Hello Gnu, How Do You Do?

Animal characters in varous situations show the proper manners or behavior in such areas as visiting or giving a party, writing thank-you notes, and showing common courtesy at home, with friends, or at school.

Nicky Gnu and his animal friends introduce good manners in an amusing way. Eleven categories address specific situations from "magic words" to "table tips." Goldman's watercolor illustrations are very appealing and successfully elaborate on the text. While the humor and creativity of the writing style rise above the didactic, Nicky Gnu and his friends (with the exception of selfish Iggy Ape) are definitely too good to be true--but it's all in good fun and for a good cause. The length of the narrative and the nature of its content make this a book to use in small doses, perhaps focusing on a single positively polite behavior at a time or in reference to particular situations that occur in the classroom or are addressed in the curriculum. Anastasio's Pass the Peas, Please (Warner, 1988) and Brown's Perfect Pigs: An Introduction to Manners (Joy Street, 1983) are written for a slightly younger audience and present a narrower range of content. Hello Gnu will fill a void in the manners section for a limited audience. --Janie Schomberg, Leal Elementary School, Urbana, IL
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Using specific situations, all well known to children, Hazen presents 64 pages of advice on cultivating good manners. Nicky Gnu, assisted by his animal friends, sets the splendid example throughout the book. This fellow is seen being considerate to others, using "magic words" (please, thank you, you're welcome), visiting a friend in the hospital, writing thank-you notes, behaving well while traveling and being polite on the telephone. Also discussed is the proper way to act in a supermarket, at school, at a wedding, at a restaurant, at friends' homes and at a party. Although Hazen sprinkles her etiquette tips with humor, Goldman's amusing pictures deserve most of the credit for picking up the book's sometimes sluggish pace. Though Nicky's heart is in the right place, children may be put off by his goody-goody attitude. Conversely, the ill-mannered Iggy Ape will get giggles from little ones as he swings on the chandelier at a party and chews with his mouth open. But proper etiquette wins every time: even Iggy ultimately cleans up his act. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.