Books with title Please is a Good Word to Say

This small etiquette primer is narrated by a little girl with wild curly hair, a tutu, and cowboy boots, who will make the basics of "please," "thank you," and "I'm sorry" seem inviting to children. The words and pictures have a subversive undercurrent. No Pollyanna, this little girl tries to rip another girl's tutu right off, smears nail polish on someone who won't share, and then uses manners to make amends or get out of trouble. The ink-and-watercolor illustrations add zest to the lessons. Each double-page spread contains a bit of advice in a cartoon balloon and then spices it up with examples, which are often comical: the "excuse me" section covers gross bodily sounds, for example. A hilarious read-together filled with good advice. Fletcher, Connie

Please is a good word to say. It puts a smile on your words. And that’s not the only advice curly-burly-haired Harriet has for you. Asking, taking, interrupting, eating, answering the phone—if there’s a nice way to do it, Harriet can tell you just how to do it. Jennifer Plecas’ infectious illustrations bring Barbara Joosse’s hilarious heroine to life in this offbeat and adorable approach to manners. Kids will be (very politely) clamoring to hear it over and over again . . . and parents will be pleased to oblige.