Mind Your Manners!

Come dine with the Abbotts at their house - but watch out: they speak with mouths full, spit, and have terrible manners. Contemporary drawings blend with Victorian-style etiquette advise with a funny twist ("Smell not of thy meat, nor put it to thy nose") to create a hilarious set of examples of good - and bad - behaviors.

Parents, rejoice! You don't have to remind your children to mind their table manners - let Diane Goode do it for you! Inspired by a spelling book her husband found in an antique shop, popular author/artist Diane Goode has created a laugh provoking reminder of what is proper and what isn't when mealtime comes around. The book was published in Connecticut in 1802 and, among other reminders relating to religion and good manners, a section was devoted to behavior at the table. As she notes these instructions were quite clear, such as "Find no fault with anything that is given thee." (This section is printed in its entirety at the back of Goode's book). With charming watercolor drawings Goode relates a 19th century evening spent by a family that is invited to supper with the Abbotts. Then as now the children are reminded to be sure and mind their manners. We begin with "Come not to the table without having your hands and face washed, and your head combed." Of course, we're reminded, "Drink not, nor speak with anything in thy mouth," and prompted on how to express appreciation. What makes the story so merry is whether or not anyone has told the Abbotts how to mind their manners. Highly recommended. - Gail Cooke