Books can help with manners
Most parents try and teach their children good manners.
Sometimes, though, that task can be a bit exhausting. Parents do get tired of correcting, monitoring and forever having their antenna up to try and guide their children in the direction that will yield a well-mannered child while simultaneously not smothering them, their creativity or individuality.
All of this is a delicate balancing act that requires attention, energy, understanding and good old common sense.
And just when your child seems to be coming around to grasping what you've been trying to teach, your child is exposed to peers whose behavior contradicts your teaching, and bang — a backslide occurs.
The good news is there are books that can add to the message you're tirelessly trying to drive home on the importance of good manners. Today's reviewed books are just that. After all, good manners are important, for children and adults alike.
The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>“Madeline Says Merci: The Always-Be-Polite Book” </B>written and illustrated by John Bemelmans Marciano, Viking, 48 pages; read aloud: age 3 to 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.Based on the characters created by his grandfather, Ludwig Bemelmans, John Bemelmans Marciano has created a delightful book about some important, basic manners.Ably assisted by friends, Miss Clavel, and other familiar characters in the “Madeline” books, demonstrates such concepts as please and thank you, the proper way to say hello, little lessons on kindness and consideration, and how to say you're sorry.Written in rhyme, this charming and helpful book is full of good advice, humor, fun illustrations and strong messages on an important topic: being polite!
<B>Library: </B>Mars Area Public Library, 107 Grand Ave., Mars<B>Library Director: </B>Mary Jo Simons<B>Choices this week: “Dem Bones” </B>by Bob Barner; <B>“If You Give a Pig a Party” </B>by Laura Numeroff; <B>“Pinkalicious”</B> by Victoria Kann
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>“School for Bandits” </B>written and illustrated by Hannah Shaw, Alfred A. Knopf, 2011, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 5 to 6 and older; read yourself: age 8.Mr. and Mrs. Raccoon were worried about their very polite son, Ralph. He was clean and tidy, very well behaved and never stirred-up trouble. Ralph's parents decided it was time for Ralph to learn some bad manners and announced they were sending him off to Bandit School.As soon as Ralph arrived, he knew he wasn't going to fit in. Ralph didn't do well on learning unpleasant behavior, such as throwing food, burping in public and taking what wasn't his. In fact, everything Ralph was expected to learn he simply couldn't — it just didn't feel right. So, when the class competition was for each student to fill their sack with as much loot as possible, Ralph thought he'd surely fail this assignment as well. Much to Ralph's surprise — and everyone else's — Ralph gathered more loot than anyone — simply by being nice.A clever and humorous presentation of good manners, “School for Bandits” is both a fun read with a solid message.<B>“The Busy Beaver” </B>written and illustrated by Nicholas Oldland, Kids can Press, 2011, 32 pages, $16.95 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8.Beaver was a whirlwind of activity, operating at such a careless, hasty speed that he left a lot of mess and damage in his wake. And because of it, his forest friends were not very happy with him.One day, Beaver's recklessness caused a tree to fall right on top of him, landing Beaver in the hospital. His recovery was slow and gave Beaver time to think about the errors of his ways and how to make amends, which is precisely what he did.At once charming, funny and providing lessons on friendship and good behavior, “Busy Beaver” is a solid little book.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.<B><I></B></I>
