Books with title A pocketful of pets

Do you ever feel like a broken record, constantly reminding your kids to use their manners? Day after day, longing for the time when your children do as instructed without bribes, guilt or other forms of coercion? However, it takes only one time for your child to open a door for someone, give an unprompted "thank-you" or place a napkin on their lap for you to beam with pride! Well, I found the reminding totally exhausting and frustrating, until I discovered a fun way to include my children in the process. Every morning, before going to school, we make sure their pockets are chock full of all manners they would need for the day. I encouraged them to pull them out whenever needed . . . if they came home with empty pockets, that would be deemed a successful day. "Thanks" for listening . . .

Jay is a boy enjoying the last summer days before the start of first grade. He finds a stone with a fern pattern on it, an arrowhead, a grey goose feather, and a cricket. On the first day of school he takes his friend cricket to school. His first day threatens to be disastrous as the cricket in his pocket begins to "fiddle" and disrupt class. But, an understanding, creative teacher turns a potential unhappy first day for Jay into a happy, exciting experience. This is a Caldecott 1965 Honor Book and a touching back-to-school picture book any first grade boy will enjoy.