May I Bring a Friend has a copyright of 1964. I feel that some old stories, like this one by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers, give children a window into history and an chance to talk about big issues. When a king and queen invite a child to the castle, the child asks to bring a friend. The king and queen reply, "My dear, my dear, Any friend of our friend Is welcome here." The friends are a animals that sometimes create chaos. At the conclusion of the story, the king and queen visit the animals at the zoo. The text is predictable and the animals' behavior surprising, which may be a valuable way to orient very young readers to the structure of narrative. I especially enjoy the unusual rhyme format that appears on a few pages, for example:
"They hung from the roof. They sat on the floor. They ate and they ate Till there wasn't any more to eat."
The illustration style of Beni Montresor will seem outdated compared to contemporary techniques. But what better way to expose young eyes to famous artists. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 1965. Weighty topics can include appropriate table manners (the animals display the behaviors of an untamed toddler), the role of zoos in society, and the preservation of habitat for wild animals.
Apple Girl Amber has Manners at the Table. Bre Doyle has Basic Table Manners. Anna N has Learning Table Manners (Group role-play activity).
