Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card

Young Amelia Bedelia

by Herman Parish

Generations of children have fallen in love with Amelia Bedelia, the housekeeper so literal-minded that she puts sponges in her sponge cake and pitches a tent by throwing it into the woods. Now fans can find out what Amelia Bedelia was like when she was a little girl just starting school. In the picture book Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card, young Amelia Bedelia and her classmates visit the library. Exploring the shelves of books, volunteering at the front desk, and meeting the librarians is so fun! But Amelia Bedelia's favorite part is getting her very own library card. Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card is a love letter to reading, libraries, librarians, and books. Author Herman Parish is a nephew of Peggy Parish, the creator of Amelia Bedelia.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Books About Books, Storytime

Paperback

First published May 28, 2013

About the author

Herman Parish (born 1953) is the author of Amelia Bedelia children's book series, nephew of original author, Peggy Parish. Having grown up with his aunt’s tales of Amelia’s humorous misadventures, Herman decided to carry on the legacy after his aunt’s death in 1988. He did not wish to entrust the future of the series into the hands of a children’s author outside of the family. Since Peggy had the summers off from teaching, she was able to stay with the Parish family for extended periods of time, allowing Herman and Peggy to develop a close relationship. More importantly, this gave Herman a chance to keenly observe Peggy during her writing processes, gaining great insight to the road ahead of him. To carry on the essence of the series, Herman thoroughly examined his aunt’s work and did his best to capture what exactly made the character of Amelia Bedelia such a hit. Having editor Susan Hirschman and illustrator Lynn Sweat in common with his aunt helped to make the transition. He has added thirteen more books to the series. Herman is a resident of Princeton, New Jersey, and travels to libraries and schools across the United States, speaking and inspiring young children. The importance of revising and editing is often stressed during these dynamic lectures. He has presented to students in more than 22 states.

-Wikipedia

***The photo at left is of Herman with his aunt, Peggy Parish, in 1985.

Reviews

[Astiazh · Rating 5 out of 5]

جانمی جان!یک جای با حال.
آملیای کتابخون قراره با معلمشون برن یه کتابخونه ی عمومی.
هم اتفاقات جالبی میفته براشون و هم با قوانین کتابخانه های عمومی آشنا میشن.

[Amy Hesterman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I shared this with my 2nd graders today. They love Amelia Bedelia and were so excited that we were going to kick off the school year with her. Unfortunately, the book was too long and they didn't get the humor whatsoever. Peggy Parish's adult Amelia got into trouble just about everywhere she turned. For lack of a better way to put it, kid Amelia is not silly enough. Plus, it would have been even better to have the setting of a library in a school as opposed to the town library. Should Herman hang up his hat? (Imagine what Amelia would do with that statement!) Absolutely not! We still love Amelia and want more. Maybe not so long. "Man, that book was long," said a tired 2nd graders.

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up reading Amelia Bedelia books so I am excited to share these with my daughter.

[A. Aвdι · Rating 3 out of 5]

آشنایی با کتابخانه و کتابدار برای کودکان که در این قسمت از مجموعه داستان‌های آملیا بهش پرداخته میشه.
این اثر با عنوان «جانمی جان، یک جای باحال!!!» به فارسی ترجمه و چاپ شده :| که بنظرم عنوان اصلی بیشتر به دل می‌شینه! لااقل به دل من کتابدار first library card بیشتر می‌شینه :)

[Christen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish Amelia's younger stories still had the girl taking things too literally and getting into crazy hijinks. This was a rather bland look at a girl who checks out a book she didn't want and accidentally ruins it. It doesn't inspire any excitement about the library or reading. Too public library focused to use in my media center for read aloud.

[Marcelaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The entire reason Amelia Bedelia is so entertaining is because she takes everything so literally and gets into funny predicaments. There was very little of that in here (a few puns that were over my kids' heads), and honestly the story was nothing special either.

[Sunah Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia visits a library as a school field trip. She is excited to sign up for a library card, but she feels bad when checking out a wrong book. Even worse, Amelia destroyed the borrowed book. Next day, she visits the library and explains what happened.

This picture book describes the process of checking books in and out of libraries, the roles of librarians, and the manners that children should keep in mind when reading publically shared books. Children, and even adults, sometimes forget the manners of reading books that are shared with others. Since the books will be read by others too, the books need to be taken care of well so that many people could enjoy reading the books. In addition to the educational values, I appreciate the solution when you accidentally destroy the checked out books. I don’t think people would ruin the books on purpose. Children often tare books unintentionally or bring the books wherever they go which may cause the damage to the books. The problem is how to handle this issue as an adult as well as children who are in responsible for the destroyed public property. Amelia discusses the issue with parents, and her mother goes to the library with her. Amelia apologizes to the librarian in her own way: she brings a cupcake. It does not matter whether one brings a cupcake or not. What I want to focus is her gesture to say sorry for her mistake. In reality, I think the parent should be charged the fine in order to replace the new book anyway. However, it must be an excellent education to show children that what they should do when they do something wrong.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES to this love letter to libraries, librarians, and books!

Cleverly, the story teaches readers about libraries, and how to make use of them. Yet the focus of the story isn't, "Now you're going to learn how to return books to your branch library." Instead attention goes to adorable Amelia Bedelia, as described by Herman Parish and drawn by Lynne Avril.

Right away, Amelia makes a goofy mistake, goofy but understandable, and no lasting harm has been done. Readers like me begin to appreciate why books in this series are known for their gentle humor.

What Else?

Besides that wonderful quality of humor, what else do I LOVE about this book? The humanity, that's what. Goodreaders, you'll find everyday details that lend authenticity to the story. For instance:

Mrs. Reilly went to her desk and picked up a bundle of plastic cards. She removed the rubber band and put it on her wrist.

"This is my librarian jewelry," she said, smiling.

Then she gave the cards to Miss Edwards.

"Here is a library card for each one of you," said Miss Edwards/

In Conclusion

Picture books for children demand details, real-life details. Since our precious kids are learning so much about real life.

I'm delighted to give this book FIVE STARS. It's educational and entertaining; also I love how this child-sized adventure strikes me as very real.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

HiThe girl is back and into the book stacks! Amelia Bedelia is back in an adventure of her younger days as she's learning about the library system for the first time.... and, if you're her librarian, hopefully her last! AB is a fan of reading, which isn't logical considering how she notoriously reads things wrong, and first chance she gets, she creates chaos faster than bedbugs ruining the books in the real world of Pinellas County's Library Cooperative, all thanks in some small part to yours truly (note to self: a pat on the back is necessary and approved by ME! DING DING!). AB is told by the head librarian not to get books sticky with foodstuffs. Too bad she has mistaken the book drop for a trash can slot and dumps her juice box in there! In another part of the book, she tries to get a book on the higher shelf but the worker admonishes "Oh no! Those books are ABOVE YOU!" AB's perfect answer: "That's why I need your help to get up there!" Boom! If that girl isn't honored as a role model then something is wrong with kids lit publishers today. Amelia still has ways to Buck the system....and we don't mean BAMBI!
Four stars
Book em, Amelia!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarity ensues as we journey with Amelia as a child, this time she gets her library card. Oh the fun of these books!

back cover--Generations of children have fallen in love with Amelia Bedelia, the housekeeper so literal-minded that she puts sponges in her sponge cake and pitches a tent by throwing it into the woods.

Now fans can find out what Amelia Bedelia was like when she was a little girl just starting school. In the picture book Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card, young Amelia Bedelia and her classmates visit the library. Exploring the shelves of books, volunteering at the front desk, and meeting the librarians is so fun! But Amelia Bedelia’s favorite part is getting her very own library card.

Amelia Bedelia’s First Library Card is a love letter to reading, libraries, librarians, and books.

[Asho · Rating 2 out of 5]

L has been reading a lot of Amelia Bedelia books with me lately, so I feel I can say with some authority that this one just missed the mark. There's nothing really "Amelia" about this book. It could have been a story about any child going to the library for the first time, learning a bit about how it works, checking out a book, messing it up, feeling bad, and fixing the situation. There were very few of the usual Amelia Bedelia word play jokes in this book, and the ones that were here weren't specifically library or book-related. The whole thing fell flat and wasn't nearly as funny as the other Amelia Bedelia books we've read recently. The one thing I can say for it is that both girls liked the illustrations.

[Abbey Beight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Bedelia’s First Library Card by Herman Parish is a story about Amelia Bedelia’s first time going to the library. Amelia Bedelia gets herself in trouble from throwing her juice box into the library book return slot to leaving her book out in the rain. I enjoyed reading this book because it brought me back to when I used to read Amelia Bedelia beginning reader books. Another aspect that I enjoyed about this book is that Parish did a great job showing the different parts of the library by also throwing in a bit of humor.

[Elaine Fultz, retired librarian (38 years serving youth) · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too wordy but otherwise OK story about a first trip to the public library for Amelia Bedelia who mistakes the book drop for a trash can and who leaves her book out in the rain. Those two lessons about taking care of books are solid, but there's nothing else here. At least there's no shushing, which is a deal-breaker. The librarian does say, now mostly outdated, no food and drink in the library.

[Britney Pillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book to teach kids on their first time visiting a library, funny, adorable and able to laugh through the characters silly antics. The lessons she learns is about library manner and behaviorisms, also that if she did something wrong, to go to the source and explain the situation, deal with the consequences.

Perfect book for pre-kindergarden to 1st graders.

[Owen and Nathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to see an updated Amelia Bedelia at the library, remembering it fondly from childhood. These new books are AWFUL. Not only is she no longer a quirky maid, but the storylines are choppy and boring. Also, the illustrations by Lynne Avril are only on white people, there is no diversity of race or special needs.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. HOWEVER, children will probably not get the humor of this book because there is a lot of background knowledge required to get the jokes. This would make a good read aloud to REVIEW library rules, not introduce them.

[Sarah T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is life. TRUE-TO-LIBRARY-LIFE, especially with trash ending up in the bookdrop (whether accidentally or on purpose), lol! I could see reading this at storytime for an older crowd, for their first trip to a library, but it is quite wordier than I would typically use for a storytime.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to check this out (pun intended) because I got my first library card visiting my grandparents so I could check out Amelia Bedelia books.
It’s very cute and she finds trouble at the library and with library books.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia Bedelia goes on a field trip to the library and gets to check out her first book. Unfortunately, problems happen while there and when she takes her book home. Terrific book to talk about listening and being responsible.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is just ok and it doesn't really feel like Ameia Bedelia, but it is a decent introduction to how libraries work.

[Kit Feral · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I like this new version of amelia bedelia. But I am rarely happy when my childhood stuff is redone

[Melissa C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name...

[Peyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic Amelia Bedelia book about the library and reading, a good book to promote this type of thing.

[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok nothing special. Not funny as most Amelia Bedelia. Nice message of leaving it in rain as long as you apologize and take responsibility not big deal.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

That’s not how libraries work lol. And she never got her cupcake book!

[Shawn L’s Book Notes & Quotes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Amelia Bedelia should’ve spoken up saying, “That’s not the book I wanted.” and “My library book is outside!”

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia goes with her class to the library and gets a library card.

[Kelly Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember the library trip Amelia Bedelia goes on in this book, but the unnecessary plot twists at the end complicate and lengthen a good short story.

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, but way too long for the age group I was looking for.

[Diana Mielecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great end of year read to encourage using the library over the summer.