This book was distributed in the first set of poise-charm classes that I took at Gayfers department store in Montgomery, Alabama at age 12. Through weekly drills, we covered topics such as walking on a runway, making regular poise-pivot turns and Dutch boys, climbing stairs, doing introductions, maintaining good posture, and sitting properly, among others. In the end, we had a fashion show at the mall, and membership in the Jr. Gayfer Girl Club was extended to us, along with seasonal store discounts at 10%. This was the summer of 1983 when "Calvins" still meant almost everything and many girls in my class said that Tom Selleck was their favorite actor; it was before anyone had ever heard of a concept such as the "supermodel." By this I mean that few if any of us in the class had an idea of who Gia Carangi was or what she represented at the time. As I recall, Stewart's book covers numerous questions: How to set a table? How to make introductions? What to do when you lose your best friend or boyfriend- the kinds of relationships that are at best "iffy" from the start? (And this is where I first learned that word, along with a few others, for overall, Stewart addresses her young audience with the grace of Miss Manners and does not condescend to it by watering down her language). How to handle it when you are the target of gossip? She offers a party lexicon, consisting of varieties such as the "come as you are party." She addresses the importance of sending a "bread and butter" note after visiting someone. There are even, I think, a few recipes. And there's a section for filling in your family tree inside the front cover. We never engaged this book directly in our course, but this was reading that I complemented by poring over illustrated sections on "social graces" in one of the old and very thick dictionaries in our house, which seemed to cover just about everything. I was disappointed that in a later charm course I took at age 14, the official book was one from Seventeen magazine and more focused on makeup instead of the development of social skills along the lines of Stewart's book. I even read and referred to her book many times throughout my early teen years. I finally passed my much loved copy on to the preteen little sister of my boyfriend when I was 17, for I was tutoring her in math at the time. In retrospect, this is a book that part of me wishes I'd held on to as a keepsake, for only hindsight has allowed me to understand fully the difference that it helped to make in my social, emotional and personal development and maturation. In general, exposure to a text with that kind of orientation at an early age also introduced me to and gave me a deep love and appreciation for the "how to" genre, and to this day, as an adult working as a university professor and moonlighting as an artist, I regularly mix "how to" books into the range of selections that I read. This book may have also put me on the road to cultivating a love for books in the self-help genre, though I don't always have a lot of time to read these kinds of selections. The world has changed a lot since this book's first publication date, and with all the complex issues youth often face in and beyond school settings these days, it may well come across to some as dated and old-fashioned. But I think that there is a timeless quality about it that would make it work for any time.

In the days of cotillion and other social occasions, my son surreptitiously found the information he needed in this book that just happened to be in his bookcase. He was openly delighted when the updated version arrived for his son's first birthday. It is written in such a manner that young boys don't feel preached to. I do disagree with the age classification you have given it.

My boys are grown - in their 30s and blessed with the manners that would make even the most picky parent proud. And it all started with this book. They've both told me they accepted it immediately because (1) it never preached or talked down to them, and (2) it gave them really cool ideas (like putting gum down the drain - let's forget about that). Each found it amazing that he was able to actually stand up, shake hands, and say "how do you do" without feeling like a dork, and then realizing that it made a real difference in how adults responded. That first success had them hooked, and they never looked back. Now it's time for the grandsons, and their dads are thrilled that the book is still going strong. And so is grandpa.

This is a perfect book to give as a gift to new parents or grandparents of a baby boy. Most boys will not pick this up and read it. It will have to be 'assigned' with a bribe! This is not the fault of the book, but rather the nature of young boys. It may be better read to them or read by parents and then implimented. The authors have done a superb job in making this dry topic fun and interesting. Parents can brush up on manners at the same time. I think it is a must for any family with sons.I especially liked the pictures to give you concrete information. The section on how to choose a suit and knotting ties was excellent These are just a few of the wonderful lessons.Bravo!

A point of clarification. This December 1988 reissue is not an updated version as a previous reviewer suggested. I bought it thinking it was an update, but it is not. It is only a reissue of the 1965 version. I am returning it.

Though I had this book when I was a child, in the late sixties, early seventies, I would give it to my children now. Beautiful, delicate illustrations along with easy to read text introduce children to the fine points of etiquette. I love this book and still have my original yellow copy!

This book should be at the top of the gift list for daughters and granddaughters. I have even sent it without an enclosure card to a young girl who really needed it. Whether it is for a brushup on all those things you've been telling your girls for years or is desperately needed, it's the only book I've found to do the job gently and with a feeling for modern day problems.