Monster Manners

Reach for this book when your child is feeling the pressure of being perfect or when they are struggling to understand why some children follow social rules while others do not. In this silly role-reversal story, a polite little monster named Rosie creates a crisis in her household because she insists on having good manners. Her parents are horrified by her kindness and desperate for her to act like a 'real' monster, which leads to a hilarious exploration of what it means to fit in and be yourself. This early chapter book uses absurdism to help children ages 4 to 8 process the concept of social expectations. It is an ideal choice for the child who is naturally helpful but sometimes feels like an outsider among more rambunctious peers. It reinforces the idea that kindness is a strength, even when it feels like the world is upside down.