Good manners are something we all want our children to have as well as having good life skills when they are ready to leave the nest. We want them to behave at home, school, out in public, and even when they’re just with their friends. But good manners don’t just come naturally; manners are something that needs to be taught.
The first step to teaching good behavior is by exhibiting it yourself. Kids learn so much just by watching and listening to the people around them. You’ve probably heard people joke about kids being little parrots. That doesn’t always have to have a negative connotation to it. If Mom and Dad remember their please and thank you’s, it’s something the little ones will pick up on.
Another great way to help children understand manners is with picture books. I’ve found 20 great books for teaching children good manners. I’ve included books with familiar characters, new faces, cute animals, and the one thing they all have in common, is good behavior. They’re sweet stories, so your kiddos will be entertained and enjoy the books while learning good manners. Don’t forget to reinforce the lessons in the books by actively showing your children how to be polite.
1 – Thank You and Good Night by Jon Gordon
2 – Excuse Me: A Little Book of Manners by Karen Katz
3 – Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller
4 – My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook
5 – What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
6 – Manners Are Not for Monkeys by Heather Tekavec
7 – Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book by Richard Scarry
8 – Do I Have to Say Hello? Aunt Delia’s Manners Quiz for Kids and Their Grownups by Delia Ephron
9 – Dude, That’s Rude!: (Get Some Manners) (Laugh & Learn) by Pamela Espeland
10 – Oops, Sorry!: A First Book of Manners by Richard Morgan
11 – The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners by Stan Berenstain
12 – Penguin Says “Please” by Michael Dahl
13 – Please Pass the Manners!: Mealtime Tips for Everyone by Lola Schaefer
14 – Let’s Share! (Book of Manners) by Parragon Books
15 – Clifford’s Manners by Norman Bridwell
16 – Personal Space Camp by Julia Cook
17 – Polite as a Princess by Melissa Lagonegro
18 – Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi Ph.D.
19 – The Please and Thank You Book by Barbara Shook Hazen
20 – May I Please Have a Cookie? by Jennifer Morris
