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Lately Mason and Kyla have been getting on each other’s nerves recently. It seems like everytime I turn around I’m asking them “What happened?”, “What were you trying to do?” and even “Why would you do that?!”. Once of Mason’s major complaints when it comes to Kyla is that she loves to pinch him. She does a pinch scratch combo that is not for the faint of heart.
Due to their recent fighting and Kyla’s love of retaliating by pinching her big brother I knew Rules of the House written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Matt Myers had to make its way into our home.
Ian always follows the rules. His sister, Jenny, breaks them all the time—especially “Don’t pinch.” So Ian is thrilled when the house where his family is vacationing posts a tidy list of rules. But when Jenny breaks them all, the house itself decides it’s time for payback. The rug, the stove, and the bathtub are hungry for rulebreaker soup, and they’ve found the perfect ingredient: Jenny!
Now Ian is faced with a thorny question: What if saving your sister means breaking the rules?
See why I just had to have this book for my kids? Between the fighting and pinching I knew the kids could learn a thing or two from Rules of the House. They very day we got the book we read it before bedtime. It was a great conversation starter for both of my kids but especially Mason. They learned the age old lesson, it’s one thing if you pick on your brother or sister but it’s quite another if someone else does it.
Whenever it seems like Mason wants to feed Kyla to the monsters I remind him of Ian and how he actually doesn’t want to feed his sister to the monsters even though he thought he did at first.. When you have a sibling you’re a team. You stick together no matter what! Being the oldest of seven I understand how important this concept is and I love being able to bring it up in a fun way with Rules of the House.
Matt Myers includes so many great details in his illustrations, it seems like every time we read the book we find something new in the pictures. We’re so excited to add another great book to our home library.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mac Barnett is the New York Times best-selling author of over twenty books for children, including Count the Monkeys, illustrated by Kevin Cornell; Chloe and the Lion, illustrated by Adam Rex; and Extra Yarn and Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, both illustrated by Jon Klassen, and both winners of a Caldecott Honor and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. He also writes the Terrible Two series with Jory John. Mac lives in Berkeley, California. Visit him at macbarnett.com.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Matt Myers studied at the Museum Art School in Portland, Oregon, where he majored in both fine arts and graphic arts. He has illustrated a number of books for children, including the Brixton Brothers series by Mac Barnett, Clink by Kelly DiPucchio, and the New York Times best seller Battle Bunny, by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett. Matt lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Visit him at myerspaints.com.
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I think rules are meant to be followed, but most of the time that’s not the case.
I think it all depends on the rule!
Kids – follow! But still letting them be kids 🙂
I think that totally depends on the rule and the reason behind breaking it.
Followed!