It’s a tough job, this parenting gig. One of the first big assignments for making those short people decent big people is teaching them manners. Thankfully, there are books for these things. September is National Courtesy Month, so we want to share some of those books with you. Maybe Kanye West should read some of these books, too. Just sayin’…
Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners – Whoopi Goldberg covers courtesy words, cleaning up, covering up (your mouth), knocking, interrupting, and the all-important “When and when not to stick anything up one’s nose!”
Dude, That’s Rude!: (Get Some Manners) – A veritable how-to bible of manners with lessons on how to yawn, burp, meet new people, treat a guest and be a guest.
how to Lose All Your Friends – Reverse psychology at its rude best. Or is that polite best? Whichever it is, Nancy L. Carlson sets forth very important rules that must be followed if one is insistent on losing all one’s friends, beginning with, “Never smile.”
If Everybody Did – What if everybody squeezed the cat? Or made tracks or slammed the door? A precautionary tale with a humorous and slightly off-beat spin that will leave an impression.
The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups – A grown-up acts as a counterspy for kids and reveals all about the strange rules of grown-ups. Just why do we have to eat our vegetables? Kids, don’t let your parents catch you reading this top-secret file!
The Grouchy Ladybug – What book list for kids would be complete without Eric Carle? The rude ladybug teaches little kids that we aren’t the center of everything and that saying “please” and “thank you” make us beautiful bugs.
No, David! – Another little-kid classic for a reason. How much of yourself do you see in David’s naked tush cavorting down the street or boot-clad feet jumping on the bed? A rip-roaring good read that lets kids be bad vicariously while being good in reality.
Whether or not you choose to read these books to your kids, please – teach them manners somehow. Thank you very much.
