Amelia Bedelia

Amelia Bedelia

Written by: Peggy Parish

Illustrated by: Fritz Siebel

Age Group: 1st and 2nd Grade

Published: 1963

The book Amelia Bedelia is an I can Read Book that makes reading fun. Amelia Bedelia is a housekeeper for the Rogers family who takes the how to directions very literally. For example, when the Roger’s asked her to “dust the furniture” she placed dusting powder everywhere. When she was asked to draw the drapes, she actually took paper and crayons and drew a picture of the drapes instead of closing them. Through all of the mistakes that Amelia Bedelia made, Mr. Rogers was happy that she was there. The one thing that she did absolutely right was making lemon meringue pie and the Roger’s were going to keep her just for that.

I feel that Amelia Bedelia teaches us the importance of how we must communicate effectively. Especially in this word, and this includes classrooms, of English language learners, we need to be sure that what we ask or what we say is taken the way that we mean it.  It is so easy to say something and have it taken the wrong way.

The pictures in the book do an excellent job of displaying the author’s thoughts and humor. It is fun to understand what is being said but to see pictures of what the literal meaning is actually funny for both the person who is reading, but also the person who may be being read to. Amelia Bedelia’s facial expressions, which never really change, are especially funny when it comes to understanding her simple self.

I recommend Amelia Bedelia. It is a book that is very popular among many readers. It contains simple words for the beginner readers and the adult humor is funny for the parents who read with their children. The book also allows for fun and interesting dialogue for the reader and the listener.