Happy Birthday, Amelia Bedelia!

February 08, 2013

Amelia Bedelia Hits the Big 5-0.

For 50 years Amelia Bedelia has entertained and educated us with her quirky ways by taking everything literally. The results are hilarious and chaotic. Who but Amelia makes sponge cake with a real sponge; draws the drapes with pencil and paper; convinces a train conductor to lead an orchestra; dresses a chicken in overalls; and when driving toward a fork in the road, looks for a spoon?

In 1963, Peggy Parrish created Amelia Bedelia—the literal-minded, positive maid with a can-do attitude. Parrish was a third grade teacher, and her students’ vocabulary mix-ups inspired her to create Amelia. She wrote 12 Amelia books before her death in 1988. Since then, her nephew, Herman Parrish, has been writing the Amelia books.

New Chapter Books:

For the first time in the series’ 50 years, an Amelia Bedelia chapter book series is launching. This series features the beloved Amelia as a young girl. The first 2 chapter books, Amelia Bedelia Means Business (about Amelia’s quest for a shiny new bike) and Amelia Bedelia Unleashed (about her quest to find the perfect puppy) are geared toward a new generation of young readers ages 6-10.

Amelia Goes Digital:

Go to AmeliaBedeliaBooks for more on the mixed-up but lovable Amelia Bedelia and her 50th birthday. And yes, she tweets! Visit or follow her on Twitter @AmeliaBedelia.

Amelia Bedelia at MCPL:

Check out our vast collection of Amelia Bedelia books at MCPL—any title is fun! You could start with my personal favorite, Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia. Amelia Bedelia passes the test of time. As a young girl, I enjoyed reading her books; my sons and daughters loved reading her books; and now my granddaughters and grandsons do, as well. The Amelia Bedelia books make for a delightful read, children as well as adults.

~Sandi V.
Parkville Branch