Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish is by far one of my favorite books of all time. This book can be a little tricky for starting readers, but works well with 2nd-4th grades in elementary school. When I go babysit every week before bedtime I always have to get out Amelia Bedelia and read it to Cammy, who is in the 1st grade. Amelia Bedelia is a little kooky, and very literal. She also is an amazing baker of sweet treats. In the Amelia Bedelia book, Amelia Bedelia starts working her very first day for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. The Rogers' leave her with a list of things to do while they are gone like dust the furniture, draw the drapes, and change the towels. Instead of actually doing the things on the list like it was intended, Amelia Bedelia actually pours dust on the furniture, uses paper and a pencil to draw the drapes, and cuts the towels into different shapes to "change" them. Of course when the Rogers get home they are livid, but one taste of Amelia Bedelia's lemon meringue pie, and they forget why they were angry all along. I love the illustrations in the book, they are so funny that even now as I read the book a loud to Cammy, I still giggle just a little bit. I think that this book gives children a sense of what the meaning of phrases are. There are literal translations of phrases, and then there are actual meanings. In the English language there are words and phrases that are said and spelled the exact same way, but mean totally different things. Also, there are cultural differences that some children experience that they would not know the meaning of things in different cultures such as "hold your horses!". This book makes me still feel sorry for poor Amelia Bedelia. Maybe someday she will learn!