No More Nice [Paperback]

Amy MacDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Welcome to the world of Mr. Rude, Mr. Crude, and Mr. Ugly!

Eleven-year-old Simon has been taught always to be polite, but in Aunt Mattie and Uncle Philbert's house, the rules are different. Even the animals including-a loudmouthed parrot and llmas named Mr. Rude, Mr. Crude, and Mr. Ugly say and do as they please. Aunt Mattie and Uncle Philbert tell Simon that good manners in their house mean thinking for yourself, saying what you think, interrupting-and burping when you feel like it.

Simon is having a wonderful visit with his aunt and uncle, but what's going to happen when he tries out his new good manners at home?

01 Nutmeg Children's Book Award Nomination Masterlist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6?Apprehensive about meeting his great-aunt for the first time, Simon envisions a stereotyped old, feeble, child-hating witch. What he finds instead is a kindhearted goofball who admonishes him for not interrupting and for asking too few questions. Along with her curmudgeonly and irascible husband Philbert, Mattie sets out to give goody two-shoes Simon "un-lessons" so he can produce a variety of armpit tunes, as well as burp satisfyingly. Cussing (as opposed to cretin cursing), using alliterative and creatively concatenated words, is another "proper kid" skill Simon learns. So, armed with new talents and an unabridged vocabulary, he returns to face his aunt, uncle, and corpulent cousin who are staying at his home until their seemingly interminable interior decoration project is completed. While Aunt Mattie and Uncle Philbert are supposed to be free spirits unencumbered by trivial adult rules, they come across instead as silly and irritating, sort of like bored, obnoxious children. Rudeness is a tricky form of self-defense, and MacDonald misleads her readers into believing they can cuss?and spit?their way out of confrontations with bullies. And sassing teachers (even when defending a fellow student), overbearing relatives, or a traffic cop may seem cathartic to rules-laden children, but they'll soon find that a dissolute week in the country may be as much anarchy as they can handle.?John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. When 11-year-old Simon is sent by train to spend spring vacation with his eccentric great-aunt and -uncle, he is apprehensive but resigned. Simon realizes this will be no ordinary vacation when Aunt Mattie greets him with a dripping goldfish bowl on the front seat, and Uncle Philbert insists he learn how to burp out loud and cuss. He is shocked by their rude parrot and the general disarray of their unconventional home. He learns how to spit from three ornery llamas and sleeps with an obnoxious cat. By the time Simon returns to his parents, he has also learned the true reasons behind politeness and manners. He tries out his new lessons on several occasions with relatives and schoolmates, proving that he can think for himself about lots of issues. This book, illustrated with delightful pen-and-ink drawings by Cat Bowman Smith, tells a humorous story with a warm message. Susan DeRonne --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380730553
• ISBN-13: 978-0380730551
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,713,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Cheers for No More Nice, January 2, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: No More Nice (Paperback)

This book was very facinating to me. I liked how the lamas were named Mr. Crude, Mr. Rude and Mr. Ugly. I think everybody should have a chance to read books by Amy MacDonald, especially No More Nice. Maybe some of us should have unlessons it may help! Ms. MacDonald has my vote for the 2001 Nutmeg Award.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good idea, but..., June 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: No More Nice (Paperback)

I thought this would be a lot more fun to read. Certainly the great-aunt and great-uncle are fun characters, and the idea is good. But the ending is contrived and can be seen coming from the very first few pages. I found much of the humor forced. But then, I'm not ten years old, and perhaps I'm thinking from too adult a point of view. However, I've certainly enjoyed and laughed at many other children's books, so I think that can't be the only reason I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.