a great deal upon self confidence. A child who is constantly criticized, belittled or scolded will often lack motivation due to fear of failure.
- Following through with tasks has to do with all three - manners, motivation and work ethic. Returning phone calls, emails, making good on promises and simply finishing what has been started are required for success in work and in life. Kids who not only observe their parents following through, but are also respectfully expected (by their parents) to follow through will be more successful in life.
- Children learn the value of hard work through reward. They need incentive to put forth an effort. But they should not be rewarded when they do not take action.
- Kids do not enjoy hearing hardship stories about the days of ol’ in your life, your parents’ or grandparents’ lives. It does not generally motivate, them nor can they relate to them.
- It is natural for parents to want to give their kids a better life than what they had, but too much is too much. Spoiled children grow up to be unhappy, unproductive adults.
Manners, Motivation, Work Ethic - Does Your Child Have Them?
Do you?
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[email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 8/21/2009
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Author: Thad Krasnesky (on JOMB)
Illustrator: David Parkins (on JOMB)
Published: 2009 Flashlight Press (on JOMB)
ISBN: 9780979974649
Cute only gets you so far in the real world. Capturing the glee of victory and the sting of defeat, this hilariously illustrated rhyming book lets us laugh at our own (and our little sibling’s) attempts to prove otherwise.
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Pop over to The Boy Reader for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.
HOTLINE VOICES: Cathy Miller, “The Literacy Ambassador”, alerts us about Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury).
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
By:
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on 6/17/2009
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Author: Kenneth Oppel (on JOMB)
Illustrators: Steve Johnson (on JOMB) &
Lou Fancher (on JOMB)
Published: 2009 Harper Collins (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0060753722
Dexterous textile, text and recipe clipping collage are the pièce de résistance of this delectable adventure in talent, teamwork, travel — and sneaked treats!
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HOTLINE VOICES: Eden Spodek — who will be at PAB09 — has fabulous childhood and parenthood memories of Where the Wild Things Are (by Maurice Sendak)
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Author: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Margot Tomes (on JOMB)
Published: 1976 Marshall Cavendish (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0761455469
Chapters.ca Amazon.com
With its chatty narrative, droll dialogue and playfully illustrated play-by-play, this plucky retelling of the traditional Slavic tale is practically bound theatre.
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Lloyd-Jones, Sally. 2009. Being A Pig Is Nice: A Child's Eye View of Manners. Illustrated by Dan Krall. Random House.
The narrator of Being A Pig Is Nice is a young girl (love the pig tails!) who is tired of having to follow her manners. Tired of her mother reminding her over and over how to behave, how to be polite. So as she's on her way to her friend's house, she imagines what it would be like to follow others' manners. To be precise, to adopt animal manners. For example, "When you're a PIG, it's not polite to be clean. It is Very Rude. You have to get muddy or you get in trouble." As she tries on being different animals she realizes that there are pros and cons to every one. Yes, you can be dirty, but you also smell. (For example.) Will this little one stumble upon the perfect creature to be? Read for yourself and see!
This one is fun and playful and imaginative.
© Becky Laney of Young Readers
In the business of publishing, many letters go out, emails get sent and phone calls get made. But where is everybody? Has the world disappeared?
I respond to people who have left me messages and do not even hear back from them. EVER. Where did they go???????
No matter what reason people have for not returning messages, I, for one, will not be that rude. Yes, there are extenuating circumstances that make it impossible to get back to people. (i.e. sudden and instant death, loss of fingers or other emergencies), but I don’t think that can be the case with more than 99% of the population.
This brings me to the subject of manners. I receive tons of emails from people who want something from me. They want to sell me something, have me do them a favor, publish their books, give them a recipe, provide moral support, and much more. I ANSWER ALL OF THESE. Sometimes it just takes one sentence. People cannot say that author Glade or anyone at Smart Poodle Publishing is rude.
My sister, Shelley (older than me - just had to mention that) is a successful marketing expert. Her company is called Airlift Ideas. She ALWAYS returns phone calls. In fact, she somehow manages to return my calls before I have even finished recording the message on her machine. Maybe that is why companies like to work with her and find out how they can improve their own images and successfully market their brands. They can be sure she’ll not only be there when needed, but also get the job done well. Check out her website. (She does not dress in millipede costume or speak in cartoon voices, but she does a fabulous presentation.)
Okay, back to manners. Teach your kids to have them. Not only should they say “thank you,” respect adults, clean up after themselves and hold doors open for people, but they also should respond. If a friend calls, call that friend back. If a question is asked, answer it. If a promise is made, keep it. It’s not that hard.
And don’t you want your children to be reliable and well respected? Trust me, it’ll pay off some day if they are. In a major big way.
Wilson, Karma. 2008. Play Nice, Calico.
This Calico adventure--once again narrated by the talented Buket Erdogan--is all about learning to play nice with others. In other words, about learning how to treat others. Learning how to act and behave in a "nice" way so that your friends will want to spend time with you.
Puff and Scruff are back in Play Nice, Calico. These three friends are supposed to spend the day laughing and playing together. Can Calico remember her mama's instructions to "play nice?" Or will she be tempted to say "I told you so!", tease her friends, and refuse to share?
The rhyming fun continues in this one. And I must admit it I liked it even more than Friends for Calico.
© Becky Laney of Young Readers
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Author: Laurie Keller (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Laurie Keller
Published: 2007 Henry Holt and Co. (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0805079963
Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Cluttered with comedy, melodrama and earthy, Looney-Toonesque artwork, this brilliant guide to social success is as hilarious as it is helpful.
(…er…actually….maybe more hilarious than helpful, as we now hear our girls screaming at each other “DO UNTO OTTERS, REMEMBER, DO UNTO OTTERS!!!!!”)
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HOTLINE VOICES: Michelle Mitchell from Scribbit: Motherhood in Alaska shares her thoughts about The Little Golden Book Anthologies.
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Author: Johnathan Allen (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Johnathan Allen
Published: 2005 Hyperion (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0786837209
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Caustic scowls and harried helplessness take turns on the face of an overtired owlet in this hilariously endearing tale of naptime nastiness and unconditional love.
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I had a difficult morning with my son yesterday. He didn't want to cooperate and I was not in the mood to negotiate. He sat there in his pjs asking me to help him get his clothes on. I pointed out, impatiently, that he's been capable of putting his own clothes on for quite some time. He wasn't giving in and I was growing more impatient.
Finally, I lost the little patience I had left and insisted that he help me out by putting his clothes on so we could head out for the day and not be any more late than we were already. He burst into tears, mom guilt took over and I joined him on the couch where we sat quietly (except for the sniffling noise) until he was calm enough to explain why he was so upset.
"You made me sad because you didn't say please!"
I was speechless. Had I forgotten my manners simply because it was Monday and we were running late (and I hadn't made enough coffee)? I apologized to him, he said it was "a little OK and a lot not OK," and together, we got his clothes on, wiped away his tears and gathered our things to head out for the day.
My son is great at reminding me that it's more important to be nice and polite, than to be on time. Picture books can also serve as a reminder of the many important things in life, and the Little Princess reminds me a lot of my son. They're both very vocal about their needs - which is a good thing.
In Say Please! by Tony Ross, the Little Princess reminds a Blue Beastie to use the magic words. Tony Ross has created quite a little character with the Little Princess, who also appears in Wash Your Hands!, I Don't Want to go to Bed!, I Want My Pacifier, I Want My Potty, and I Want My Tooth.
What book characters do your children or students remind you of and why?
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Donna,
Barefoot and surrounded by kids. It doesn’t get much better than this. Congratulations on a great Dr. Seuss Day. Thanks for sharing.
yeah, I liked that barefoot picture too! I know those kids had at least as much fun as you did!
Whoo-hoo! I can tell you had a blast. I’m so happy for Frank’s success and yours.
Jean