Customer Reviews

Goops and How to Be Them: A Manual of Manners for Polite Infants

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My volume of "Goops and How to Be Them" is in its thirty-eighth printing in the year of 1928. It comes straight off the shelf in the private school library where I am librarian in the process of weeding the collection and automating the keepers. The Goops is a keeper. (Actually, I've ordered a new copy to replace the old.)

When I first saw how old the book is (but still in usable condition), I thought to remove it until I looked at the product page on Amazon. One, the book is still in print, and two, other reviewers speak fondly of the book! Me, I just met the Goops. How do you do, Goops? The complete subtitle is "A manual of Manners for Polite Infants Inculcating many Juvenile Virtues Both by Precept and Example With Ninety Drawings," written and illustrated by Gelett Burgess.

As Gelett states in the Introduction:

Let me introduce a Race
Void of Beauty and Grace,
Extraordinary Creatures
With a Paucity of Features.

The cover of the new printing shows Goops in color but still with those round, empty-ish heads that can become quite expressive in the hands of the proper illustrator.

Yet you'll learn, if you are Bright,
Politeness from the Impolite.
When you've finished with the Book,...
Ask yourself, upon the Spot,
Are you Goop, or are you Not?
For, although it's Fun to See them
It is Terrible to Be them!

There you have it: a book of manners reverse style. Such topics as Table Manners, Cleanliness, Courtesy, Generosity, Borrowing, Tidiness, Patience, Pets, Clothes, and Quietness are demonstrated, not by what the Goops do, but by what they should do.

Hint about the candy, say you're fond of peppermint;
That's the way to be a Goop--hint, hint, hint!

Or this little poem about Caution in the streets (Reader, be forewarned of danger!)

When you travel in the street,
Are you cautious and discreet?
Do you look about for horses
When your brother crosses?

Try explaining that one to your little ones!

My personal fave:

The Goops are very hard to kill,
So they hang out the Window-sill;
Down the Banisters they slide--
I could do it if I tried;
but when Mother tells me "Don't,"
then, of course I really won't!

Or this one last elegant piece of instruction--

One more rule won't hurt you:
When you practise Virtue,
Do it with a laugh!

and that was in the 1970s. My grandmother gave me my copy, and my five year old son was enthralled by it when I pulled it out last year (he was in the middle of a strong interest in rules and manners). Some bits are clearly dated (watch out for the horses when crossing the street!) but that just seems to add to the fascination.

We have been reading a few of these poems at dinner time and discussing what makes a Goop and how we can not be a Goop. It is a fun way to discuss manners and practice a few. Don't let the title for infants fool you, it applies to everyone.

Growing up, I heard the Goop verses from my mother and my aunt, and later was able to read them myself. Now I have a grand daughter and am happy to find that I can purchase exactly what I remember (except in far better condition) to share with her.

Probably requires a somewhat unusual taste, but what a treat.

"The Goops they lick their fingers.
The Goops they lick their knives.
They spill their broth on the table cloth
And lead disgusting lives."

This was a favorite book when I was small - one that I associate with sweet times reading with my grandmother. It was time to replace my tattered volume for the next generation, and this is a wonderful edition. The Goops, while dated, are still charming, funny, and engaging. And the lessons will never go out of style.

Goops and How to Be them is a great book for children. It was originally written in the 1800 and some words are a bit different than the words we use today, but the message of the verse is clear. The only thing I had to complain about is The Goops they use no page numbers!! The Goops they list the index!

My grandmother used to quote this book to us when we were children. She quoted it to my mother & her siblings when they were children. My mother now quotes it to her grandchildren, but she didn't really know where the poems originated. Needless to say Mom was thrilled to receive this Goops book for Christmas and has been spending lots of quality time with her great grandchildren reading it to them -- they all love it.

It was the absolute perfect gift! Thanks Amazon!

Back when common courtesy and manners existed! From learning how to eat soup and great drarwings this book is fantastic, fun, and important for the greater good of mankind!

I had this book growing up, my dad had this book growing up.... It's the best and most delightful self-help, motivational book out today. I wish more people took the time to read this Manual of Manners... the world would be a better place for you and me.