Children aren't born with good manners. Home is where manners are first taught and practiced. In this story, Caleb learns that it is fun to share with others on his birthday. "Manners are homemade, and we want to make good ones at our house," Mama often says. Caleb tries, but he doesn't always remember his manners. In this book he learns the joy of sharing his fourth birthday with his big brothers, the rest of his family, and his elderly neighbors.

This is the first book in the Manners Are Homemade series, five books for preschoolers portraying courteous speech and behavior through the lives of Caleb and his family. Simple but expressive watercolor illustrations make Caleb an appealing little boy for children to learn along with as he practices his homemade manners in everyday situations.