May I Please Have a Cookie?

by Jennifer E. Morris

In this Level 1 Scholastic Reader, Alfie learns that the best way to get a delicious cookie is to say please!

Alfie loves his mommy's cookies, and he wants one more than anything! But grabbing for one, fishing for one, and dressing up as a cookie inspector don't seem to work. His mommy says there is a better way. What is it? Beginning readers will learn proper manners with Alfie as his mommy teaches him to say the magic words.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Animals, Food, Fiction, Spanish Literature, Humor

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Jennifer is an award winning illustrator and children’s book author. She has illustrated picture books, children’s magazines, greeting cards, party ware and educational materials. She authored and illustrated four books for Scholastic. The best selling of which, "May I Please Have a Cookie?" has sold over one million copies.

Reviews

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, you should probably not try to make sense of my children’s book ratings because I’m sort of all over the place. Both of my children have loved this book. My little almost 2 year old often asks for “Cookie?” Book. He always gives me a hug when Alfie’s mom hugs him and says “hug!” So how can I not love this book?

[Chris Lopezz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another W childhood book

[Tamera Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) Book summary: Alligator Mommy is baking cookies and Alfie loves cookies, but when he tries to grab one, his mom tells him to “think of a better way to get a cookie.” He comes up with three funny tricks to get his treat, but it isn't until he asks politely that mom gives him what he wants.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile: The grade level for this is book preschool-3rd. The interest level for this book would be for 4-8 ages because this is the stage where the children are going to school and they are learning about manners and respect. The lexile for this book is 250l. It's a scholarstic readers level 1 book.
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area): This is one of the book I would have in my reading library for my students. The book is so simple but entertaining. This book is helpful in the way of teaching children their manner saying "thank you" or "please". I would incorporate this book during language art silent time.
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading: This would be a great book for a student who having a hard time learning manners and respecting his/her peers.
5) Small group use (literary circles) : I could use this book to correlate when teaching themes for the month inside of the classroom.
6) Whole class use (read aloud): I wouldn't use this as a read aloud to my class but I would incorporate how the students can use their manners like Alfie did when he wanted a cookie.
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area : Loose Teeth ( My first i can read), Amelia Bedinia Makes a friend ( I can read level 1), and Scholastic Reader level 1: Silly Milly
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available: Kindle, Library binding, Paperback, and Board book

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a favorite book for my two girls! My oldest is 3.5 and is beginning to point out the repetitive words and my youngest just loves the story. Fast read, good story, and an excellent lesson for kids on manners! Perfection!

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews on my blog: Books for Kids
Super adorable illustrations accompany this imaginative story about a little alligator that wants a cookie. Little Alfie tries everything to get a cookie, but his mom keeps saying no.

Finally, with a little help from mom, he figures out that he needs to say please.

The best part about this story were the illustrations. They were absolutely fantastic, and perfect for the age level. The word choices were simple and the text was nice and large to make identifying letters and words easier for beginning readers. There were just a few words to each page, making it a nice length and not too intimidating for a child that is just learning to read.

Sometimes I feel like children's books get a little too preachy and try to teach a lesson too often. Most of the time when my kids or I read a book, it is simply for entertainment. However, the clever ways that Alphie comes up with to get a cookie balance out the "lesson" of the book so that it doesn't come off as overly preachy.

[Kathryn (Dragon Bite Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog, Nine Pages .

This leveled reader leapt into my hand one rough night when I passed by the free library. The title perfectly captured my mood. What I found inside was less a story about cookies and more of a story about manners. Alfie tries several ways to get a cookie, but his mother insists that he think of a better way to get one. Ultimately after crying and Mommy gently reminding him by asking politely for one of the paper cookies that he has made, Alfie figures out what she means, asks politely, and receives a cookie, and a snuggle. It’s a sweet story with expressive, brightly colored alligators (crocodiles?). (But admittedly it was not the story that I needed when I first read it.) It would be a fun book for teaching manners with plenty of humor in the outlandish schemes Alfie hatches to try to get a cookie.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Jennifer E. Morris's " Can I Please Have a Cookie" tells the story of Alfie the Alligator on his journey to find the best way to get a delicious cookie is to simply say please. Alfie loves his mom's cookies and wants more than one cookie. He tries to dress up as a cookie inspector and sneak his mom's cookies instead of just simply asking for them by saying please. This book incorporates number sense, counting up, and the lesson of having manners when asking for things that you want. This adorable story incorporates math standards and makes the readers count on how many cookies that Alfie has eaten. This would also be a great book to increase a student's number sense and it comes with a cute storyline to go along with it. Overall, I loved the message of being polite and asking for things as well as incorporating the idea of counting the cookies to teach kids number sense. I would give this book a 5/10 only because of the simplicity of the plot and wish there were more math standards that teachers could use when reading this story to their students.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book really funny. Poor Alfie. As soon as Mommy puts the plate of cookies on the counter, Alfie, the alligator is ready to grab one. But his mom makes him think of a better way to get cookies. He tries to disguise himself, and he tries to fish for one. Finally, he tries to make some of his own. His mother politely asks if she can have one, and this is where it clicks for Alfie. Alfie realizes he needs to politely ask for a cookie from his mom. In the end, Alfie has his cookie and all is well. This would be a great book to introduce manners to young readers. It also reminds adults that children are watching the way we perform, and they will follow in our footsteps. Also, the illustrations help to develop the story further. Without them, there would be a lot of gaps because this story is suited to young readers there isn't a ton of words. So, those illustrations add a lot. Overall, good read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a translation of Morris' 2005 board book. (FINALLY!) I appreciate the fact that Scholastic took the time to translate the word Cookies into Galletas on the cookie jar in the illustrations. You'd be surprised how often words in the text are overlooked by translators!

I like this book because it is about cookies. Talk about kid appeal! There are lots of opportunities for listeners to participate in the telling of this story. The illustrations are funny and accessible to even our youngest readers. Though Alfie may not be super quick on the "up-take", he does have an imagination. Librarians can test their students' imagination by having them brainstorm other ways Alfie could get a cookie--before the best way is discovered at the end of the book!

Audience: PK3-1
Curriculum Connections: manners, cause and effect, counting.

[Andrea Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alfie’s mother has baked cookies and Alfie will do anything in order to eat those cookies. I found this to be a very cute and funny book. The book is an adorable way to teach young children that in order to get something that you want you need to ask for it instead of trying to find sneaky ways of trying to get what you want. I found this book does a good job of teaching a lesson without it being too preachy. I found the illustrations to be very adorable and detailed the creative ways that Alfie was trying to get the cookies his mother baked. I think the writing was good because it didn’t state what was obvious in the illustrations. The illustrations were good at showing the emotions that both Alfie and his mom were expressing. The ending nicely wrapped up the importance of asking someone for something that you want.

[Tarnisha Tolliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

May I Please Have a Cookie? By Jennifer E. Morris

This is a level A picture book for young children who are learning to read. Alfie wanted a cookie from his mom and brainstorms numerous ways to get the cookie. This story is a great social emotional story that teaches children about manners and being polite. It teaches young children the proper way to ask for things when they want something. When reading this story to my kindergarten students I asked them, “what else can Alfie do to get what he wants?” My class was able to brainstorms a variety of things they would do to get a cookie from their parents. I love that this story teaches a valuable lesson in the end. I absolutely love this story!

[Sarah Mazzei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both the illustrations and the writing of this book are very well done. It contains very simple sentences that students at a young age may be able to read on their own, depending on their reading level. The illustrations are very bright and colorful which would draw the attention of the students. The main character is a young alligator which I feel as though young students would enjoy. It describes a theme about the importance of manners which I feel is a very important to talk about with children at a younger age. This is definitely a book I would use as a read aloud in my classroom to open up a topic about manners and the importance of "please" and "thank you."

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alfie really wants one of the cookies his mom has made. When he demands one, she tells him to think of a better way to get a cookie. After some trial and error, Alfie eventually figures out the best way to get a cookie. Say please.

A blatant ploy to get kids to ask nicely, but wrapped up in a fun package. Alfie comes up with some very creative alternative ideas before he hits on the right one, and kids should quite enjoy his adventures. A good pick for a beginning reader. Also a good one for making predictions.

[Jaden Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

May I Please Have a Cookie? by Jennifer E. Morris is about a a young crocodile, Alfie, and his journey as he investigates the best way to get one of his mother's delicious cookies. After trying several different methods, Alfie eventually learns that the best and most successful way to get a cookie is to say please. I would use this book in the classroom to explain to my students what manners are and when we use them. I would then discuss with my students why we use manners and why manners are important.

[Sarah]

This book is for the older preschool or early elementary child aged 4-6. It teaches the concept of problem solving and uses basic language for early readers. The subject is a problem shared by many children in that the alligator wants a cookie and must learn to use the correct and polite way of asking for one. The little alligator makes up many elaborate ways to try to get a cookie, and in the end the mother gives him a hint about how he can get one. This book can be read to the child while inquiring as to what they think will happen, and is good for deductive reasoning.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Kindergartener (3 months into the school year without prior ability to read/write since we started him with Japanese first) was trying to sound out words from his sister's chapter books. I didn't want him to feel discouraged that he couldn't read her advanced books so I got him this book. Plenty of repetition, sight words, and words that can be sounded out. Super cute story too. He wants to keep showing off how much he can read!

[Hypatia's Dream · Rating 5 out of 5]

May I please have a cookie? Es un entretenido cuento infantil con tiernas ilustraciones que además de reflexionar tiene un bonito mensaje de apoyo, enseñanza y aprendizaje de buenos modales. Resulta más didáctico en este aspecto que una lista de lo que deben aprender a decir. Muy bello, lo encuentras en inglés a través de Facebook. Será un plus en tus actividades durante el ejercicio como mediador de sala de lectura, teacher, cuenta cuentos.

[Lacy | literary_lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loved this book. She loves cookies so that helped the appeal.

This book has short, simple sentences that kept my daughter’s attention. This book also, teaches a good lesson about asking nicely for things we want. There are certain ways to ask for something that sound ruder than others.

This was an enjoyable book for me and my toddler, and my infant enjoyed it, as well.

[Brittany Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

May I Please Have a Cookie is a fantastic read for the grade level pre k -1. I really enjoyed the theme of the story showing the target audience the concept of brainstorming. The illustrations are also a delight to look at! Also, with this book having light reading as well as a light subject matter, I do believe this would be a great read-a-loud book for classes.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids love this picture book! Alfie wants a cookie from mommy but he needs to find a better way to get it. He has many idea to do so but they were not good enough. Finally he figured out the best way to get a cookie was saying 'Mommy, May I please have a cookie?' Great book to read aloud!

[Lara Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about manners and how you need to ask before just taking something even if you want it. It would be a good story to read to talk to students about how important it is to say please and thank you.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a level 1 Scholastic reader.
Alfie wanted one of the delicious cookies his mommy just baked. He loved cookies, but his mommy said there was a better way to ask for them. He tried a few ways until realizing what is right.
Words list in back of book. Fun illustrations.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a parent, I had a genuine laugh when I saw a fishing hook snagging a cookie through window! More interesting than your average level one reader and yet there is repetition which lends itself to giving the child opportunities to chime in on the reading. Highly recommended.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book to target a variety of goals this week in speech including, Cycles Approach of the /k/ sound, wh-questions, and story grammar. I was also thinking it would be a good social story, especially for those grabby kiddos. Awesome books! The kids enjoyed it.

[Ms. Layton + the Fearless Leaders · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was funny how the crocodile was trying to get the cookie with a fishing hook. - TC

I think it was cool that they made cookies. - ND

I liked the pages and the words. - LB

It was funny how he kept trying to steal cookies. Why didn't he just ask like he did in the end of the story? - SS

[Ryann Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for younger students because it gives them a lesson on in order to get something from someone else you have to show respect to the other person. Respect is a great life lesson that will carry on with the child throughout their educational career and even in life.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of my girls loved this book! They had me re-read it so many times and never tired of it. Eventually they had it memorized and began 'reading' it to me!

[Gianinna Czareena Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite toddler book by far!!

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes getting kids to ask for things politely can be a challenge. We need to encourage them to find better ways to ask for things.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and amusing story about using your manners.