Miss Mistake at Home by Headline Books / Zoom Into Books

Miss Mistake sometimes doesn’t know the proper thing to say or do around others. Thank goodness for her smart butterfly friend, Mannie, who teaches her the polite thing to say or do in a way that is fun and kind. Studies show that children who are socially adept are more successful throughout their lives (when it comes to making friends, doing well in school, avoiding risky behaviors and holding a stable job). Join Miss Mistake as she learns how to be her very best self at home, at school, in a restaurant, at the movie theater and everywhere!

—Dr. Claudio Cerullo, School Principal and Founder of Teach Anti Bullying at www.teachantibullying.org

“Miss Mistake is a realistic character who helps children learn polite ways to behave in common situations. Her experiences offer a springboard for great conversations and problem solving.”

Miss Mistake, Mind Your Manners at Home!

“Miss Mistake: Mind Your Manners At Home is a lovely elementary book that truly depicts the essence of having good manners and respect toward one another. It also illustrates to children that having respect, good manners, and being courteous to one another can promote a healthy learning environment. I would recommend this delightful children’s book for any parent or teacher who has children second through sixth grade.”

At Ho me!

—Karen Smith, Reading Specialist, Governor Mifflin School District Berks Co., PA

Donna Bostany is a Certified Etiquette Instructor with Your Charming Child ~ Etiquette Instruction and teaches preschool music and yoga. She holds a BA degree in Theater Arts from Penn State University and has been featured in stage, television and movie productions.

Lisa Butowsky & Donna Bostany

Lisa Butowsky is a Certified Etiquette Instructor and Founder of Your Charming Child ~ Etiquette Instruction. She has a BS degree in Infancy and Early Childhood Development from Penn State University. Ms. Butowsky has spent much of her career working with children in various settings and has worked with troubled teens as a Mental Health Technician. www.YourCharmingChild.com

Lisa Butowsky & Donna Bostany illustrated by Donna Bostany

At Home!

Lisa Butowsky & Donna Bostany illustrated by Donna Bostany

Miss Mistake, Mind Your Manners - At Home! by Lisa Butowsky & Donna Bostany illustrated by Donna Bostany copyright ©2019 Lisa Butowsky & Donna Bostany All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents, except where noted otherwise, are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any other resemblance to actual people, places or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or for any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage system, without written permission from Headline Books. The Headline Kids Educational Series is a continuing series of 6 x 9 paperback books for the classroom, home school environment, parents and caregivers. The authors of these books are teachers, parents, and exceptional individuals who love children. The subject matter will be different in every book but all give inspiration to imagination and creativity. There is a learning element in every book and/or easy activity to do at home. Headline Kids celebrates children and these books will increase early learning and reading skills. To order additional copies of this book, or for book publishing information, or to contact the author: Headline Kids P. O. Box 52 Terra Alta, WV 26764 Email: mybook@headlinebooks.com www.headlinebooks.com Ashley Teets—Art Director Lucas Kelly—Design/Layout Published by Headline Books Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books ISBN-13: 9781946664648 Library of Congress Control Number: 2019901784

PR I N T E D I N T H E U N I T E D STAT E S OF A M E R IC A

To our wonderful mother, Marlene, who was the epitome of courtesy, compassion and respectfulness and who raised us with an abundance of love. These virtues, which she taught us, have allowed us to grow into happy, successful adultswhat most parents hope for their children.

Hi, I’m Missy Mistake but some people call me “Miss Mistake.” I am 10 years old and I live in a small town in Pennsylvania. I have a friend named Mannie. That’s his nickname but his real name is Manner Lee. He’s a very special butterfly but to me he’s just “Mannie” and he is a great friend. Mannie has a lot of patience and is the smartest, most polite friend I know. That means he has manners. He helps me a lot. See, I often do or say the wrong things; things that might sound or look rude or mean. I don’t try to be this way. It’s just that when my parents do tell me the right ways, I don’t really pay attention to them and I start to daydream. Or, sometimes I’m having a bad day, I forget the polite thing to do or I just don’t feel like using my manners. 4

I know we all make mistakes, but Mannie tells me there are no excuses for behaving rudely. It’s still hard for me so Mannie is there to remind me of the rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated! I don’t mind any of his advice because he tells me nicely and I want to learn. Join us on all our adventures and, perhaps, you can help me learn, along with Mannie, the better way to say and do things! 5

My grandparents will be visiting from Ohio and will be staying with us for a week. Wow, 7 days is a long time! Mom and Dad said we need to clean inside and make things look nice outside. This sounds like extra work to me! Mom said, “Missy, please clean your room and change the sheets on your bed. Your grandparents will be staying in your room.”

“What?! Why can’t they stay in your room or on the couch?!” I whined as I rolled my eyes and stomped my feet. Immediately, in flew Mannie through the window. There he was, shaking his tiny head, looking displeased. Do you know... what mistake did I make?

Mom looked very angry. Mannie explained, “Tsk, tsk. You are having visitors. Anytime you have visitors, your job is to make them feel as comfortable as possible. You need to show respect to your grandparents. That means you must treat them with extra kindness, consideration and honor. Respect ought to be given to your parents, teachers and older people like your grandparents. Not only is it disrespectful for you to talk back to your mother and roll your eyes, it is disrespectful to your grandparents to have them sleep on a couch, especially since they are elderly.”

Oh boy, Miss Mistake (that’s me) strikes again! I guess we all make mistakes. I’m happy I know for next time! So, I cleaned my room from top to bottom and it really wasn’t all that bad. I love my grandparents very much so it’s the least I could do. I even sprinkled some nice-smelling powder on the floor and vacuumed.

The next day, my dad asked me to pull weeds in front of the house. “But it’s soooo hot out and I will get my hands dirty! Plus, there are so many bugs out there.” My dad looked angry and insisted I do it. I was about to argue more when Mannie fluttered by and exclaimed, “Hey, I’m considered a bug!”

“But you’re different. You can talk and you’re not slimy or creepy!” I replied. Mannie shook his head sadly. Do you know…what mistake did I make?

Mannie reminded me that it’s not nice to answer back to my parents. “They are asking you to help out. This is your home too and you should pitch in. It is a privilege to be able to live in a house so you should have gratitude. A privilege is a special benefit; not everyone is lucky enough to have a home. Gratitude is being thankful and feeling grateful.”

Oh boy, Miss Mistake (that’s me) strikes again! I guess we all make mistakes. I’m happy I know for next time! I realized Mannie is right. I am lucky to have a front porch to sit on, a lawn to run around on, flowers and even weeds! I decided I will feel grateful.

Last o Man ne, nie!

u can I know yo ch better u m a e v i g hat! t n a h t g n greeti

Finally, the house was in order and my grandparents have arrived! I hadn’t seen them in a very long time and felt shy. I looked down and mumbled, “Hi” with a small wave. Mannie pursed his little lips and scrunched up his fuzzy eyebrows. Do you know…what mistake did I make?

I am so happy to see you both!

Mannie whispered in my ear, “Show respect and make your guests feel comfortable by giving a warm greeting and looking them in their eyes. If it’s a friend, a smile and a big hello are fine. For your relatives, it’s nice to give a hug or an extra special greeting, depending on how you were raised. Remember to always smile. Always.” 16

Oh boy, Miss Mistake (that’s me) strikes again! I guess we all make mistakes. I’m happy I know for next time! I went in for a hug, happy to smell my grandma’s perfume, touch my grandpa’s whiskers and feel their love. 17

I don’t re ally like giraf fes anymore.

Grandma brought her home-baked apple pie and chocolate chip cookies along with tomatoes from her garden. That was nice of her but I asked, “Did you bring anything for me?” Mannie looked shocked. Do you know…what mistake did I make? Mannie swooped in near my ear and said softly, “It’s considered rude to ask someone if he or she brought you a gift. Rude means having bad manners and can be insulting or hurtful.” Oh boy, Miss Mistake (that’s me) strikes again! I guess we all make mistakes. I’m happy I know for next time! Luckily, Grandpa overlooked my rudeness and took out a small package from his pocket. It was wrapped in polka-dotted paper with a green bow. He gave it to me with a smile. “Go ahead and open it,” he said. Happily, I opened the gift and saw that it was a necklace with a giraffe pendant on it. I immediately went from excited to disappointed and my face surely showed it. “I don’t really like giraffes anymore. When I was little I did.” My parents looked embarrassed by my answer. Here comes Mannie. Do you know…what mistake did I make? 18

Thank you, Grandpa! It’s lovely.

Mannie quietly said, “A smile and a ‘thank you’ are the best things to do and say when receiving a gift, even if you don’t like it or have something similar. Be gracious when someone gives you any gift. Gracious means courteous. It shows you are happy the person was thoughtful enough to get you a present. The very best things to do when someone hands you a gift, after thanking them, is explain how you might use the gift and send them a thank you note in the mail.” Oh boy, Miss Mistake (that’s me) strikes again! I guess we all make mistakes. I’m happy I know for next time! I changed my attitude, thought how nice it was that they brought me something and said with a smile, “Thank you! This will match a tan outfit I have and will look great!” 19

It was time for dinner and I was hungry from all the cleaning, tidying and learning! Mom and Dad prepared a beef stew with lots of vegetables. My stomach was making some loud, growling noises, and I couldn’t wait to eat. I saw Grandma struggle a bit with her chair but I plopped in my seat and stared at the food. Mannie, who was flittering nearby, pulled my Grandma’s chair out for her to sit on and pushed her chair in towards the table as she sat. Wow, Mannie is a very strong butterfly!

I realized, perhaps I should have helped her with her chair. I think that was a mistake not to help her. I’ll remember that for next time. I then grabbed the spoon and started to serve myself. Mannie circled in and took the spoon right out of my hand! Do you know… what mistake did I make?

You first, Grandma!

Thank you, Dear.

“Whoa, young lady!” whispered Mannie. “I know your parents taught you to allow guests to go first but you forgot, didn’t you? It would be even nicer if you offered to serve the food to your grandparents.” Oh boy, Miss Mistake (that’s me) strikes again! I guess we all make mistakes. I’m happy I know for next time! Thanks, Mannie! Before dinner, Mannie explained how to have a conversation. That means listening to others and answering their questions in an interesting way. It involves taking turns when speaking, conversing, with my grandparents or with anyone. Let’s see if you know the answers to some important questions, on the next page.

1. What are some things we should do to show others we are listening to them? 2. How should we speak to people in a respectful way? 3. What types of questions can we ask that will open up conversation? 4. How can we answer questions in a way that is interesting? 5. What are some rude behaviors people might do while someone is talking? How did you do? Did you know the answers? I do not know all the answers but Mannie will teach me. Lucky for us, Mannie is great at rhyming which can really help us remember! What are some things we should do to show others we are listening to them? Eye contact is important; look at others in their eyes. Being mindful of your body language is also very wise. Arms uncrossed, an occasional nod of your head and saying “uh-huh” will show interest in what is being said. Staying focused on the speaker, not distracted by a thing Makes the speaker feel special, like a queen or a king.

How should we speak to people in a respectful way? Direct eye contact and focus are what you can do to show you’re respectful, interested and friendly, too. For an elderly person or someone who cannot hear well, do not mumble or look down, but speak as “clear as a bell.” The goal is to make the listener feel comfortable and at ease so speak slowly with your strong voice and face the person, please.

What a clear, upbeat voice!

What types of questions can we ask people? All kinds of questions will certainly “break the ice” and taking turns asking open-ended questions is especially nice. This type of question requires more than a “Yes” or “No” but rather a more thoughtful answer that has somewhere to go. “Do you like baseball?” is close-ended since the person might say “No.” In that case, ask a follow-up question, “Which sports do you know?” Questions like, “What are your plans for Saturday?” and “Where will you go?” allow the person to answer with more than “Yes” or “No.” When speaking with adults, avoid questions about their age and weight. Questions about religion and money are also not great. You can ask about activities, hobbies, pets and school, There are so many topics to talk about that are very, very cool! of re some What a gs? in h t e orit your fav

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

How can we answer questions in a way that is interesting? It is best to answer with statements that keep the conversation going. This way your friendships will keep on growing! An answer such as, “I don’t know” or even a shrug puts a stop to conversation and may sound a bit smug. If you really don’t know the answer you can always offer to find out as long as you do not answer with a smirk or a pout. If you are asked, “Do you like chocolate ice cream?” and you do not, you can say, “No, chocolate is not my favorite, but I like cookies-n-cream a lot!” Then ask the person what his or her favorite ice cream is, too and he or she should also respond with a sentence or two.

What are some rude behaviors people might do while someone is talking? Interrupting someone, yawning loudly, looking at your watch or phone, rolling your eyes, whining, letting out a groan... All of these behaviors are considered very rude because they are the exact opposite of a friendly attitude. Speaking nonstop is rude since the listener deserves a turn. Bragging about something leaves no room to learn. It’s great to be proud of an achievement and mention it to a friend but going on and on and on is a rude annoyance without end!

Wow, that’s a lot of information but it’s all very important. I don’t want to make mistakes and appear rude or impolite. I can always count on Mannie to help me better myself and make a good impression on others. After dinner, while waiting for dessert, Grandpa asked me what my favorite dessert was. At first, I was simply going to quietly answer, “I don’t know,“ with a shrug. However, I remembered Mannie’s advice about answering in an interesting way and, while looking right in Grandpa’s eyes and speaking loudly, slowly and clearly, I confidently answered, “Soft chocolate chip cookies, baked at home, are my favorite, just like the ones Grandma brought!” Everyone loved my answer. We then ate the cookies and pie Grandma had made, which were so scrumptious. For Mannie, we set out a cup of nectar, a sweet liquid that comes from flowers. Again, I remembered Mannie’s rhyming advice and asked my family members what their favorite desserts were. This kept the conversation going for awhile and we laughed a lot! I listened carefully, giving good eye contact and nodding my head.

My favorite... Thank you!

A few days later, it was time for my grandparents to leave. I was very sad since I enjoyed their stories and the way they listened to my stories, as well. Now I know the correct way to speak and to listen properly. I gave them a huge hug and a smile, asking them to return again soon. When they were gone, I was still sad. Mannie tried to cheer me up with his butterfly tricks but it didn’t work. He suggested, “Why don’t you write a thank you note to your grandparents for their visit and the gift they brought you? It’s always best to send a thank you note to anyone who brings you a gift or who does something nice for you. “I will write a thank you note to my Aunt Betty so you can see the proper way. My Aunt Betty is the one who taught me all about manners.” Below is Mannie’s thank you note. Notice he put the date in the upper right-hand corner and signed the card, “Love, Mannie.” Mannie said you can write “From,” “Sincerely,” “Best Regards” or a different closing before you sign your name. He added an extraspecial touch by drawing a picture.

I felt very happy after creating the card and couldn’t wait to mail it. I asked Mannie, “Did I make a mistake?” He cheerfully replied, “Not at all. It looks great and I am very proud of how you are using all of the important information you were taught. This shows you are mature and want to be the best person you can be!” He’s right. I will always do my best to be kind, considerate and respectful at home, at school and everywhere. Mom and Dad will be thrilled!

I hope you will join Mannie, me and some new friends on our next adventure. I may make more mistakes (since we all make mistakes) but you and my smart butterfly friend can help me with my manners!

—Dr. Claudio Cerullo, School Principal and Founder of Teach Anti Bullying at www.teachantibullying.org

“Miss Mistake is a realistic character who helps children learn polite ways to behave in common situations. Her experiences offer a springboard for great conversations and problem solving.”

Miss Mistake, Mind Your Manners at Home!

At Ho me!

—Karen Smith, Reading Specialist, Governor Mifflin School District Berks Co., PA

Lisa Butowsky & Donna Bostany

Lisa Butowsky & Donna Bostany illustrated by Donna Bostany