Federico, “a naughty boy whose manners [will] not do,” gets a rude awakening in this entertaining picture book debut by Van Every. When he refuses to follow the rules at home, Federico’s father finally loses it—and sends him to the infamous Madame Giroux, “the strictest teacher in all of France.” Madame Giroux, who lives in a foreboding mansion perched on the pinnacle of a hill in the town of Vence, definitely looks the part: her lips are pursed, she’s hopping mad, and her face is fixed into a permanent scowl. Unfortunately, that gruff exterior doesn’t have the desired effect on young Federico, who insists on learning this lesson the hard way.

Jason Doll’s bold illustrations flawlessly channel the mock seriousness of Federico’s situation, painting his time at Madame Giroux’s boarding school in cool, somber shades, broken up by the occasional bright splash of color—as when Madame Giroux, without her trusty eyeglasses thanks to Federico’s endless pranking, concocts a serious mess in the kitchen, a scene that hums with shades of viscous green goo and an array of ominous cooking utensils. That prank, of course, backfires on Federico, who quickly finds out a madame who can’t see is a disaster waiting to happen—especially when it comes to his mealtimes.

Natural consequences eventually teach Federico the manners his family’s been hoping for, and astute readers will speculate just how much of that lesson Madame Giroux may have planned out. The end result is a Federico who “says his please and thank yous, just like all children should,” a valuable exercise in the appeal behind social graces. Kids will especially appreciate the imminent relatability of Federico—a young boy too focused on having fun, who doesn’t quite think ahead to the aftereffects of his actions. This is sure to be a hit with readers of all ages.

Takeaway: An impeccable celebration of good manners.

Comparable Titles: Jane Yolen and Mark Teague’s How Do Dinosaurs Show Good Manners?, Pat Zietlow Miller’s Be Kind.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A