No Slurping, No Burping! A Tale of Table Manners

Walt Disney Animation Studios Artist Showcase

by Kara LaReau, Lorelay Bove (Illustrator)

Evie and Simon always mind their manners. But sometimes, they have to mind their father's, too! In this humorous spin on manners books, two kids teach their father everything he needs to know about mealtime etiquette. Everything is going well, until a surprise visitor arrives for dinner! Will Father be able to remember all of Evie and Simon's lessons?
With humor, charm, and a dash of silliness, No Slurping, No Burping! uses role reversal to show young readers how to be considerate guests at mealtime.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Food, Fiction, Storytime, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Kara LaReau was born and raised in Connecticut. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and later worked as an editor at Candlewick Press and at Scholastic Press. Among other celebrated titles, she edited Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and the Mercy Watson series. She is the author of picture books such as UGLY FISH, illustrated by Scott Magoon, Baby Clown, illustrated by Matthew Cordell, and Goodnight Little Monsters, illustrated by Brian Won; chapter book series Witchycakes, illustrated by Ariane Moreira and The Infamous Ratsos, illustrated by Matt Myers; and middle-grade trilogies The ZomBert Chronicles, illustrated by Ryan Andrews, and The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters, illustrated by Jen Hill.  Kara lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband and daughter and their cats.

Reviews

[Clwseattle]

I really wanted to like this children's book, BUT, again Dad is made to look like a fool ... and where is Mom? Is she just the invisible cook? I will not be getting this for my grandchildren - or any book that treats parents so despicably. This could have been book that teaches a great lesson in manners - the etiquette rules are awesome - but instead becomes ugly mockery and parody. What a shame.

No stars

[Jocelin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a real big fan of books on manners when the characters are outlandish, boorish, buffoon caricatures. In this instance the child had to tell their oafish father about minding his manners. It was kind of silly and the children were way too mature for a book of this nature. This was a book that I felt the children were smarter than the adults. I did like the old-time Disney animation feel of the book. Good illustrations saved this book.

[Cliff Bathke · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. This book tell the tale of of two children trying to teach their father manners. Every night At dinner time the two children have to teach their dad what is right and not right at the dinner table. The kids work real hard to teach their dad proper table manners which they do just in time for grandma to visit. At dinner grandma sees how well behaved her son is but she has a surprise for them.
2. This book would be good for K-1 grade.
3. I think this would be a good book to read to kids before lunch to remind them to use proper manners.
4. I believe all the students could use this book to remind kids about manners.
5. Small groups could read this because it is funny with lots of pictures and gross word like burp.
6. This would be a good class book because of all the fun words to say aloud.+
7. There are no other books I could find about manners.
8. There is a cartoon on the Disney channel about this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a little heavy-handed, but the etiquette is excellent. What really bothers me is 1) where is the mom? Is she just an invisible cook? Where does the food come from? 2) I'm not a fan of books where they make the parents out to be one-dimensional idiots, which definitely happens to the dad in this book. 3) The kids are just too perfect - way to mature for the age they are portrayed as being in the book.
Not a terrible book, but I won't be using it for my story times.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

We weren't enchanted by the text but she wasn't bored either. I liked that the kids are the ones educating their Dad ( it comes across as funny-informational rather than as a direct demand).

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Pinky LO · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids table manners are atrocious! LOVED finding this picture book—it's a subtle, non-confrontational way to instill good etiquette. Here’s hoping it sticks before they start using their feet to eat.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text is mediocre, but the art is endearing in a puppety sort of way.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. That grandma is awesome! A great book to teach about table manners.

[Hee K · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun read!

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. the illustrations are so fun. happy. colorful. they will make you smile for sure. so cute!!

[Breighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: contemporary realistic
Grade: kindergarten
I thought this was a good book for teaching manners. It is funny and educational, so I think most kids would like it.

[Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and funny.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book about minding your manners.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was little, my Great Grandma Gwen (Gigi) always stressed good manners at the table. She would always say, “Put a napkin in your lap and no elbows in the table.” The book, No Slurping, No Burping: A Tale of Table Manners, reminded me of her. Do any of you have someone who reminds you to use good manners? By looking at the illustrations on the front and back covers, who do you think has good table manners? Why? (Children respond). I think we should read to see if we’re right.
• Share a personal connection you have with the text
• Invite personal connections
• Prompt hypothesizing based on the situation
No Slurping, No Burping: A Tale of Table Manners shows students in a funny way how adults can have bad table manners and can learn from students. The illustrations help emphasize the importance of good table manners.

(2014, March 15). Booklist. http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=e...

[Stella Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it hard to gush about a book about manners. I suppose because I find them preachy...but they're supposed to be!

I like that the children are teaching the parent manners. I wish that were the case at my dining room table! There probably wouldn't be as many tears at dinner.

The illustrations look as though they are going to leap off the page and onto a screen. And I'm not talking about a television or computer monitor, I'm talking about a good ol' fashioned white screen for movie projectors. The kind that you'd watch dad (or granddad) wrestle with to get it up right.

There are lovely details in the illustrations. My favorite is the disgruntled and wet dog who was a victim of father's bad manners with soup.

The story itself is okay. I can see how some 3 to 6 year-olds will be laughing and laughing.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characterization is a lot to swallow here. LaReau and Bove present opposing archetypes that preach at each other. Or at least, one forces their agenda on the other.

The father figure is a lovable buffoon who burps and yells animatedly in anticipation of his next meal; in short, he's my cat.

However, his children are inexplicably prim, pedantic little shits who educate their father in the ways of the bourgeoisie.

That's not to say that the characters are unlikable, mind you. Rather, I find them endearing, and make for a cute story about manners and respect.

Bonus points: dachshund in a bow tie.

Buy this title from Powell's Books.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siblings Evie and Simon always mind their manners, but their father is a whole different story. He pounds on the table, speaks loudly, slurps, burps, and reaches far across the table tipping and spilling things as he goes. Luckily, he has Evie and Simon to teach him to use polite table manners in time for a visit from Grandma. An accessible read aloud about good table manners in which the kids are setting the example, NO SLURPING, NO BURPING is a fantastic and fun way to address an important topic!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new Disney series ~ Disney Animation Studios Artist Showcase ~ the series will be highlighting the work of artists from their animation studios in original picture books.
This first in the series is Golden Book-esque, bringing back the warmth and simpleness of that time in my own childhood. It was clever writing to put the children in the role of parent as they teach their father proper table manners in preparation for an undisclosed surprise dinner guest at the end. I think children will enjoy it.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought I'd do a theme on Manners, but needed more books. This was suggested. Not bad. I like that there is a story to go along with some basic table manners. And it's a fun twist to have the kids teaching the adult the manners. The end makes me smile.

5/7/14 My opener for my Manners theme. Not bad. They liked the last part better, once the grandma shows up. And they smiled about the cake. But the beginning part seemed a bit over their heads.

[Jennie Machines]

I picked this up because it is part of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Artist Showcase. I heard about it when it was reviewed from the Disney podcast Communicore Weekly.

This is an adorable book about two children who have to help their father with his table manners. The art work is simply gorgeous, however the text is rather flat and boring. Too bad the words just couldn't have been left out.

I hope to see more stunning artwork from Lorelay.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute and it tells children about how to eat properly with good manners at the table.
The only drawback for me is that I didn't understand why they chose to make the dad have no manners. He's an adult and his kids' manners are perfect. Just doesn't make much sense. The person the kids should have been telling about proper manners should have been their friend or a cousin or something.

[ybKaren]

This book was fantastic! The illustrations are delightful and the writing has good rhythm and is easily understood by preschoolers.
It kept my preschool kids attention and they definitely got the message. Now they often correct each other with "no elbows on the table!" and "no slurping!" This book definitely serves it's purpose as a form of entertainment and also in teaching them some table manners.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disney is trying a new line of books that are illustrated by their artists. Not a bad start is this book that is about good table manners, but with a twist. The kids have good manners, the dad does not. Great sounds for interaction with your child as you read and a lot of humor will not only entertain your child but hopefully educate them about good manners and possibly remind the adults too.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two young siblings undertake what seems like an insurmountable task: teaching their slovenly father the art of table manners. Each night they attempt to instill another of the eleven rules of dinning etiquette onto their fraternal figurehead. A silly fun read aloud that will most likely produce numerous belly giggles.

[Chad VanDosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great way to teach your students table manners! Many students don't learn proper manners at home, so school is where they need to learn it. This book, in a funny way, teaches children the importance of manners and what different manners should be present at the table. I love that about this book and I would use this in my classroom to teach about table manners.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-Kindergarten

Ah, the ol' role reversal. Always a sure way to elicit laughs from little and old alike. Evie and Simon always mind their manners, but their father is a different story. They finally get their dad under control when a special guest arrives: grandma!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about table manners. It was nice to see that it was the kids who had the manners, but for people who don't like the stereotype of the sitcom-ish slovenly dad, skip it . . . or don't because the ending has a fun twist.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations have great kid appeal because they have look of Disney animated movie. But story seemed too predictable for my tastes.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's fun and should be popular with young children but too predictable.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations in the classic style seen in Disney shorts from the 50s and 60s.