George Washington's Rules to Live By: How to Sit, Stand, Smile, and Be Cool! A Good Manners Guide From the Father of Our Country - Hardcover

Washington, George

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1426315007 ISBN 13: 9781426315008

Publisher: National Geographic Kids, 2014

Synopsis

This innovative gift book allows kids to peek into the mind of George Washington and the more than 100 lessons by which he lived his life. Modern translations and hilarious caricature illustrations provide a lighthearted and fun way to learn about history and good manners at the same time. Featuring the Rules of Civility that George Washington learned when he was a child, this book focuses on 50 of George's maxims, ranging from table manners to polite conversation to being a good citizen. Because the Rules of Civility are centuries old, this book also includes "translations" of the rules into contemporary and witty kid-friendly explanations that any young reader can relate to. Paired with laugh-out-loud illustrations, this book is a sure-fire guide to amazing etiquette.

About this title

About the Author

Award-winning author KAREN KOSTYAL has written nearly twenty adult and children's titles on human history and natural history, prehistory and geologic history, music, world cultures, and wars. Her most recent works include Christmas in Williamsburg and 1776: A New Look at Revolutionary Williamsburg, both children's books published jointly by National Geographic and Colonial Williamsburg. She has also written Great Migrations, the companion book to the National Geographic Channel's acclaimed series on animal migration; Abraham Lincoln's Extraordinary Era, the official Lincoln birth bicentennial book of the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in Sudan, co-authored for a National Geographic young adult memoir series; and photographer Flip Nicklin's memoir, Among Giants: A Life With Whales. She has also collaborated with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart on Songcatchers: In Search of the World's Music and written Stonewall Jackson: A Life Portrait and Art of the State of Virginia.

Reviews

Gr 4 Up—As a child growing up in Virginia, Washington copied down the 110 rules of The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. As the book states in the foreword and introduction, etiquette is defined as the regulations that tell us how to act. This book takes a sampling of the rules that this Founding Father copied down and humorously portrays them. Each one is written in the original and then "translated" so that today's youth can understand; it is then followed by a couple of interesting and related facts, usually about Washington or about the time era. The real charm of the book, however, are the caricaturelike portraits that illustrate each point of etiquette. Readers will enjoy this fun, accessible read.—Esther Keller, I.S. 278, Brooklyn, NY

What were good manners for George Washington are still good manners for today’s youth (and adults). Kostyal has gleaned her 50 favorites from Washington’s 110 rules of etiquette, and in his refreshing caricature style, Harper has brought them to hilarious life. Each rule and its accompanying full-page illustration occupy a two-page spread. A rule is spelled as it was in Washington’s day and then it is followed by a modern-day interpretation and three comments attributed to Washington or a contemporary. Humor abounds throughout, from the etiquette rules themselves to the illustrations, all the while exposing readers to tips pertinent for today, yet often overlooked. As a bonus, readers will come away with a better sense of Washington as a person. A full list of the 110 rules is appended, in case you have a kid who needs really, really good manners. Grades 5-8. --J. B. Petty

Edition details

• Publisher: National Geographic Kids
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1426315007
• ISBN 13: 9781426315008
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128