Cue the pretend drum-roll: Keats's parents have a big surprise. No, they're not having a new baby. It's -- wait for it, wait for it -- a family road trip!
Okay, so this is not exactly the birthday present Keats had in mind (no iPod?!), but when Dad parks a rented RV in the Dalinger's driveway, Keats piles in with the rest of his family -- and the manny, of course -- bound for the open road. From the big skies of farm country to the bright lights of Las Vegas, this, in typical manny fabulousness, is an all-American adventure filled with more Glamour-dos than Glamour-don'ts. But a stopover at the manny's childhood home is making the manny feel not so fabulous. Why can't his parents ever accept him for who he is? And Keats, at first, sees their point. Why does the manny always have to be so interesting?
Hit the road for more manny shenanigans, where it's all about Elton John, Diet Coke, and being brave enough to be yourself.
Okay, so this is not exactly the birthday present Keats had in mind (no iPod?!), but when Dad parks a rented RV in the Dalinger's driveway, Keats piles in with the rest of his family -- and the manny, of course -- bound for the open road. From the big skies of farm country to the bright lights of Las Vegas, this, in typical manny fabulousness, is an all-American adventure filled with more Glamour-dos than Glamour-don'ts. But a stopover at the manny's childhood home is making the manny feel not so fabulous. Why can't his parents ever accept him for who he is? And Keats, at first, sees their point. Why does the manny always have to be so interesting?
Hit the road for more manny shenanigans, where it's all about Elton John, Diet Coke, and being brave enough to be yourself.
ALA Stonewall Book Award Honor-Barbara Gittings Literature
Lambda Literary Award Finalist
Josette Frank Award Winner
Manny /ma·ne/ n
A male nanny or babysitter, known to be handsome, fabulous, and a lover of eighties music
"Be interesting."
That's what the manny tells Keats Dalinger the first time he packs Keats's school lunch, but for Keats that's not always the easiest thing to do. Even though he's the only boy at home, it always feels like no one ever remembers him. His sisters are everywhere! Lulu is the smart one, India is the creative one, and Belly . . . well, Belly is the naked one. And the baby. School isn't much better. There, he's the shortest kid in the entire class.
But now the manny is the Dalinger's new babysitter, and things are starting to look up. It seems as though the manny always knows the right thing to do. Not everyone likes the manny as much as Keats does, however. Lulu finds the manny embarrassing, and she's started to make a list of all the crazy things that he does, such as serenading the kids with "La Cucaracha" from the front yard or wearing underwear on his head or meeting the school bus with Belly, dressed as limo drivers. Keats is worried. What if Lulu's "Manny Files" makes his parents fire the manny? Who will teach him how to be interesting then?
"This book not only portrays loving family relationships, but also shows how to deal with bullies through self-acceptance and an understanding of human nature. Whether readfor entertainment or for beginning a discussion on bullying, this book will find a wide audience."-- School Library Journal
"The story is both warm and funny."-- Booklist
"The Manny Files kicks Mary Poppins to the curb."-- New York Post
"The Manny is an unbelievable mensch, always trying to find ways to amuse them. He puts notes in their lunch boxes. He helps the boy deal with the class bully and advises the girl on her boy problems."-- New York Magazine
Lambda Literary Award Finalist
Josette Frank Award Winner
Manny /ma·ne/ n
A male nanny or babysitter, known to be handsome, fabulous, and a lover of eighties music
"Be interesting."
That's what the manny tells Keats Dalinger the first time he packs Keats's school lunch, but for Keats that's not always the easiest thing to do. Even though he's the only boy at home, it always feels like no one ever remembers him. His sisters are everywhere! Lulu is the smart one, India is the creative one, and Belly . . . well, Belly is the naked one. And the baby. School isn't much better. There, he's the shortest kid in the entire class.
But now the manny is the Dalinger's new babysitter, and things are starting to look up. It seems as though the manny always knows the right thing to do. Not everyone likes the manny as much as Keats does, however. Lulu finds the manny embarrassing, and she's started to make a list of all the crazy things that he does, such as serenading the kids with "La Cucaracha" from the front yard or wearing underwear on his head or meeting the school bus with Belly, dressed as limo drivers. Keats is worried. What if Lulu's "Manny Files" makes his parents fire the manny? Who will teach him how to be interesting then?
"This book not only portrays loving family relationships, but also shows how to deal with bullies through self-acceptance and an understanding of human nature. Whether readfor entertainment or for beginning a discussion on bullying, this book will find a wide audience."-- School Library Journal
"The story is both warm and funny."-- Booklist
"The Manny Files kicks Mary Poppins to the curb."-- New York Post
"The Manny is an unbelievable mensch, always trying to find ways to amuse them. He puts notes in their lunch boxes. He helps the boy deal with the class bully and advises the girl on her boy problems."-- New York Magazine
