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Amelia Bedelia #3

Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower

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Housemaid Amelia Bedelia smilingly obeys to the letter. Cousin Acolcu helps prune hedges and prepare shower for Miss Alma at ladies' Tuesday afternoon sewing. Mr Rogers says scale and ice his fish. Mrs Rogers says cut flowers, run over tablecloth. Acolcu and Amelia with purse and hat, don swimsuits and find garden hose. Can chocolate frosted cupcakes save this day?

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

23 people are currently reading
1719 people want to read

About the author

Peggy Parish

149 books772 followers
Peggy Parish was the author of the children's story series Amelia Bedelia. The series was continued, after her sudden death from an aneurysm, by her nephew Herman Parish. Peggy attended the University of South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Herman honored Peggy's life in his book, Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia, by writing in its dedication: "For Peggy Parish, the real Amelia Bedelia."

-Wikipedia

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5 stars
8,825 (54%)
4 stars
3,901 (24%)
3 stars
2,741 (16%)
2 stars
497 (3%)
1 star
243 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
Profile Image for Tatevik.
577 reviews118 followers
June 13, 2019
I can't believe I found this. I loved her so much. I had only this one, but I see these are series. Looking forward to reading them all.
Profile Image for Katja Labonté.
Author 31 books344 followers
May 24, 2022
2.5 stars & 3/10 hearts. This just might be my least favourite Amelia Bedelia book. It doesn’t make sense and it isn’t funny. There’s so many holes. Why on earth wasn’t that fish SMELLING by the time Mrs. Ralph ate it? (And why on earth would she be allowed to take that huge piece to herself?) How could the shower possibly be misunderstood when Mr. Rogers explained it? How could the cut flowers mishap occur? Why didn’t Mrs. Rogers say anything about the prunes? How could Amelia Bedelia’s footprints on the tablecloth show HEEL marks when she’s wearing high heels?? And why did the cup of flowers change colour???

I don’t know, maybe I’m nitpicking, but it just always bugged me and never made sense, even as a child.

2.5 stars because it’s not TERRIBLE and it is, after all, an Amy Bedey book.
Profile Image for The Gazillionth Reader.
110 reviews
March 5, 2024
Not the pruned bushes ahahaha 😂

The iced fish omg 💀


I’m reading all of these for nostalgia sake + I don’t think I did read all of them as a kid, only a few. I’m not sure if this is one I did read… some things seemed familiar, but some did not. Like I don’t really remember the cousin. Either way these books are making me chuckle, they’re great.



I now want chocolate iced cupcakes 🧁







My Rating System 📖 (but I'm indecisive so ratings subject to change and not be consistent with my scale. A 4 star may actually be a 5 star and a 3 star may be a 4.5 star)


1 star: hated it. Would never recommend
2 stars: Not my cup of tea, but could be somebody else's
3 stars: I liked it well enough, I don't know if I'd reread, but I
would recommend if occasion arose
4 stars: I really liked it!! I would reread one day. I'd
recommend if occasion arose
5 stars: I LOVED IT!! I shall rave about it even if nobody
listens
*half stars get rounded up. For example, 3.5 stars will become 4 stars
Profile Image for Heinrich DuBose-Schmitt.
50 reviews
September 29, 2024
Amelia Bedelia strikes again in this marathon of misunderstanding. From icing fish to ‘showering’ a mom-to-be, you’d think the Rogers family would have learned by now: say what you want exactly or expect icing on your freshly caught fish. It’s a bit tiring that no one ever thinks to explain things to poor Amelia. Two stars—one since Peggy Parish is my memaw's first cousin and one for cousin Alcolu.
Profile Image for Mya.
1,504 reviews60 followers
November 17, 2019
This was an okay story. It was missing something though.
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 2 books30 followers
September 27, 2017
Amelia and her cousin Alcolu are getting Miss Alma's house ready for a surprise shower. Miss Alma's friends are going to be surprising her with a shower because she is going to be getting married soon.

Alcolu is as literal thinking as Amelia so you can imagine what kind of shower they prepare for. One of my favorite things they do in this crazy mixed up word of misunderstandings is prune the bushes. Instead of trimming them, Aclolu is given a box of prunes by Amelia to decorate all of the bushes outdoors.

As usual, Amelia is charming and means so well no one can be angry with her for very long.

This book was originally published in 1966. It is just as funny today as it was then and holds up very, very well over the test of time. As I have said before, I loved Amelia Bedelia when I was a child and I love her now even though I am a grandma. Perhaps even more.
Profile Image for Heidi.
214 reviews
July 31, 2019
I loved these books when I was a kid. I remember being fascinated by the way words could have so many different meanings. My 10-year-old ELL student also enjoyed the story, although it was a little more difficult for him to understand the humor. Also, what kind of a name is "Alcolu"?
327 reviews13 followers
May 1, 2023
Oh my! Amelia is a menace. And now there's another person like her? Goodness Gracious. I guess she keeps life interesting, as long as you don't care about things getting ruined frequently.
Profile Image for Liz.
33 reviews4 followers
November 6, 2009
The Amelia Bedelia easy readers are classics in the "I Can Read" genre. Amelia Bedelia's antics are funny and captivating to young readers as she helps them learn that the same word can have many meanings. In this volume Amelia is helping Mrs. Rogers to trow Miss. Alma a wedding shower. Cousin Alcolu comes over to help prune the hedge while Amelia scales and ices the fresh fish. When Amelia and Alcolu shower Miss. Alma with the garden hose tempers flair until Amelia brings out tea and chocolate icing covered fish. Everyone laughs as they realize the mix up. In the end everyone has a great time and Mrs. Ralph's children love the prunes on the hedge!

This and the other Amelia Bedelia books use humor to reenforce that the same word can have multiple meanings. Readers laugh along as the colorful pictures show Amelia trying very hard but getting mixed up all along the way. Peggy Parish's writing style allows kids to follow and learn new words as they read. Over the years these classic early readers have earned their keep.
Profile Image for Luisa Knight.
3,226 reviews1,224 followers
February 1, 2018
You know it's going to be good when the word "shower" is used in an Amelia Bedelia book. This was probably my favorite of all and read many times over. And I kind of always wanted to throw a similar party - the prankster side of me relished the thought. *wink*

Reading Level: 1st - 3rd grades

Cleanliness: someone says "thank goodness."

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Profile Image for Karen Waller.
239 reviews4 followers
March 25, 2019
These books never get old. I just listened to the audio with my kids who are 12 and 13
Profile Image for Roseanna  Veredchanan.
74 reviews
May 22, 2024
Amelia Bedelia is back again in this charming and witty children's classic! Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower is a delightful tale that will capture the hearts of readers of all ages. In this latest installment, Amelia Bedelia's literal interpretations of phrases and instructions lead to a series of hilarious misunderstandings, culminating in a surprise shower that will leave you giggling and grinning from ear to ear.

The story is expertly crafted, with a perfect balance of humor, wit, and heart. Amelia Bedelia's innocence and good intentions shine through on every page, making her a lovable and relatable protagonist. The supporting cast of characters adds to the fun, with their reactions to Amelia Bedelia's antics ranging from confusion to amusement.

What makes this book truly special is its ability to entertain while also promoting valuable lessons about empathy, understanding, and the importance of clear communication. Children will adore the silly scenarios and colorful illustrations, while parents and educators will appreciate the subtle teachings and opportunities for discussion.

In short, Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower is a must-read for anyone looking for a lighthearted, entertaining, and enriching experience. So dive in and enjoy the delightful adventures of Amelia Bedelia - you won't be disappointed!
699 reviews5 followers
July 3, 2020
The most popular klutzy maid of all time is back and ready for the shower scene! Oops! Bad pun. But it helps!
Amelia Bedelia and her equally clueless uncle Alcolu are planning a surprise shower for one of the lady friends of Mrs Rogers. At the madam's request, AB is to prune the hedges, run over the table cloth with an iron, ice the fish and cut the flowers. Anyone who's a fan of Amelia will know that only three things are constant in life: death, taxes, and that Amelia will take your words literally to the point where she becomes the epitome of Murphy's Law, where what can go wrong...you know? Thus she ICES the fish with the same icing she's using for cupcakes, CUTS the flowers into teeny tiny pieces until we have here a bowl of instant homemade potpourri, PRUNES the hedges with plump juicy Prunes (in case any kids come visit), and RUNS over that tablecloth until the footprints cover every square inch! (AB still can't see any square shapes in those inches but still possibles exist!). And the surprise SHOWER? Out comes that garden hose on full blast--SURPRISE!!! Young fans too will be surprised at how much fun is in this series...but that there should be no surprise!
Four stars
Amelia Showers you with LOVE!!-
Profile Image for Nathaniel Dykstra.
86 reviews
August 21, 2019
Summary-
Amelia Bedelia is helping Mr. and Mrs. Rogers with some more chores in this story. The chores are to be done before a certain time since they are for a surprise shower for Miss Alma! As per usual, Amelia Bedelia messes up everything. Somehow by the end of it, she is forgiven and thanked for her weird and outlandish ways.

Review-
I am not a big fan of this one. I at least semi liked the last one, but this one is a little more "meh". I still give it three stars from an objective view, but I would personally give it a 2 star or lower rating. The writing is pretty decent until about the last 5 or so pages, but it's fine. The characters take a DRAMATIC mood change when they go from "very mad" to "and they all left laughing" in a matter of seconds. The artwork is the same as the last book, which I have no problems with. This is an ok one, and I would recommend it to any children ready to read!
Profile Image for Amy Layton.
1,641 reviews81 followers
October 22, 2018
There's a reason why Amelia Bedelia is loved across my generation, and more specifically, my friend group.  Amelia is sweet, kind, and always trying to help out--even when she gets it wrong.  And thankfully, everyone is laughing in the end, deviating from their usually-uptight ways of being.

Amelia Bedelia plays on word meanings and social nuances with its text and illustrations to illuminate just how words and social events have many meanings, some of which are more literal than others.  

These books always end up uproariously funny, and I'm more than glad about it.

Review cross-listed here!
Profile Image for Sarah Rodriguez.
6 reviews
February 14, 2023
Keywords: humor, colorful, grades 1-3

Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower is formatted as a picture book and gave me quite the laugh! The book incorporates elements of rising action, climax, and resolution. Amelia Bedelia is given the task of throwing a bridal shower for Alma, and she doesn't necessarily follow the directions as she should. With the help of Alcolu, they both make Alma's shower one she won't forget! Students will understand what it means to take things too literally with this text.
Profile Image for Selah.
1,303 reviews
August 5, 2017
When my son was 3, and just learning to take a shower, he asked me if I was going to shower his baby sister with lemonade. I couldn't figure out what he was talking about at first, and then I remembered our shopping trip earlier in the week. I bought lemonade for a friend's baby shower. 😂 Amelia Bedelia makes a similar mistake in this book, but since she's a grown woman, it's not quite as funny. 🙄
Profile Image for Abby Gallier.
58 reviews3 followers
September 21, 2017
As you may know, our idea of a "surprise shower" is very different from Amelia Bedelia's. When Mrs. Rogers informs Amelia Bedelia that she is planning a surprise shower for one of the ladies in her sewing group, things get a little out of hand...let's just say it involves swimsuits, chocolate-covered fish, and presents! This book is a good reading level for ages 6-8, and when they see what Amelia Bedelia manages to cook up this time, it is sure to make them laugh.
Profile Image for Child960801.
2,879 reviews
November 26, 2025
These books still give me anixety. Also, I feel like if you know you have Amelia Bedelia as an employee (and this is book 3, so the Rogers know her by now) you have to stop after you give her an instruction and then say, 'Amelia Bedelia, what do you think I want you to do?' so that everyone is one the same page and she's not putting icing on the fish.

Amelia Bedelia and her cousin Alcolu try to help the Rogers get ready for a surprise wedding shower.
Profile Image for Maria.
472 reviews
April 10, 2018
Amelia Bedelia smilingly obeys to the letter. Cousin Acolcu helps prune hedges and prepare shower for Miss Alma at ladies' Tuesday afternoon sewing. Mr Rogers says scale and ice his fish. Mrs Rogers says cut flowers, run over tablecloth. Acolcu and Amelia with purse and hat, don swimsuits and find garden hose.
Profile Image for Anthony.
7,283 reviews31 followers
February 13, 2019
Mrs Rogers and her sewing club are giving a surprise shower for Miss Alma who is engaged to get married. Mrs. Rogers leaves Amelia Bedelia in charge to finish the preparations for the shower. With help from her cousin Alcolu, Amelia Bedelia really brings a surprise to this surprise shower. Silly fun!
86 reviews
April 10, 2018
Amelia and her cousin Alcolu are getting Miss Alma's house ready for a surprise shower. Miss Alma's friends are going to be surprising her with a shower because she is going to be getting married soon.
But she does something else. Like the way they misunderstand the words.
50 reviews
Read
May 4, 2020
Amelia Bedelia is a super funny character who is asked to help set up a surprise shower that she was invited to by Miss Alma. She is asked to ice the cupcakes, and to scale and ice the fish, but she iced the fish with chocolate icing.
Profile Image for Stacy Renee  (LazyDayLit).
2,777 reviews99 followers
Read
August 6, 2023
Children's Illustrated Chapter Books
(Easy reader)

Amelia Bedelia is hired as a maid but she can't seem to get any of the directions quite right.


Read with my daughter after rereading Amelia Bedelia for the '1001 Children's Books to Read Before You Grow Up' list.
409 reviews
September 28, 2023
What do prunes on bushes, chocolate covered fish, and a garden hose have in common? They are all part of "The Surprise Shower" Amelia Bedelia gives.

The hilariously literal third installment of Amelia Bedelia makes you appreciate a good party. :)
Profile Image for Catherine Baxendale.
280 reviews5 followers
January 14, 2025
🤣 chose this AB book as it was published in 1966 - the year I was born (my 59th today) & is the 1st of my #60in60 reads. I remember reading this series when I was a little girl & living them - not sure if they made much sense then either, but nostalgia is a wonderful thing 💕
1 down, 59 to go 🤗
Profile Image for Sassyjkb Burke.
89 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2025
I love that Amelia takes everything so literally. She has many outrageous and funny results from being so literal. Amelia Bedila was my favorite characters when I was a child. I got to read this book to a 2nd grade class that I”m in!💜
Profile Image for Jessica.
577 reviews
January 23, 2017
I didn't really enjoy this one as much as I did the others. Maybe because it's one of the first books released in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews

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