What Do You Say, Dear?

1958, Addison-Wesley Publishing; 1959 Caldecott Honor Book

"A HANDBOOK OF ETIQUETTE
FOR YOUNG LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN
TO BE USED AS A GUIDE
FOR EVERYDAY
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR"

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Sesyle Joslin

Joslin (1929 - ) started her literary career as an editorial assistant and magazine columnist. What Do You Say, Dear? was her first children's book. It was followed by What Do You Do, Dear? in 1961.  Many of Joslin's later books are also focused on etiquette and manners for children.

Maurice Sendak

Most of us know Sendak's (1928-2012) work through his 1964 Caldecott Medal book Where the Wild Things Are. But, he had already been awarded a Caldecott Honor for his work in What Do You Say, Dear! in 1959 and a Caldecott Medal in 1962 for Little Bear's Visit.

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Book Synopsis

What do you say when introduced to a baby elephant or bump into a crocodile on a crowded street or drop in for tea through the Duchess's roof? Joslin and Sendak share the perfect etiquette for just such social encounters!

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Picture book, 48 pages. A whimsically funny book about manners for children, but  also enjoyed by the grown-ups!

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Learning Options

Family Read Aloud Time
This is a lovely book to read whenever you or the children need a good giggle. Remembering manners becomes enjoyable with "what do you say, dear?" echoing around the house.

Classroom Resource
What Do You Say, Dear? is a useful - funny! - book to introduce or expand on the topic of why classroom expectations are important.

Learning at Home
In addition to introducing etiquette in a giggly-manner, What Do You Say, Dear? is a wonderful addition to an author/illustrator study. There are many, many resources to study Where the Wild Things Are, but Sendak's art includes costume and stage designs for opera and ballet.

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