Are your manners monstrous? Or marvelous? Victor Vulture, Crocodila Jones, and their friends demonstrate the right -- and wrong -- things to say and do in this humorous guide to proper manners. The correct answer to each manners question is hidden in the picture. With hilarious artwork and many hidden animals to challenge sharp-eyed readers, this is a fun -- and surprising -- way to learn manners. "Part Emily Post and part I Spy game, this humorous guide to basic etiquette painlessly provides plenty of solid information on societal do's and don'ts." -- Publishers Weekly
When a crocodile is eating an armadillo, should she put her napkin (a) on her head, (b) in her ear, or (c) on her lap? If you can't figure out the answer to this silly etiquette quiz, peer into the color-rich full-page illustration, where you'll find the subtly hidden letter c. Each page of this delightful book poses one or two quiz questions, designed to test whether your child's manners are monstrous or marvelous. When Mother Cobra is busy talking to Mrs. Python, for example, how should Cory Cobra get her attention? Should he (a) hiss, (b) eat a rabbit, or (c) wait quietly? No doubt your child will answer "Hiss" and then erupt into giggles, but will know that (sigh) "Wait quietly" is probably the real answer. Caralyn and Mark Buehner--creators of A Job for Wittilda and The Escape of Marvin the Ape--have succeeded again with this lighthearted alternative to the usual persistent parental nudging. (Ages 4 to 8)
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
It's a Spoon Not a Shovel:
A great way to introduce manners to kids. No age limit to using it, younger ones like the pictures and older love to shout out the answers.
Wait until your child is 5 or 6 years old:
My 4-year old son was far less interested in the stories than the pictures (which are great and very detailed). However, the lessons emphasize good manners (waiting until your turn to speak, talking with your mouth full), although some are probably a bit lost on a 4-year old (i.e. how to answer the telephone politely, introducing your friend to your family memebers). I'm not overly impressed with this book in general.
Very worthwhile:
Illustrations are gorgeous. Quiz-format lets a child confirm what he or she has learned -- a uniquely positive way to reinforce good manners. Humor makes this fun. Looking for the letters in the pictures makes this even more interactive and draws you into the pictures. The text is a little challenging to read aloud, but enjoyed by children nonetheless, and outweighed by all the positives. My children have enjoyed this immensely. Vocabulary and concepts seem best for children over 4 years old.
It's a Spoon, Not a Shovel:
This book provided my son's preschool class with laughter and excitement. They were glued to me as I read this to the class. My children want it read to them all the time. My five year old loves to read it by himself and that is something he is really proud of, as well as I am.
