Two book review & giveaway: "The Magic Word" and "Peter and the Whimper Whineys" by Sherrill S. Cannon

Everyone loves a well-behaved, sweet mannered child.  So when we encounter a rude, selfish, demanding, whining, whimpering child we get into "get-them-straightened-out, teach-them-the-right-way, let's-do-better-than-that" mode. Author Sherrill S. Cannon has given us two such wonderful teaching story tools to use to help our ill-behaved children learn better and to help the ones who are not so ill-behaved make certain they are not classified that way.  Let's see what she has in store for us in her award winning books....

The Magic Word by Sherrill S. Cannon

About the book: The Magic Word is a book emphasizing good manners which can be read to toddlers, but is especially appropriate for kindergarteners because they are going to school and learning about making friends and developing good social skills.  It is a rhyming story of a little girl who is rude, selfish and demanding – and has few friends because of her lack of consideration for others. Her mother suggests she “think more of others and less about you”, and recommends Elisabeth use "Please" and "Thank You" frequently.  When Elisabeth goes to school the next day, she finds that it is important to “try to treat others the way you would like” and discovers that she has made many new friends.  It emphasizes the importance of good manners and the use of the "golden rule". The Magic Word has won six awards: a 2011 Readers Favorite Gold Medal, a 2011 NABE Pinnacle Achievement Award, a 2011 Global eBook Finalist Award, a 2012 Reader Views Second Place Award, and was both a 2012 Next Generation Indie Finalist and a 2012 International Book Award Finalist.

My thoughts: If you have read any of my reviews of children's books, by now you realize that I am a big fan of rhyme for telling the story.  The meter (or rhythm/cadence) and the repetition of sounds and word endings impacts the learning positively so that what is being heard and read more likely stays with the child.  So let's look at our rude little girl in The Magic Word.

Elisabeth “never said thank you, excuse me or please.
She made fun of people, she’d argue and tease.
She took what she wanted whenever she could, 
Elisabeth’s manners were not very good.”

and later..... Cannon uses more of a poetic prose....

It was hard to please others, to try things their way.
But she knew she was happier now, for at last
She felt she was finally a part of her class.

------------

"That was my teacher, she said she'd come, too.
That's all of my class, and with me--twenty-two!"

So Elisabeth learned her lesson and became more pleasant to be around and made friends.

Peter and the Whimper-Whineys by Sherrill S. Cannon

About the book: Peter and the Whimper-Whineys is another teaching book, and is a fun way to help children stop whining. Read with alternating whining and normal voice, it helps children understand how annoying whining can be! It is about a small rabbit who whines all the time. His mother cautions him that if he keeps on whining and crying, he’ll have to go live with the Whimper-Whineys. One night Peter hops into the dark forest and meets some Whimper-Whineymen. He discovers that not only do the Whimper-Whineys whine all the time, but they are very ill-mannered and rude. He discovers that everything is sour in Whimper-Whineyland and decides his mother was right! If only he can get back home. Peter and the Whimper-Whineys has won a 2011 USA Best Books Finalist Award, and a 2011 Readers Favorite Bronze Medal.

My thoughts: Peter is another that needs to learn behavior skills and get-along-with-others manners.  He was not good to be around anyone!  Let's see how Ms. Cannon helps Peter learn not to whimper....

In a house in the forest all covered with vines

Lived a very small rabbit who did nothing by whine.

He'd whine and he'd cry from morning till night,

and nothing that anyone did would be right.

and later...... (after meeting a little man ....)

"I've heard all the whining and crying you do,"

Whined the strange little man with the great big red nose,

Who was dressed all in green in his strange little clothes.

"I'm a Whimper-Whiney, a Whimper-Whiney Man,

And I've come to take you to Whimper-Whineyland."

Of course the little man was his imagination or dream, but it seem to bring him around to living without whimpering and whining. 

I found these books enjoyable to read, very nicely illustrated by the Kalpart team, and educational for children as well as "fun."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just enter via the Rafflecopter links below.  (Please be patient as Rafflecopter is sometimes a bit slow to load.) This giveaway only open to USA addresses. Begins Jan. 3, 2013 - ENDS January 26 at 12:01 a.m. EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: The author, Sherrill S. Cannon provided a copy of each of these books for the purpose of my giving an honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and no requirement for a positive review was made.  A copy of each book will be provided by the author and mailed by the author directly to the giveaway winner.