I love this book and think it could be really useful. Every poem in this book is written to teach some kind of life lesson like saying please and thank you, giving a good handshake, and how to interrupt if you need something. I think this is good for younger audiences because the language is simple and it’s best to get these things in their heads while they’re younger. The poems don’t have all the bells and whistles like poetry for older audiences but I actually like that because it’s easy to comprehend, there’s no room for s misinterpretation. I also enjoy the really cute and graphic photos. I think it adds a fun touch for kids. ( )

Repetition is used to emphasize the subject of manners. Rhyme is used to interest children about cleaning and manners to maybe get them to use manners more and clean more. Alliteration is another component used. It is used to emphasize the idea or subject that was talked about. ( )

For this book, I am going to talk about a particular poem in the collection of poems. This poem is titled, "What will happen to you if you talk while you chew?" The reason I am talking about this poem in particular is because I find it really funny. I, myself have a major problem hearing people eat. It really grosses me out to the point of anxiety, and because it drives me crazy, I drive my family crazy because of it. The line, "They'll call you a pig and they'll call you a slob. Your mother will faint and your sisters will sob."

All of the poems in this book have a sort of funny feel to them which keeps them interesting, this one in particular just caught my eye more than anything. ( )

This book of poetry consists of 28 funny poems about manners, and touches on topics from sneezing and chewing, to shaking hands and excusing one’s self. I like this book for two reasons. To start, I like how the ideas are presented in imaginative ways throughout many of the poems. “May I Interrupt?” is a great example of this. It begins by talking about how it is generally not okay to interrupt someone, adults in particular. As the poem progresses, however, exceptions such as lightning or angry bees not only warrant interruption, but are welcomed. I also like how the illustrations that accompany each poem not only help to enhance the ideas presented, but are appropriate for children. The poem “Egbert” is about a boy whose clothes, what little he has, keep falling off, until he “has no clothes at all.” The illustration on this two page poem is of a sidewalk, strewn with clothes, with people in different states of curiosity and shock, staring at Egbert. Egbert, obviously naked, carries a book that appropriately covers just enough to make the point while still being appropriate for children. ( )

Oh How Sylvester Can Pester is a humorous book of poems about manners and behaviors. Though I understand the concept behind the book, some of the poems made me question their purpose. I loved the illustrations and there are a few poems that I would use to teach students about manners, such as shaking hands and the importance of chewing with your mouth close. ( )