When a young lad organizes a Halloween party, he doesn't realize that it is all of the uninvited guests who will cause him so much trouble. Ogres, witches, skeletons, and other horrors join his party, freely mingling with his costumed friends (who don't notice a thing!). However, when the uninvited guests begin to trash his home, the hero of the story lectures them and starts them to clean the mess they've made. But, can they clean the mess before his parents arrive?

This cute book is presented all in rhyme, but the rhythm of the text is so lose, that it does not become oppressive (e.g. out/ home/ afternoon/ phone/ plans/ here/ not/ fear.). The illustrations (one page-sized picture for each page of text) are quite quirky, and add a lot to the general feel of the book. My seven-year-old son enjoyed this book immensely. He did not find the rhyming too heavy, so I wouldn't let that worry you.

Overall, this is a great book.

My 3 year old son found this book one day while waiting the the pediatricians office. He loved it so much I read it to him 3 times before the doctor came in. The language in it was above his level in most cases but the pictures just enthralled him. I will be ordering it for him! :)

From "not your average author," multi-talented Barry Louis Polisar, comes this not-your-average children's book. It presents a lively collection of some common and not-so-common insects (among them the dung beetle and the praying mantis). One reason I liked it: it's funny stuff about REAL insects, not made-up, fantasy bugs. It also has nice big print (for early readers) and humorous illustrations in rich, beautiful color by David Clark (1996 winner of the Rubin Award for Newspaper Illustration from the National Cartoonist Society). The terse wit of Polisar's poems brings Ogden Nash to mind, as in "Take my advice / Avoid all lice. / They simply are / Not very nice." Enough said?--Editor, Montessori Life

I picked up this book in a doctor's office to pass the time. In a few minutes, I was laughing out loud. This is not a book to be taken seriously, and I would not share it with literal-minded children. However, for any person with a good sense of humor, it's a riot.

Anyone who lives with kids or is a kid, will appreciate the real life humor of this book. People aren't perfect and you've GOT to let off stress and pressure somehow. And there's no better way than teasing your siblings or embarrassing your parents, or playing little harmless practical jokes.

This book DOES stress that going too far with it is wrong, and only encourages harmless fun...unless you were highly sensitive and don't get along with other human beings, you'll love this book.

Even the illustrations are funny. Like the section on "What do do when your parents do dumb things". It shows the parents dressed like ridiculous tourists and advices the child not get embarrassed, but "instead, look around the room as if you were looking for your real parents..." The humor is along those lines. Totally harmless and funny as hell...I mean heck.

This is a funny book. The person who said she didn't like this book might have missed the title: "Don't Do That: A Child's Guide to Bad Manners." It is--afterall--a funny book about silly manners and I really liked it a lot. The author seems to realize that kids aren't stupid and understands when parents are too serious. The pictures are funny too. I like all of this author's books but this one is the funniest.