Rules of the Wild: An Unruly Book of Manners
Kindergarten-Grade 3–This clever, well-executed book will grab children's attention and make them laugh. By showing examples of inappropriate behavior for humans that is natural for wild animals, readers are left to draw their own conclusions. And they will. For example, camels spit but polite people don't. Lions roar, but people who do the same are considered rude. Shepherd's illustrations are witty and expressive, and add lots of extra details to the text. The final spread features an illustrated chart that lists behaviors (Are you allowed to…?) down the left side, and headshots of animals and a child across the top, with each matrix filled in with a "YES" or "NO." This book, about a somewhat neglected topic, is a charmer for all libraries that serve children–or wild animals. A great read-aloud for one or many.–Mary Hazelton, Warren Community School, MECopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.