Read, Write, Repeat.

Every family has rules.

Just ask today’s guest reviewer, Sofia. She can easily run down a list of things her parents frequently tell her to do:

• Clean your room. (“I always have clothes lying around,” she says.)
• Do your homework.
• Be nice to your brother.
• Clean up! (“It’s a lot of clothes,” she says.)

But fortunately for Sofia, her parents don’t use a little blue book written by noted etiquette expert Emily Post to help keep her in line.

That’s what happens to the children in Jennifer LaRue Huget’s debut picture book Thanks a LOT, Emily Post! (Schwartz & Wade, 2009). Their mother buys Emily’s book and starts insisting everyone follow her rules like — “No elbows on the table!” “No slumping!” “Only speak when you’re spoken to!”

The children are miserable. So they decide to turn the tables on their mother and point out all the ways she doesn’t live up to Emily’s exalted expectations. Will that be enough to make their mother lose the dreaded blue book?

Let’s ask Sofia.

Today’s guest reviewer: Sofia

Age: 7

I like: Playing four-square with the first-graders. Reading books. Going ice-skating and roller-skating. Blowing bubbles with my friends, Grace and Eva.

This book was about: A family with three kids who weren’t allowed to do fun things like talk and feed their dog. They have to follow a lot of rules from Emily Post and can’t do anything fun. Until one of the kids has a good idea.

I laughed when: The kids said, “Couldn’t … couldn’t … COULDN’T!” I always repeat that part.

Three words that best describe this book: “Emily Post.” “Friends.” “Couldn’t.” “Miserable.” That’s really four words.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The page where everything is blue.

This book taught me: Not to be like Emily Post. She kind of overdid things.

You should read this book because: You can learn some new things about Emily Post and increase your imagination. It’s a really fun book.

Thanks, Sofia!

The book includes background information about Emily Post and the characters she invented — like Mrs. Worldly, Mrs. Toplofty, Mrs. Wellborn and The Kindharts — to help illustrate her examples of good behavior.

Jennifer also has a new picture book out called How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps. It reminds me of Delia Ephron’s How to Eat Like a Child. Here’s a review by another blogger.

If you’d like to learn more about Jennifer, who also writes health articles for the Washington Post, visit this website.

If you’d like to learn more about illustrator Alexandra Boiger, visit this website.

Today’s guest book reviewer on Read, Write, Repeat is Sofia.

She read Penny’s Christmas Jar Miracle (Shadow Mountain, 2009) as part of a Christmas project her classroom is conducting. We’ll hear what she says about the book, and then learn a little more about the project.

Penny’s Christmas Jar Miracle is related to two adult books by Jason F. Wright – The Christmas Jars and The Christmas Jars Reunion. All have the same theme of giving to others.

Our reviewer: Sofia

Age: 7

I like: Building snow creations with my brother, reading chapter books and playing tag with my friends.

This book was about: A little girl named Penny. Every year her family would have a hot chocolate stand, and they would collect money, put it in a jar and give it to somebody who needed it. This year, they decided to give it to everyone in the neighborhood. Then the neighbors decided to help Grandpa Charlie.

The best part was when: They had a big Christmas party with everyone in the neighborhood, and they all gave money to Grandpa Charlie — a neighbor who was sick.

I laughed when: Butterflies fluttered in Penny’s stomach.

I was worried when: Grandpa Charlie became sick and Penny thought he wouldn’t be able to come to the party.

I was surprised that: The whole neighborhood came to Grandpa Charlie’s house for the Christmas Eve party.

This book taught me: To give money to the poor or the homeless or to someone who might need it.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: Penny’s different idea for how to use the Christmas Jar this year.

Three words that best describe this book are: Christmas, Penny and giving.

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “Penny motioned for Grandpa Charlie to lean down. ‘We’re not giving away our jar this year,’ she whispered. ‘We’re having a fancy party instead. I’m making invitations for everyone in the neighborhood. But shhh – it’s still a secret.’”

You should read this book because: It’s a good book about the real meaning of Christmas.

Sofia’s second-grade class read this book and then decided to fill a Christmas Jar of their own. Children from the class are collecting coins right now. Then, they’ll vote on which of several local nonprofit organizations will receive their gift. I’ll share the amount they collected and the recipient organization in a future post.

If you’d like to read about some people who have given and received Christmas Jars, their stories are on this Web site. Have some tissues handy.

If you want to learn more about author Jason F. Wright, visit his Web site.

If you want to learn more about illustrator Ben Sowards, visit his Web site.