It's a Spoon, Not a Shovel

From Barnes & Noble

Pop-eyed animals with exaggerated expressions, sly humor, and a touch of the gross are the protagonists in this book on proper etiquette. All but one of the answers to the mutiple-choice questions are extremely silly, and the letters corresponding to the correct answers along with a few animals are hidden in the pictures. This is a lesson kids will hopefully bring to the table!

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This comical etiquette book is "part Emily Post, part I Spy game," said PW. "The seek-and-find possibilities will surely tickle junior sleuths while turning them into the very models of modern manners." Ages 4-8. Sept.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Part Emily Post and part I Spy game, this humorous guide to basic etiquette painlessly provides plenty of solid information on societal do's and don'ts. One page of each spread contains a brief scenario followed by one or two multiple-choice quizzes, opposite which a quirky animal cast depicts the action described. With her playful use of language and suitably silly set-ups ``Gazing into her sweetheart's eyes while eating an armadillo, Miss Crocodila Jones doesn't notice that she is sitting on her napkin'', Caralyn Buehner A Job for Wittilda makes her text both comical and educational-Crocodila's napkin-placement options, for example, are ``a. On her head. b. In her ear. c. On her lap''. Mark Buehner's The Adventures of Taxi Dog lush palette and deft use of light and shadow characterize his paintings, many of which feature unusual perspectives and fetching closeups. In a clever challenge for readers, the letters corresponding to the correct quiz answers are hidden in the accompanying pictures. Numerous other seek-and-find possibilities will surely tickle junior sleuths while turning them into the very models of modern manners. Ages 4-8. June

Children's Literature - Dr. Judy Rowen

Is this: a. a self-administered quiz about manners; b. a devilishly clever "hidden-picture" book; or c. both a and b? The answer is, of course, "c." Humorous situations are presented, for example, how should Trevor Tarantula get the salt to sprinkle on his mashed crickets? A multiple-choice list follows each vignette. The illustrations are very detailed, and the letter corresponding to the correct answer is hidden within. A honeybee, a rabbit and a dinosaur also recur in the pictures. Your kids will laugh, and just might learn some manners in the process!

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4A book showing various animals and insects in 14 manners-related dilemmas. On one page, three possible scenarios are offered, and readers must choose the correct behavior. Two of them are always obviously wrong, but for those who can't figure the answer out, the letter a, b, or c of the correct choice is hidden in the picture. For example, ``Marty Mouse has been saving crumbs for weeks to give to Elmer Elephant for his birthday.'' Should Elmer say ``Your whiskers are twitching''; ``Rats! That's not what I wanted''; or ``Thank you, Marty''? On each facing page, paintings by the illustrator of The Adventures of Taxi Dog Dial, 1990 appear. They are the best thing about this collaborationthey are interesting, colorful, and funny. The text is mildly amusing, but doesn't have as much appeal as Sesyle Joslin's What Do You Do, Dear? and What Do You Say, Dear? both HarperCollins, 1958. Carlyn Buehner includes many gross and rude answers that kids are bound to pick. Say ``No, thank you'' to this etiquette quiz.JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA