Goops and How to Be Them

by Gelett Burgess

"Goops and How to Be Them" by Gelett Burgess is a children's book published in 1900. This illustrated work introduces the Goops, peculiar characters who demonstrate poor manners and improper behavior. Through verse and pictures, Burgess uses these mischievous figures to teach young readers about etiquette and polite conduct. The book became the foundation for a beloved series that defined children's instruction on manners for generations, though not without controversy about its preachy approach.