SuitabookDo Unto Otters
Laurie Keller
- Reading
- Read it interactively: notice the visual silliness, pause at each example, and invite the child to connect one manner with a real-life situation without turning the conversation into a test of perfect behaviour.
- Themes
- The Golden Rule: The book uses the Golden Rule as its organising idea: the rabbit considers how he would like the otters to treat him and applies that thinking to his own behaviour. The Golden Rule is presented positively as a useful way to think about friendly and considerate relationships.
- Neighbourly manners: New otter neighbours create the situation in which the rabbit thinks about saying hello, smiling, making eye contact, saying thank you and excuse me, and behaving honestly and considerately. These behaviours are recommended as ways to support amicable neighbourly relations, with humour used to keep the lesson lively.
- Worth knowing
- Pause over the difference between simply following rules and noticing other people’s needs. The book’s examples may invite discussion about when friendliness, honesty or cooperation require judgement.