Please Is a Good Word to Say

by Barbara M. Joosse, Jennifer Plecas

Please is a good word to say. It puts a smile on your words. And that’s not the only advice curly-burly-haired Harriet has for you. Asking, taking, interrupting, eating, answering the phone—if there’s a nice way to do it, Harriet can tell you just how to do it. Jennifer Plecas’ infectious illustrations bring Barbara Joosse’s hilarious heroine to life in this offbeat and adorable approach to manners. Kids will be (very politely) clamoring to hear it over and over again . . . and parents will be pleased to oblige.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Self Help

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2007

About the author

[Author also goes by the name Barbara Joosse.]

Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute way to talk about manners.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up on a whim because I liked Mama, Do You Love Me? so much, but I really thought this was a shot in the dark. Of course my 3 year old wouldn't be interested in reading a book on manners. Who am I kidding?

As usual he likes to remind me I know nothing about his taste. He loves this book. A little girl explains why she uses words like "please" and "thank you," and how good and bad manners can make people around you feel. It's sparked many conversations with my son as he brings up how other people might feel about something that he's doing, and I can tell he's beginning to develop a level of consideration for others.

My favorite take away from the book? He now asks if he can help me bring in the groceries every time (a direct page from the book).

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl explains why she uses words like "please," "thank you," "excuse me," "I'm sorry," and more: “I try to say please one single time…I try not to say it a lot of times…because that is whining. I also try not to say please and grab at the same time. Because that is bossy.”

Simple line drawing-and-watercolor illustrations of the little girl with red, curly hair and a pink tutu add color and emphasis on the behaviors she describes. This is an excellent little tool for reinforcing good manners when speaking. Some humorous phrasing makes it good to use with upper elementary kids, too. (I know some adults who could benefit from a quick reading, while we're at it.)

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Anyone with a child in their lives should read this book. Not only do you learn about how valuable "please" is, but also "thank you" and many others. The books is sassy enough to entertain parents while teaching manners to their kids.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Please is a good word to say." And when that advice comes from Harriet, I can't wait to turn the pages and find out what else she has to tell us readers. Since I've read another one of her books before. And. I. Loved. It.

By Page 2 I was laughing out loud. This book contains such a combo of adult wisdom and pure child-being-child. For instance:

"I also try not to say please and grab at the same time."
(Reviewer's italics.)

FIVE STARS to Barbara Joose, who has written pure poetry... with zero affectation.
FIVE STARS to Jennifer Plecas, whose illustrations have the feel of effortless spontaneity, lit by freedom.

[Abigail Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great bookmto teach manners to young children. It goos in a preschool and home setting. it was very cite hoe the main character would demonstrate different ways to say "thank you", "please", 'I'm sorry", "excuse me", and compliments. it's a good way to tell kids to be kind and cautious to others. It was very cute.

[Shiloah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was more annoying than helpful. Bummer

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Key Words: Please, politeness and curtesy

Summary: A good book to give to young kiddos to learn when and how to say thank you to people and themselves.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It was about polite words and ways to talk to people, like saying please and thank you and not whining. The art was okay.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please Is a Good Word to Say, a book about using polite words is cute and teaches children how to be polite. Harriet, a little girl, walks you through nice words to say, like please, thank you, excuse me, how to say them, and when to say them. She also tells how to be nice to people. For example, she explains that when you say please, you only need to say it once because saying it a bunch of times is whining. Students will laugh when she explains when to say excuse me because sometimes our body makes gross noises. This story can be a great lesson on how to fill someone’s bucket and how to use words to build people up. It teaches basic manners and how using these kinds of words can “make this world nice.” Reminding or teaching students about manners can also be used when talking about the golden rule, respect, and friendship. Written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by Jennifer Plecas, Please Is a Good Word to Say, is a good book to use in any primary classroom.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay - kind of cute, bordering on too cutesy. I also felt like the author was trying to channel Junie B Jones through Harriet (the girl teaching us). For what it's worth, Junie B Jones makes me laugh out loud - I know many parents do not like her! - so that is not the source of my discontent. It just wasn't the best book about manners I've encountered. Maybe it's that "bordering on too cutesy" that has me bugged.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking this book out of the library was a perfect coincidence as my almost 4 year-old increasingly declares things like "I want that!" and "I farted!". It is an adorable book about manners that reinfocres the importance of "Please," "Thank you," and "Excuse me" without being preachy or boring. My daughter loved it and so did I.

[Tanika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story teaches manners. It is an excellent story for children to learn to say please, thank you, excuse me, and I’m sorry. This story also explains when to say it and how not to be rude. This is good for pre-k through first grade. It may need t be pulled out for the higher grades if they forgot their manners.

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book about manners.A little girl demonstrates a variety of polite phrases and the appropriate times to use them. I like how she differentiates between saying "please" once in a polite way from saying "pleasepleasepelasepleeease" which she points out is whining. Although it may need to be shortened, this could be a good book to use for a storytime on manners.

[Veronica]

I'm working on creating a booklist for my local public library. This book was one in consideration for this list.

This book is definitely going on my list. It has an engaging character, and lays out polite things to say and do without lecturing and going on about adult etiquette. It's definitely written for children, and it covers the subject matter thoroughly. Definitely going on the list.

[Samantha Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a message that is good for people of all ages. It's telling you all of the good ways to ask for things or to greet people. There are also examples of how not to go about doing certain things. This was a book I have never read before, and i really enjoyed it! The illustrations were very cute and the message behind the book was very meaningful for people of all ages.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

per steve: didn't work for viv. she asked him to stop . it felt as if he was giving her a lecture. per viv: didn't like the words. when i grow up i would like to read that.

[Stepan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book goes over polite words in an entertaining, non-preachy manner. Delightful illustrations. My 4yo loves it.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason I like Please is a Good Word to Say is because it says what are good words to say and what words are not good to say. It talks about manners and I like manners.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! It has such a great message about manners, but in a cute and fun way. I think it's a must-read for kids!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good manners book. Kids listen better to the book than they do to me so why not preach how/when you can!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughter thought this book was a little confusing and she didn't like it.

[Tuyet Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great use of words to teach little kids about manners. Excuse- me, please, thank you, may I help you? These are such a nice vocabulary to let the students learn about having a good manner.

[S.j.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Barbara Joosse for your delightful way of presenting good manners. My girls remained engaged in the story from start to finish. Definitely a reread.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun manners book! My kids particularly enjoyed the use of the word "butt," and the discussion of bodily noises.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and accessible book about using manners. So child friendly! LOVE it.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many children come to school without learning to use polite words and phrases. This book would help with a lesson on that skill.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about manners for kids.

[Recognizepromise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teaches manners and etiquette but comes off a little preachy.

[Sierra Hancuff]

This book was published in 2007. It's a fun little realistic fiction book. This book discusses all the nice words to say and how to say them. This book would be fun to read for young children to teach them about using kind words and asking for things nicely.