Etiquette Books

I wasn't expecting great things from this book, most children's manners books aren't too whoopty. But my kids *choose* this book out of the whole pile, and they tell me the stories -- they relate what is happening in the picture and tell me what is right. I have been pleasantly surprised.

I think the pictures are what instructs the kids so well. I like that the book is not a collection of "shoulds" or "nevers" -- the text is very gentle and positive. For example, "Luke knows it's a big help to..." or "Ian remembers to ask..."

My previous favorite manners book had been Richard Scarry, but I think this one is even better.

(My kids are three and five)

Oops! Excuse Me! Please!: And Other Mannerly Tales

This is a great book to sit and read at the table. It offers preschoolers the opportunity to talk about their day and things that might have happened that they did or didn't like. It gives real life examples of situations children have to deal with and offers reasonable tools for them to use on the preschool level.

Rather than discourage bad manners, this book encourages GOOD manners, thus reinforcing good behavior. It provides parents with the opportunity to discuss appropriate (and polite) behavior in various situations that children encounter at home and in public. It's a book that is sized for small hands, so children can hold it themselves and read it over and over again with Mom or Dad (or by themselves). It can be memorized by younger children (4-5) and read by older ones (6-8). Excellent and affordable, every family should read this book together.

Cute book, nice rhyming, good moral lesson (don't take other people's stuff), overall a nice addition to my daughter's bookshelf. My daughter chants along by the time we reach the end.

After taking this book out of the library regularly my son asked that we buy it as a donation for his school library. We all love this colorful tale of a greedy bird and the life lesson that he learns!Plus it is a fun read!

My 6 year old son is obsessed with this book. We originally took it out from the library. He insisted reading it every night until he could memorize it. He loved it so much we bought it for his birthday. He loves the rythm of the book, all the fruit and colors. He can read it on his own now and wants to take it to school to share with his class. It is also available in Spanish - I think I'd like to read that version as well.

Culture shock is sometimes taken for granted, however to be cosmopolitan, is to have experienced a culture shock and being able to fully utilize it to your own benefit. Brazil is one of these places in the world were the unwritten rules are as important as the air you breath, if you intend to successfuly journey through this country, it is imperative that you learn about the culture, the history and the economy. Yet the most precious commodity you can come accross, is a friend... Because doors will be open to you in ways you've not yet experienced before. This book is a friend.

It is very small and quick to read. However, it was amazing how much quality information the author could pack into such a small space. She lived 18 years in Brazil, and as a Brazilian reading the book, I can tell she knows what she was talking about. It was also curious for me to learn about things that I always took for granted, or that I thought were specific to my personality rather than from the culture. Unfortunately it is out of print as of this writing (Dec 2003). I hope it gets reprinted soon.

This book is a great help in deciphering Brazilian customs and subtle cues. I would also recommend "A History of Brazil" and "The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova and the Popular Music of Brazil" as essential works that also give vital background.

I purchased this as a source for a class presentation. If my professor had not required that I have three sources, I would not have needed anything else. Great, up-to-date, practical information from someone who has been there. Great buy!

This succinct, highly readable guide to understanding Israeli culture and dealing with Israelis in business and social contexts makes observations solidly supported by academic research on the subject. Topics range from negotiating with Israelis to hot-button issues like religion and politics. The bibliography of books and Internet sites provides additional resources for those who want to know more. A must-read for Americans seeking successful intercultural communication with Israelis, whether in the U.S. or Israel.

I had originally purchased this book to use for a school project. While the book was extremely useful for my Human Resources class, I also found the issues and topics presented in the book to be of great interest. This book is easy reading, short and to the point.

This book provides a framework for thinking about foreign negotiations. Although it contains useful info about some specific foreign cultures, it is explicitly NOT a laundry list of dos and don'ts. If you are preparing to negotiate in a specific foreign cultural environment, you will still need to learn about that specific environment, but this book will give you a powerful means of approaching the material.

Basically, the author starts by raising readers' awareness of what it means to be "American" - what sorts of cultural assumptions we start from and habits we unconsciously develop. From there, he draws comparisons to other cultures. By making American readers more aware of ideas and habits they will tend to take for granted, the author opens his readers' minds to important issues in int'l communication. Interestingly, this book would be an excellent guide to negotiating in the United States for foreign businesspeople.

As the author points out, this heightened awareness gives practitioners the ability to deal with situations in foreign settings "on the fly" in a way that a list of specific behaviors and practices simply does not. You get more of the "why" than the traditional "how to," allowing you to spot issues as they crop up. However, there are plenty of specific tips for certain foreign settings.

I have M.A.s in Int'l Relations and Communications, and this is one of the better practical descriptions of the intersections between the two fields that I've come across, possibly the best. It is also consistent with the "principled bargaining" approach of Fischer and Ury, which is generally what U.S. businesspeople are taught. The table of contents is detailed, the organization breaks concepts into easy to remember chunks, and the index covers a great deal. So, this is a book you can come back to whenever you need a quick refresher, as well as an excellent starting point. I would recommend this book even if it meant foregoing something more specific to a particular culture, although both would be ideal.

My company recently entered into contract negotiations with a company in China. I found this book to be very helpful and informative as we went through this process.

I found Mr. Foster's book to be an insightful analysis of the need for increased cultural sensitivity both in and out of the world of business. His descriptions of various cultural practices and norms are fascinating and informative. A highly readable book;I look forward to future works by this cross cultural expert.

Best friends Morty and Ray have a great idea after watching a "Picture" on TV, but their hijinks may have unforseen effects. Pouring pickle juice down anyone's pants really isn't very nice!

Pinkwater and Davis are a great team. The illustrations are a work of art and the surprise ending will really get you thinking!

Pinkwater gets inside the heads of two friends who discover the joys of an old black-and-white movie on TV. It's The Picture of Dorian Grey, hilariously depicted in monochrome by Jack E. Davis. The boys decide to create their own dual-self-portrait, and then misbehave to see if the picture becomes hideous like the one in the movie, (and the Oscar Wilde classic). It does! But their delight turns to dismay when they, and the ghastly picture, go too far. They then learn a basic lesson about differences in taste. I heard Pinkwater immodestly review his own book with Scott Simon on NPR--but I forgive him. Pinkwater and Davis have created a masterpiece.

Inspired by "The Portrait of Dorian Gray," this book retells Wilde's classic story for children. The illustrations are enjoyable, if a bit gross. The storyline feels a lot like something that Pugsley and Wednesday Addams would do. The mischief that Morty and Ray get into is appropriate for 1st through 4th graders - if your kids are going to do it anyway, you might as well impress upon them the effect poor behavior has on one's character early. The moral of the story is left for parents to impart as needed, or for the reader to infer on his or her own.

I bought this as a gift for a friend's son, a 1st grader, and he really enjoyed it. I will probably buy another to add to my son's library in a few years - I may buy it now and just enjoy it myself until he gets old enough to appreciate it.

I really found this book helpful, not only for its budget-conscious tips, but also because of its excellent mixture of solid traditional ideas with some more modern concepts that appeal to an ever-growing group of brides who want a wedding that is more an expression of their individuality or eclectic beliefs. One aspect I really enjoyed was the peppering of side notes throughout the book that described how certain traditions got started, such as why the "honeymoon" became known as such. Overall, this book was inviting and approachable, in large part because of the photos--some seemed to be professionally done and some seemed to be candid photos from wedding guests, which added to the book's appeal that communicates "anything goes." In this day and age of exorbitant wedding costs, this book maintains a refreshing outlook that your wedding can be whatever you'd like it to be, without being a slave to, or completely ignoring, time-honored traditions.

Getting married can be one of the most joyful and/or stressful events in a woman's life. "Picture Yourself: Planning Your Perfect Wedding" by freelance book editor, writer, and wedding expert Sandy Doell offers a do-it-yourself compendium of instructions for planning, organizing, and personalizing every aspect of getting married. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Picture Yourself" covers wedding trends and fashions, choosing just the right ring for the occasion; informing family, friends, and the community; budgets, timetables and record keeping; choosing the right site, the ideal theme, and the particular tone desired; addressing such details as the color scheme, invitations, and attendants; acquiring the wedding dress; dealing with florists, cakes, photographers, and transportation; gifts (giving and getting); such legal issues as the marriage license, changing names, insurance, checking accounts, credit cards, and taxes; and planning the honeymoon. The core of the book focuses on the wedding day itself including getting ready, the ceremony, and the reception. Enhanced with sample forms and checklists, "Picture Yourself" is the complete and highly recommended, single-volume instruction guide for anyone seeking to craft and experience their own version of the ideal wedding.

This book is an excellent reference for planning your wedding, both because it is full of good information and because it's just a downright interesting read. It's full of unique real-life vignettes from brides that make it a lot of fun. Gorgeous pictures, too, and lots of great ideas and money-saving tips if you don't want to break the bank!

The School Library Journal review is so right-on in its review of this book of four warm and beautiful stories. Donkey and his friends are sweet and lovable, funny and delightful. Move over, Frog and Toad, Pinwheel and friends have arrived!

I'm so grateful to have a new book that my son adores, that I actually look forward to reading! These stories don't get old.

Amazon's description is very accurate, these 4 short stories are indeed a modern Frog and Toad, with much more colorful illustrations. The font is large and the wording is simple. The suspense in "Waving" had my 4 and 7 yr olds on the edge of their seats. Every first and second grade classroom should have a copy of Pinwheel Days; hopefully the author will start a series.

It's cute and funny. It asks questions about manners and of course the answer is always, "NO, THAT'S WRONG!" and the kids love yelling that out. Great book, great illustrations, too!

Tired of nagging your child about manners? Get this adorable book for a little change of pace.

Simply drawn, brightly colored illustrations show various animals with typical little kid table manners. (My favorite: "When an elephant drinks milk at mealtime, he should spray it all over the table. SPLAT! Is that right?") Turn the page to see and read the corresponding good manners. ("No, that's wrong. When an elephant drinks milk at mealtime, he should sip it quietly, a few gallons at a time. SSSSSIP!")

This book makes an amusing read-aloud; in addition to the humor of both text and illustrations, your child can join in on the repeated "Is that right? No, that's wrong" following each example of rudeness. Only you know your children well enough to assess the probability that they will find the bad manners funnier and more memorable than the good! But after reading this book, you can remind them to wash their hooves before dinner or not to burp like giraffe.

Now if only the creators of this book would make a revised edition including slouching at the dinner table....

My two four year old boys love this book! We have read it over and over. They love that the book asks silly questions about bad manners and enjoy saying, 'No, that's not right!'; then they tell what the animal guests should correctly do as dinner guests. They have learned a great deal about manners from this book as is evidenced by their discussions when we are having guests for dinner. Its a great book with a good message.

Politeness: some universals in language usage é um livro que não envelhece, embora tenha despertado enumeras críticas depois de sua publicação, mas como o próprio Leech(2005) disse, os pioneiros sofrem mais, pois pecam pela ousadia, e um trabalho com essa profundidade não seria diferente.
O principal objetivo do livro é mostrar como a polidez linguistica interfere na dinâmica das relações humanas sob diferentes línguas. Posso dizer que os linguistas foram bastante convincentes e fizeram do livro um sucesso, um clássico da literatura no assunto.

Stemming from a sociological view of language in use, this book shows that politeness strategies are the basis for social order. The authors advocate as well that politeness fuels the interactions any rational individual in all societies performs while using language to communicate and share experiences with each other. Any individual holds a specific face, that is, if the face is positive, the individual allows for a more "softly" interaction. By contrast, if the individual's face is negative, a more formal way of using language is required, in order to minimise any imposition upon the listener. So the authors demonstrate that politeness is far more than a guide to the rules of diplomatic etiquette. The book is, in fact, an invaluable source for lay people as well as linguists who seek to understand politeness as a realisation of power and agreement through language in use.

Brown and Levinson's classic treatment of linguistic politeness is quite possibly the most widely cited work on the subject. Their theory of politeness is based on the notion of "face," that is, the twin desires to be unimpeded and approved, and takes politeness to be speech that addresses one or both of these "face needs."

In this re-issue of the original work, the authors expand their analysis to incorporate and respond to the considerable body of literature generated by their original work.

This book is a must for students of applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, sociology and anthropology.