D.W.'s Guide to Perfect Manners

D.W.

by Marc Brown

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Arthur's younger sister D.W. shows how to be ""perfect"" for a day by demonstrating cleanliness, orderliness, and good manners, in a book that includes a self test on manners.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Library Binding

First published April 12, 2006

About the author

Marc Tolon Brown is perhaps best known for his series of children's books about Arthur the aardvark, which was turned into an animated television show on PBS. Brown is a three-time Emmy Award winner, for his role on the television show inspired by his books.

He lives on Martha's Vineyard and in New York City with his wife, Laurie Krasny Brown. He has three children, sons Tolon and Tucker, and daughter Eliza. The names of his two sons have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one: Arthur's Tooth.

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know this book has been around since 2006, but I just read it with my 3 year old today at the library. I probably should give it 2 stars because the general advice about how to be polite was ok. The problem I had was the use of the word "perfect," including the sentence, "The first thing you need to do to be perfect is look perfect." Really?!?

As the mother of a young daughter, and as a social worker who has spent almost two decades working with children, I found this really disturbing. I had to change the word "perfect" (which is used repeatedly throughout the book) to "polite" when I read it. I was just happy my daughter doesn't read on her own yet, and that I had the option to do that.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book really frustrates me. I wanted to find something that helped the kids learn their manners. We like the DW's Guide to Preschool so I thought this would be a good one as well. It wasn't. I think it starts out okay but by the end, it's more about being "perfect" and not about having good manners. That's not something I expect from my children and I don't want them to ever think they have to be perfect. If I ever read this book, I change words so I get the point across that I want to, without my kids hearing the parts I don't like.

[Alessandra Piaggio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary
D.W.'s Guide to Perfect Manners is about Arthur's little sister trying to "be perfect" by having perfect manners for one whole day. It starts out as a dare with Arthur and at the end of the day D.W. liked how the people she interacted with during the day responded to her. Throughout the book, D.W. gives hints on how to have good manners and stand out among the other kids around her. D.W. details how to have good manners in most situations kids are in when they are at home or at school with family or friends.

Theme(S)
I would say the major themes of this story would be good manners and respect.

A Personal Response to The Text
I really liked this book. I enjoyed the the very detail and colorful pictures and as also how easy it is to read it. However, I did not like how it ended focusing in how to be perfect rather than a kid who learns how to be a kid but with good manners.

Why You Recommend This Book
I recommend this book because it is a fun way to let kids know that having good manners all the time does not have to be boring. This book shows readers that when they have good manners the people they interact with appreciate them more and make them fun to be around of.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a good guide to how to behave well and have good manners. I just didn't like how the word perfect was used. The book kept saying in order to be a perfect person you need to do this and that, but nobody is perfect. I feel like if a child really took this to heart it'll have anxiety trying to be the very best perfect person which doesn't exist.

Illustrations are wonderful as usual though.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to go over some basic skills.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love the Arthur books, but I had to explain to my niece that no one is perfect.

[Aaron Siclovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written by Marc Brown. Arthur, who is the older brother of D.W., dared D.W. to be perfect for one day. D.W. was determined to pass Arthur's challenge. At breakfast, D.W. lived up to the dare and was careful to say at the appropriate times, "good morning, please, and thank you." She also helped her baby sister, Kate, to eat her food. During the day, D.W. perfectly groomed herself, made her room look perfect, and told everyone good-bye before she left for school. Nobody likes a grouch so D.W. said hello and smiled at everyone she met at school. She was very careful not to say bad or mean words, while saying excuse me when it was the proper time. At school, she remembered to use polite words, and she was careful with other children's belongings. D.W. was careful not to be a bully or bossy or laugh at anyone. When D.W. returned home she still tried to be perfect, helping her mother to set the table and later take the dishes to the kitchen. While still at the table, she said "sorry" when she spilled the milk, and instead of just walking away from the table, she asked for permission to leave the table. The rest of the evening D.W. really did act perfect, learning that good manners gives magical powers, which convinced her to try to be perfect the next day.

Marc Brown also did the illustrations in this book. The pictures are funny and colorful, with many interesting details. The expressions on the character's faces depict what they are thinking. The front and back jackets of the book is also illustrated by Marc Brown. D.W. realized that she felt like she was growing up when she used good manners. The back page has a short self-test for children to take, in order to see if they need to try harder to use specific manners. This is a delightful book and I highly recommend it for children.

[Adali Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a softy of the Author books in general, when I was younger I loved reading these books all the time. I loved how the author made it about the kids and their thoughts not about how the parent might think of this book but of how the child would think of it. After all this book is meant for children. I think it is a great book, she definitely does show how good manners should be, but it does change it to being perfect instead of staying with great manners. This books level is intended for

Trait: ideas
Level:
ATOS 2.9
At points: 0.5

[Corrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!

This book is a spinoff of the popular Arthur series, following his sister D.W. There is another spinoff titled D.W.’s Guide to Preschool, which is approximately the age level for the audience of both books. Her tips on perfect manners are things that preschoolers can do, like saying hello and goodbye, please and thank you, sharing toys, cleaning up after youself, taking your bath and going to bed, and generally trying to be nice to people. The last page is a multiple-choice test with scenarioes, and you pick how to behave. For example,

“1. Your neighbour offers you something to eat, but it looks really gross. What do you do?

a. Say “yucky!” and stick out your tongue.

b. Run away screaming.

c. Say “thank you” and try a bite.”

This is more a book to be read to preschoolers than one that they can read themselves. The majority of the words are in short paragraphs with the same size font, and the vocabulary is too challenging for a beginning reader. However, the pictures are large and often contain details that you can use to engage your audience, such as pointing out when D.W. makes a mess in the bathroom during her bath.

My only quibble is that the book conflates the idea of being perfect with having perfect manners. I’m not entirely comfortable with the way this is phrased, though I’m possibly overthinking things.

[Terry]

We were very put off by the story. Working on one's manners is very important in our house, but describing the behavior as "being perfect" sets a tone we aren't willing to adopt. Additionally, we don't see a need to use examples of mean words for this target audience ... which tends to repeat and mimic what they hear.

To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is definitely for the younger grades. This would be a great beginning of the year book to teach how to behave in school. In this book D.W. gives helpful hints and suggestions for how to have perfect manners. It is narrated by D.W. so it is pretty amusing to read and I really think kids would enjoy the humor.

[Nicole Wrightson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute little book that helps a child learn manners. It is told in a cute little story where D.W. explores what is concerted good manners and is really such a sweet book. But instead of calling it good manners, she calls it being perfect in the book which just ups the cuteness that this book holds. My daughter enjoyed reading it as she is an a fan of the Arthur TV show.

[Amanda Library · Rating 1 out of 5]

I despise books that teach kids how to be "perfect." It just sets them up for disappointment later on when they actually fail at something.

I'm starting to notice a pattern with books about manners - they seem to feature female protagonists.

At least this book briefly mentioned farts. That was cool.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: Another much loved D.W. book. This time, D.W. strives to have perfect manners and in the process teaches the kids listening to the book some good manners. Bonus: She says the words burp and fart!

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is okay. I didn't like the idea of perfection. Also, if one is truly perfect, wouldn't that person not need to say sorry or excuse me? That has me thinking a few days later. Also, as a book about manners, it is a bit overwhelming. There is a lot to remember.

[Aaliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girls loved learning about having "perfect manners." I had to throw in a curve ball with the word "perfect," though. None is perfect BUT the Father, and that's with ANYTHING. *steps off soapbox* We enjoyed this book! Yay! :)

[Alida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this Arthur book because it is from D.W.'s persepective. A great book to read when talking about manners and respect for others.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book that talks about having good manners.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maggie's choice not mine. Yuck.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book! I love anything to do with manners for kids---it really makes it a lot more fun to be good when it comes from a cute character. I'd really give it a 4.5.

[Shacoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty cute and funny.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly good book about manners for the preschool set.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about Arthur's younger sister, which teaches you about manners under the guise of D.W. telling you about a day that she had perfect manners.

[Mari]

instructional didactic

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very preachy guide about D.W.--a preschooler--striving to be perfect.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book mentions so many of the good manners that makes others feel loved and valued in the world.

**Can we be perfect? What do you think. Can we perfect one thing about us at a time? Like getting up early, making our bed each day, cleaning things up when we spill? I think so. What things about yourself have you perfected? Which things would you next like to perfect?