Forget all those smarmy books full of buzz words and advice that will never work on real kids. Miss Manners knows what it really takes to raise polite kids. She also is so funny that you will literally laugh out loud while you read through this book. You'll read it straight through like a novel and you'll be so glad to have it on hand to answer questions that pop up. A fantastic baby shower gift!

"Judith" as she is called so often (and improperly!) writes with such a playful tone that even my 12 year old wants to read her insights on Rearing Perfect Children. (She likes finding out just WHY I make her do certain things!) I grew up without such a book, but I assure you, each and every "rule" that Judith posits, is RIGHT ON POINT. My older cousin and I recently marvelled at how lovely our lives have been BECAUSE those same Rules were inculcated into us,time and time again, all of our lives. Neither of us has EVER had an awkward social moment, and yes, we each know how to be presented to Royalty, AND which knife is the fish knife and which is the oyster fork! (knowing the Rules early on makes life such a breeze-one never has to THINK about them--one is on auto-pilot from age 14 or so!

Did you ever wish your children were presentable in public? Did you ever wish they were tolerable at home? Then this book is for you! And if your children are already presentable and tolerable, you'll die laughing at Miss Manners' wit and wisdom. You'll reread this book every year and enjoy it every time. Before you know it, you'll be enjoying an outing to the mall with all your kids in tow.