Dinner with the Highbrows

by Kimberly Willis Holt, Kyrsten Brooker (Illustrator)

Bernard has never been to dinner at a friend's house before. His mother gives him quite the list of rules to follow―no elbows on the table, put your napkin on your lap, don't talk with food in your mouth, and so on. But Bernard isn't prepared to discover that the Goldsmiths think the table is the best place for elbows and feet, never put their napkins on their laps, and talk with food in their mouths! How will Bernard survive dinner with such an obnoxious crew? Kimberly Willis Holt's funny picture book about manners and etiquette turns the idea of good manners upside-down. The fresh point of view in Dinner with the Highbrows will be appreciated by both kids and their parents. A Christy Ottaviano Book

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Family

36 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2014

About the author

Kimberly Willis Holt is the author of the Piper Reed series, including Piper Reed, Navy Brat, Piper Reed, Clubhouse Queen, and Piper Reed, Rodeo Star. She has written many award-winning novels, including The Water Seeker and My Louisiana Sky, as well as the picture books Waiting for Gregory and Skinny Brown Dog. A former Navy brat herself, Holt was born in Pensacola, Florida, and lived all over the U.S. and the world—from Paris to Norfolk to Guam to New Orleans. Holt long dreamed of being a writer, but first worked as a radio news director, marketed a water park, and was an interior decorator, among other jobs. A few years after she started writing, her third book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She resides in West Texas with her family.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/kimber...

Reviews

[Rebeca Sanchez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bernard receives an invitation to his friend's house and he's very excited of this. His mom trains Bernard about following his etiquette in the Highbrows' house. Throughout the week, he prepares for this dinner but gets a surprise on the day of the dinner. As the Highbrows' have dinner, they show "disrespectful" manners that wasn't taught in Bernard's lessons. Bernard continues to recall his mother's teachings and maintain a high standard of behavior, but the antics continue as the party leaves for dessert. By the buoyant watercolor and cut-paper illustrations, the book is filled with whimsical details and goofy-looking characters troughout the story.

The story starts out as boring-because of the manners- and then becomes funny from the characters. Readers can either take Bernard's manners as an extreme or something that proves his loyalty to his mother. I liked the book from its humor and colors, but I see that this can be seen as a negative part in the story. I did enjoy the book but there could've been another way that the story can end.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernard Worrywort receives an invitation to have dinner with the Highbrows. Bernard's mother gives him a list of manners to remember during his visit. When Bernard arrives at the Highbrows for dinner, an unexpected change occurs. A fun read-out loud and silly book on manners and etiquette.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

We’ve recently been talking about manners. Today we’re going to read another book about table manners. The book is titled Dinner with the Highbrows, a Story about Good or Bad Manners. There is a word in the title I find very interesting, and it is highbrow. Can anyone tell me what highbrow means? (Children respond) (If meaning is not given) Highbrow means sophisticated or fancy. (If meaning is given) Great, you’re right… that is exactly what highbrow means. Based on the meaning of highbrow, what do you think the dinner will be like?
• Activate background knowledge
• Tell the meaning of a key word
• Raises questions in listeners mind
Dinner with the Highbrows, a Story about Good or Bad Manners reiterates the importance of good table manners. It helps them understand it is important to have good tables manners even when others do not.

(2014, April 1). School Library Journal. http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=e...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

With her trademark humor and insight into human characteristics, Kimberly Willis Holt serves up a tale about manners that will surely prompt laughter from readers. When Bernard is invited to dinner with the Highbrows, his mother covers proper manners so that he won't embarrass himself. But to his surprise, the Highbrows aren't much on manners and some of his mother's suggestions don't work so well when dining out. A perfect book for sharing aloud with its lively oil paint and cut paper illustrations on gessoed watercolor detailing lots of poor manners and hilarity.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sounded much more hilarious to me than it was. And I wasn’t the only one who thought it wasn’t quite what was promised. I read this with my 8-year-old son, and figured he’d be a bundle of laughs. He wasn’t. He was kinda of indifferent to the “humorous” happenings here. The book did keep him interested, but he’s a pretty sell so far as liking books go. And, frankly, there are better ways to teach kids manners.

The illustrations are good and do help make the disappointing book a tad bit better. Unfortunately, they’re not enough to make this a book a must-have for kids everywhere.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bernard receives a dinner invitation from one of his friends. His mother gives him nightly manners lessons so that he will be prepared, but the Highbrow family isn't nearly as proper as Bernard and his mother had assumed.

Funny story supported by oil paint and cut paper illustrations. Various manners are scattered inside the front and back cover. Overall, one of the more interesting stories I've read about manners. PreK-2.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to admit that this story, which made bad table manners, "funny" wasn't a good selection for the reading age it is targeted towards. Furthermore, it put down good table manners as something stuffy. Not only was the story forgettable, but it wasn't funny and not one that I would recommend either.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unexpected story about a family who doesn't conform to the social norms that are expected of it. While they are very wealthy, they don't have perfect manners at the table. It's a good story to read to talk about manners and about how to act within the social situation in which one finds oneself.

[Madison Bohman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very funny. In the beginning, you think this is just a book explaining to children what polite manners are at the dinner table. However, it takes a humorous turn when the family Bernard is eating with has worse manners than him! This is a funny way for children to learn what is acceptable and what isn't acceptable at the dinner table.

[Ginamolter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. It is a humorous look at manners that keeps the reader’s interest and invites discussion. The rich text and detailed, colorful illustrations provide a shared experience that will have both children and adults laughing.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Great way to teach young children manners!

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernard is formally invited to the Highbrows' house for dinner. His mother coaches him all week on table manners. However, after the butler answers the door, nothing turns out as expected. Funny!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Bernard is invited to dinner with his friend Gilbert Highbrow, Bernard's mom makes sure sure Bernard is up to par on his table etiquette. The Highbrow's could have used the instructions, too.

[Ama · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is barely a 2.

[J. Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about table manners and demonstrates that practice and worry are sometimes overrated.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Highbrows do not live up to their name when it comes to dining etiquette. Fun, messy story.