Do I Have to Say Hello? Aunt Delia's Manners Quiz for Kids and Their Grownups

by Delia Ephron, Edward Koren (Illustrations)

Twenty-five years after its original publication, Do I Have to Say Hello? Aunt Delia’s Manners Quiz for Kids and Their Grown-ups is back, and do we and our kids all need it. In a series of light-hearted multiple choice quizzes, alternate scenarios, and true-or-false questions, Delia Ephron and Edward Koren, the author and illustrator team who brought us the best-selling How to Eat Like a Child, depict a range of possibilities that reflect life as it is as well as life as it ought to be. Covering table manners, car manners, playground manners, school manners, and more, this is a book that is sure to delight (and horrify) adults and children of all ages.             
                
Aunt Delia knows what makes the difference between a pleasant and an excruciating visit to a friend’s house in the company of a young child. She knows the proper order in which the following actions take place: (a) Throw up; (b) Get out of the car; (c) Ask Uncle Jerry to pull over. In short, she is practical and basic: she does not get into fish forks, but she knows what to do with bubble gum. She also deals with such things as kindness, sharing, consideration, generosity, and diplomacy. Delia Ephron’s painfully on-target text is complemented by Edward Koren’s hilarious drawings, which–as ever–present us not as we might wish to appear, but as we really are.

Genres: Humor, Childrens, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 16, 1989

About the author

Bestselling author and screenwriter Delia Ephron's most recent novel is Siracusa. Her other novels include The Lion Is In and Hanging Up. She has written humor books for all ages, including How to Eat Like a Child and Do I Have to Say Hello?; and nonfiction, most recently Sister Mother Husband Dog (etc.). Her films include You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Hanging Up (based on her novel), and Michael. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. Her hit play Love, Loss, and What I Wore (co-written with Nora Ephron) ran for more than two years off-Broadway and has been performed all over the world. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be the perfect book to read a small passage from every day, after a recess or at the beginning of class, because it is silly but also allows for an open discussion on manners. The Keeping Secrets Test seems like it would be a great one to do with younger kids, who love running around telling secrets...

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

An iconic book from my past; my brother and I would read this in between his piano lessons and laugh so hard. Our mom found it so pivotal to our childhood, she ended up finding a used copy of this edition when we were thirteen on an out of print book site. This would get re-published in 2015, yet there's something timeless about its original release that still hits as an adult.

[Tranylle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids found this book absolutely hilarious and both gave it 5 stars. I only give it 4 for reasons I'll say later. This book had scenarios in which you had to decide which response was the best manners. The wrong responses were so funny. So much laughing happening in this book, and for the most part it did a great job of helping my kids understand what is and isn't polite. Some scenarios though I definitely disagreed with what they wanted my kids to do. I can't think of all the instances off the top of my head, so I can only give one I remember from the end.

When saying goodbye to people, they said it was good manners to hug and kiss everyone goodbye. Nope. If my kids don't want to do that, they don't have to. They still need to be polite and say goodbye, but no touching is required.

Oh, I remember one more. A saleslady pokes her head into your dressing room while you're changing to ask how it's going. Apparently the correct response is "Excuse me, but I'd like to try these on in private". If some stranger pokes his/her head in while my kids are potentially naked, you better believe that they are allowed to tell them to get out, and know that if that person refuses, they have my permission to use force. It is totally unacceptable for any adult, salesperson or not, to come into a dressing room. I told my kids the same.

[Margaret Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this out of my parents' basement and truly enjoyed a return to one of my favorite childhood books.

[JZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this on to see if it would be useful for someone I know who is a new nanny. Yes, it's funny, true, and comprehensive.

I love Carol Kane, but her voice gets to me after a very short while. I suggest getting the ebook instead of the audiobook.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Kane acts this out wonderfully, with tantrums and whining and charm. Delia Ephron mentions that adults as well as kids should use their manners. For example, your uncle should not tell the soccer referee, "If my nephew's team wins, I'll buy you a car."

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable and very amusing book and a perfectly delightful way to explain manners to kids. There are quite a few adults who could use this too!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook narrated by Carol Kane is hilarious. Love the updated version for modern times.

[Shelly Shoop-Bozarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my daughter’s favorite audiobook! Why? I have no idea, but I’m glad that she likes a book based on manners and how to choose kindness over being mean so therefore the 5 stars are from her!!

[michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We just listened to this on our two hour drive and my kids were rolling in laughter the whole way! What a delightful way to remind them of good manners.

[Weiwei · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are definitely tricky questions.

[Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved this book.

Each section deals with a particular area of manners--dinner time, playing with others, etc, and each has questions the kids get to answer from multiple choice.

[Phyllis M. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though my parents brought up the “right way”, it’s nice to have a reminder.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather entertaining and funny book about teaching children good manners for a variety of situations.

[Bridgett · Rating 2 out of 5]

It reads more like satire. Oh I see it's from 1989, that's explains it a bit.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read!

[Venus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

Do I Have to Say Hello? is a light-hearted series of quizzes to help children understand manners. To an adult the answers to the questions seem like to brainers, but I imagine this will not be the case for a six-year-old. From table manners to car, playground to school, there is a quiz for every scenario. This is not a book to be read cover to cover though, but rather in pieces. I can see pulling this book out while eating a meal and asking some of the questions or pulling it out at bedtime perhaps. Although it appears that Aunt Delia has been writing such manners books for a long time, seeing as this is a reprint for the 25th Anniversary, but I was not at all familiar with her material. Of course, my manners book of choice was the Goops and I can still recite many of the poems today. However, I see the appeal of this format as well. Perfect for parents who are training to raise children who know how to behave in any situation.

[Mike☺₪ ▒ ۩ Kean ۞ ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delia Ephron makes a great 'quiz' with her book Do I Have to Say Hello? Aunt Delia's Manners Quiz for Kids and Their Grown-Ups. With many hilarious choices to choose in already whacky situations, this 'quiz' on manners will give you a good laugh. If your kids dont have any good manners, read them this book and see what they choose! Do they decide to point and laugh at when your uncle accidently burps, or do you pretend to not notice? The choice is yours! At times you will presented with some different types of questions, or be given a small story on what not to do. But in any way you look at it, you will be sure to laugh at least once!

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is something that every household could use, a book on manners with Aunt Delia's Manner Quiz. Manners, they have never gone out of style but seem to be ignored all too often. This book was published in 1989 and is still as useful today as it was then. The scenario gives several options, and it is a great teaching tool for parents and children to sit down, read together, look at the funny pictures and discuss what is the correct answer. It doesn't give it for you, but so many should be common sense. I think my grandchildren will have fun reading, laughing and talking about this book. Disclosure: I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am under no obligation for a review, but it is always appreciated. All thoughts, opinions, and ratings are my own.

[Emesskay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining book to gently direct kids (and perhaps grownups) into thinking about appropriate responses for various social situations. The book is presented as a quiz, but many of the answers are silly, so it is pretty clear what the correct answer should be. For example:

" Which of these are appropriate subjects for Thanksgiving dinner conversation?
Whether the turkey knew it was going to die.
The time cousin Michelle laughed so hard while eating that a hot dog came out of her nose.
Stink Bombs.
Pilgrims."

The illustrations by Edward Koren are priceless and pair perfectly with the text. I showed the book to my reading averse child, and after a few minutes he was snickering at the various scenarios. It's a winner.

[Lorene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. It is a quiz on good manners. It has entertaining questions with funny possible answers. It does not give the correct answers. I feel it would be better to give an explanation why a particular action is proper in any given situation. Aimed for younger children but funny to read the wrong answers as an adult....especially if you have done some of them.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun to read with my kids. It contains quizzes for a child's appropriate response to various situations. Most of the incorrect answers are very silly. We had to read it in parts only because the laughter got a bit out of control.

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to teach kids manners without them being bored to tears. Its examples show you exactly what NOT to do as often as what you should do, which makes it a very entertaining read. :)

[Jackie Mancuso]

This is a very, very funny book.

[Omnilegent_Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave as a gift to a 11 year old boy. He enjoyed it. Reminded me of "What Do You Say, Dear?" by Sesyle Joslin that I enjoyed as a child.

[Hilary Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun way to engage the kids in learning manners. We read a section a night at the table and much of the teachings stuck. The kids kept asking for more - rare in a manners book!

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, even for adults. Helpful, even for adults, as well.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny way to discuss some social issues with the kids.