Polite Elephant (The Little Golden Treasures Series)

Rating:
Summary: cute and fun to read, and also teaches good manners
Review: Cute Richard Scarry pictures are always fun for children, and this book combines the fun of Scarry's cartoon animals and vehicles with many tips on good manners in several different situations. Needed by many of today's children.

Rating:
Summary: Elephants, Hello, Please, Thank You:18 month old's favorite
Review: I think my 18 month old started out loving this book so much because it has elephants in it. We love to make the elephant sign and the noise "bfffuuuuttt".

Some times I change the words I read. For example, instead of reading "he never pushes or shoves", I say out-loud "the elephant waits by standing still" to eliminate some of the gender and the sometimes "dont dont dont" wordings. Partly because at 18 months old "never push or shove" sounds a lot like "push and shove". :) Older children will probably be able to understand words like dont and never.

But my 18 month old doesn't care about those things. And we love signing "hello friends", "please", and "thank you".

I agree that it is never too early to teach social manners!

Just dont feel like you have to read it word for word; change a couple here and there!

We also love spying the bears, rabits, mice, fox, lady bugs and hats!

Rating:
Summary: A big hit in our household !
Review: Our 18-month-old can not hear this being read enough. We must read it 5 times a day or more, maybe much more, with him asking/signing 'more' again. The illustrations, as can be expected, are excellent. Best of all, from a parents point of view, is that it teaches the importance of manners.

Given the lack of manners that I often see on playgrounds (by parents!) I think that it is imperative that good manners be drilled (there is the 'd' word) into children when quite young. Good social graces are usually a surer factor of success in life than extra points on an IQ test. There is a plethora of books out about raising bright kids, but markedly fewer about raising polite kids.

I picked this title up in a supermarket on a whim, and found it a favorite with our little guy, who already likes to say "please and "thank you" as well as "How do you do?". Buy it.