“Good Manners will open doors that the best education cannot” – Clarence Thomas
These days, it isn’t rare to see a child behave rudely to a waiter or a driver, while the parents sit by oblivious of their child’s behavior. Yes, it’s true that she’s only a child, but they all grow up eventually! With more and more of our interpersonal communication happening electronically, there is less and less of direct human contact. When a situation like that does arise, most kids aren’t sure about how to behave, and parents don’t have sufficient opportunities to model good manners.
But don’t worry, all is not lost! We can still raise kids with good manners, however impossible it may seem at times! And to give hard working parents a little extra help, there are several books on the subject, targeted at little kids. After all, it’s always best to catch them young! Here we present our top 15 picks on good manners books for toddlers, all under Rs. 600!
15 Books about Good Manners for Toddlers
1. Excuse Me! A Little Book of Manners
This is the perfect first book of manners for a toddler. The lift the flap book has adorable illustrations of little babies who always display good manners, even if they’ve burped loudly! A must have for your library!
Louis is a little boy who has lots of thoughts in his head, which come out his mouth like lava out of a volcano!! A good book for preschoolers, this book teaches how being quiet at times is also a sign of good manners.
3. Please say Please, Grumpy Bunny!
Another one from the Grumpy Bunny series, this one also features the adorable bunny in a bit of trouble. Hopper is unimpressed with the word please, which isn’t magical enough to bring toys to life. So does he say please? Read the book to find out! Perfect for the 3+ age group.
Mo Willems is the author of the popular ‘Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus’ and he turns out another winner with this book. It includes a board game, where a bunch of little mice teach kids the appropriate situations to use words like sorry and please. Good for slightly older kids who can understand board games.
5. Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners
Kids can feel awkward around strangers and might not know how to behave. This book is ideal for such situations as it talks about Mr. Rabbit learning to behave with his new neighbors, the Otters, whom he barely knows. Preschoolers and early school goers will be delighted at the humorous way in which good social skills are introduced.
6. Be Polite and Kind (Learning to Get Along)
Although we tell children to be polite, they often don’t remember it when the situation arises. This book helps young kids by presenting different scenarios for being polite, which is great for role play. This book will work well for kids aged 3 and above.
7. Sorry, I Forgot to Ask!: My Story About Asking for Permission and Making an Apology
Good manners go beyond just saying please and sorry, it also concerns asking before taking someone else’s possessions. This lovely book explains this concept to young children beautifully, which is also a great lesson in safety and staying away from things they’re not familiar with.
The friendly big red dog is back! Emily claims that Clifford has perfect manners since she’s taught him herself, and she’s right! Clifford exhibits the different kinds of good manners that everyone needs to have, including how to behave in public places. This is a good book if you’re planning to take your child to a movie or a circus. Good for preschoolers and older kids.
9. How do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?
One thing most parents dread is their kids’ behavior when eating out or at a party. Well, it can’t get worse than how dinosaurs eat! This book uses humor to teach table manners, and the unruly dinosaurs soon learn their lesson!
10. Madeline Says Merci: The Always-Be-Polite Book
The sweet little Madeline teaches us the importance of being polite and well mannered, especially to the people we live with. Kids will be encouraged to say please and thank you, as well as help and share with their family members. A lovely book for the 3 plus crowd.
Kids know the basics about saying please and thank you. But do they know what to say when they bump into a crocodile or are introduced to an elephant? Well that’s what this book is for! Prepare to chuckle your way to good manners with your child!
12. Mind your Manners, B.B. Wolf
Super villain of numerous fairy tales, B.B. Wolf, a.k.a. Big Bad Wolf is back! Though he is now retired, he has become much more well mannered and polite, most of the time! This is a hilarious book that also shows that its’ okay if you forget at times!
13. Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book
Toddlers will love this little book that features a set of cute animals that learn a lot more than just please and thank you! The book has a number of stories, and each one is perfect for a young child’s attention span. This book is good for kids above the age of 2.
14. Don’t Do that
If there’s one thing common to kiddie habits all over the world, it’s probably the way they can’t resist picking their noses! If you’re tired of reminding your child about his nose-picking, this book should do the trick! Nellie picks her nose, but her finger gets stuck! What next?
Sometimes the best way to learn something is by knowing not how to do it! Martha is sweet but she’ll not say sorry under any circumstances! This is a great book to teach kids that people who’re polite and kind are the ones others like to be around. Kids will relate to Martha’s character, especially the ones aged 3 and above.
This list is sure to have something for everyone, even grownups! So which one are you going to pick for your child?
Do check out our list of books on healthy eating for toddlers too!