Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra, illustrated by J. Otto Seibold (Knopf, $16.99, 9780375835322/0375835326, 40 pp., ages 4-8, August 2007)
Do Unto Otters: A Book about Manners by Laurie Keller (Holt, $16.95, 9780805079968/0805079963, 40 pp., ages 5-8, September 2007)
This pair of books makes practicing manners painless, offering both everyday
etiquette that anyone can use and a large dose of humor. The
furry, top-hatted hero of Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf feels
discouraged when he ventures to the Villain Villa Mail Center and
discovers "Bills, bills, bills." He has clearly done a lot of damage
(e.g., "to the homes of Pig #1 and Pig #2"). However, he perks up at
the sight of an invitation to the library's Annual Storybook Tea, and
his best friend, a crocodile, gives him a crash course on how to be a
good guest. Youngsters will enjoy singing along with the jingle that
B.B. Wolf creates as a reminder to be on his best behavior ("Sip your
tea/ and never slurp,/ Say 'excuse me'/ if you burp") nearly as much as
the tea party's clever guest list (Little Red Riding Hood, the Three
Pigs and the Gingerbread Boy among them).
When the Otter family moves in next door, a wise owl counsels Mr.
Rabbit to Do Unto Otters as he would have otters do unto him. This
prompts Mr. Rabbit to think, "How would I like otters to treat me?"
With the signature asides Keller originated in her The Scrambled States
of America, the author-artist plays out various comical scenarios while
teaching youngsters to mind their p's and q's. "They should know when
to say 'please,' " says Mr. Rabbit, on the left of a spread, while on
the right, a bee asks the mother Otter, "Would you like me to stop
stinging you?" and she responds, "Yes, please." (When the bee later
asks, "Would you like me to sting you now?" she responds, "No, thank
you.") Even on a page of nine vignettes about other niceties, Keller
inserts witty touches. The "Opening the door for someone" example
depicts the child Otter offering a snake entry ("After you"). Who knew
etiquette could be so entertaining?--Jennifer M. Brown
Do Unto Otters: A Book about Manners by Laurie Keller (Holt, $16.95, 9780805079968/0805079963, 40 pp., ages 5-8, September 2007)
This pair of books makes practicing manners painless, offering both everyday
etiquette that anyone can use and a large dose of humor. The
furry, top-hatted hero of Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf feels
discouraged when he ventures to the Villain Villa Mail Center and
discovers "Bills, bills, bills." He has clearly done a lot of damage
(e.g., "to the homes of Pig #1 and Pig #2"). However, he perks up at
the sight of an invitation to the library's Annual Storybook Tea, and
his best friend, a crocodile, gives him a crash course on how to be a
good guest. Youngsters will enjoy singing along with the jingle that
B.B. Wolf creates as a reminder to be on his best behavior ("Sip your
tea/ and never slurp,/ Say 'excuse me'/ if you burp") nearly as much as
the tea party's clever guest list (Little Red Riding Hood, the Three
Pigs and the Gingerbread Boy among them).
When the Otter family moves in next door, a wise owl counsels Mr.
Rabbit to Do Unto Otters as he would have otters do unto him. This
prompts Mr. Rabbit to think, "How would I like otters to treat me?"
With the signature asides Keller originated in her The Scrambled States
of America, the author-artist plays out various comical scenarios while
teaching youngsters to mind their p's and q's. "They should know when
to say 'please,' " says Mr. Rabbit, on the left of a spread, while on
the right, a bee asks the mother Otter, "Would you like me to stop
stinging you?" and she responds, "Yes, please." (When the bee later
asks, "Would you like me to sting you now?" she responds, "No, thank
you.") Even on a page of nine vignettes about other niceties, Keller
inserts witty touches. The "Opening the door for someone" example
depicts the child Otter offering a snake entry ("After you"). Who knew
etiquette could be so entertaining?--Jennifer M. Brown