Books with author Louise Elerding

This guide to proper behavior at the dinner table provides an introduction to etiquette for kids and a refresher in manners for adults. Offering three tips for each letter of the alphabet, kids are asked to examine the factors that contribute to proper form. Guides Polly Politely and Milton Manners introduce kids to the correct way of handling situations such as choosing utensils at the table, passing the salt and pepper, chewing ice, and disposing of olive pits. In addition to situation-specific guidance (“Finger foods, like an airplane, need to land somewhere first. . . . No direct flights from the serving dish into the mouth”), this book provides the means for determining appropriate behavior in any situation by asking children to consider those around them.

Tackling the question What do you say when you don't know how to say it? Tyler Tactful, Amanda Mannerly, and Alyssa Appropriate show children as well as adults how to come up with easy ways to say difficult things. From how to approach someone with a disability—they like to talk about a lot of the same things you do—to telling someone that you need some privacy—"Jason, can you wait out in the hall while I talk with my teacher about my test?”—and how to speak up if you've been wrongly accused of doing something—"There is a mistake here, and I would like you to hear what really happened"—this guide gives children the skills to confront awkward situations and make everyone feel better in the process. Through the book’s gentle coaching and real-life examples, children will learn how they can say anything to anyone if they use tact, speak from the heart with goodness and respect for the other person, use a kind tone of voice, and recognize the best time to broach the subject.

Polly Politely and Milton Manners are back again, this time with cousins Alyssa Appropriate, Amanda Mannerly, and Tyler Tactful to show kids how easy and fun it is to have great social manners. Focusing on the importance of good manners at a party, kids learn how to use the phone in a timely fashion, obey house rules at a friend's house, and arrive at a party on time. Written with children in mind and full of vivid illustrations, this primer for social skills is designed for all kids to feel more confident and assured in any group environment.