Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie

Young Amelia Bedelia

by Herman Parish

Amelia Bedelia is sure she will love everything about autumn. The colorful trees Jumping in the leaves Apples, apples, apples Warm apple pie Fun family projects Amelia Bedelia can't wait. What could be better? Autumn! Hooray for apples and fall!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Autumn, Fiction, Food, Cooking, Kids

Paperback

First published July 27, 2010

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

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Amelia and her granddad are sent out to pick up Granny Smith so Grandma can make an apple pie. Things take a tragic turn when the pie is placed outside to cool. (Not sure why, as I always serve mine warm.) Luckily, Amelia saves the day.

I'm not sure how I feel about Amelia's incarnation as a young girl, but the story was cute, and the illustrations winsome. Four stars for this one.

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute perfection. I so adored this story and only wished I read it during thanksgiving.

[Astiazh · Rating 5 out of 5]

جانمی جان!جشن پای سیب!
مجموعه کتابهای آملیا بدلیا رو که نشر کتاب پرنده چاپ کرده با ترجمه ی محبوبه نجف خانی،یکی از مجموعه های محبوب دخترک اند که چندباری ،الان که 8 ساله ست و راحت می تونه خودش کتاب رو از اول تا آخر بخونه،خونده!
متن کتاب و موضوع جذاب و مورد علاقه ی بچه هاست.
نقاشی ها هم ساده و در عین حال زیبا هستند.
تازه در آخر هم یه دستور برای پخت پای سیب گذاشته.
کتاب هم نشان ۴ لاک پشت پرنده رو گرفته.
پی نوشت:پسرها رو نمی دونم ولی دخترا عاشقش میشن و برای علاقمند شدن به کتابخونی یکی از بهترین کتابهاست.

[Amber Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s cute. A young girl (about 4-6 years old) would probably enjoy it. Great book for a kid who’s starting to read.

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I have never read any Amelia Bedelia books. This is my first. I can tell right away that Amelia is written a certain way and is a precocious little girl who has a lot of fun, but also helps kids experience new things through her stories.

In this book, Amelia is with her grandparents and it is fall. Her grandma decides they need to bake an apple pie. They get apples from the farmer's market and there is a nice page with pictures and labels of different kinds of apples.

Amelia and her grandma bake the pie, and the grandma takes it outside to cool. The swallows get the pie, but Amelia sneakily made a little tiny pie on the side. SO when her parents get there to have some pie, they are able to enjoy Amelia's.

This is a nice book for fall and there is a recipe for apple pie in the back. I realy liked this book!

[Chaselist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first library book that Chase read in the 1st grade. We tried to read Amelia Bedelia books last year but she did not get the humor and was not interested. It was a true joy to see her grasps the humor and really enjoy this book. She read it at least four times in August 2011 and even acted out the scenes when I attempted to read it to her at bedtime. This series was my favorite when I was in first grade so it gave me great pleasure to enjoy this with my five year old.

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character's name is a mouthful and saying it often is annoying.

[Bookbag_Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Watch Your Step

- An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

- Watch Your Fingers


Fall Is In The Air.

An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away.

Autumn Skies & Apple Pies

Good Apple Pies Are A Considerable Part Of Our Domestic Happiness.

Leaves Are Falling. Autumn Is Calling.

TRAVELED TO // A Town Near You
MET ALONG THE WAY // Amelia Bedelia, Grandma & Grandpa, Mom & Dad

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

UIVivid illustrations. Cute story idea, plot, and overall characters.

However, until Amelia is picked up by her father after the pie disaster, she looks like a modern 7-year-old, which makes her literal interpretations of commonly used expressions based on her family and their interests, such as watch your step, Granny Smith, get me flour, and watch your fingers, confusing.

Has Grandma really been so mum and stingy with her apple pie recipe that she's never engaged with Amelia about it before. Has Amelia never been curious about it?

Difficult for me to fathom this -- my 2-year-old niece is all over my kitchen always trying to help me bake every pie and cake and trying to read the recipes.

The original Amelia seemed like a well-meaning but ditzy, not well educated nor aware adult.

But her confusions with language were definitely confusions that children over 5 years of age could have then and now. I mean how many families say "dress a chicken" or "draw the drapes"?

This young Amelia is more engaging than the original for 5 and unders because she is closer in age to them and has questions about language they might have.

She is less engaging to kids older than 5 because she lacks the curiosity and knowledge of a modern child. And I blame her family.

But, I can see how the story can lead to an interest in baking a pie. So, it's a win.

[Caitlin Wooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Bedelia is taught to bake an apple pie with her elder role model. She is taken through all of the steps. She sugars the apples, makes the dough, rolls the dough and then cooks the pie. Amelia even reaches out of her comfort box and creates a pie of her own. When the pies get put in the oven, Amelia just can't wait to take bite in to the pies they have made. When the first pie is done, it is put outside to cool. But this was not the best idea, the crow had eaten the pie. All the family came over for dinner and pie, yet there is no pie because of the catastrophe! But luckily Amelias small pie was still in the oven, and every one was able to have a small taste of the wonderful pie created!

This book could be used as a way to focus the children on story sequencing. The set up of the book is great to recognize beginning, middle and end. As well as providing the students with a problem and a solution that could be organized in some sort of a data chart or sequencing work sheet/activity.

[Kelly Wickham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this book grew on me after reading it about 50 times. The kids, especially Israel and Marcos, love this book. I didn't get it at first. It is long and predictable. After thinking about it, I think the predictability of it is something that they do like and lends some comfort in their world. Both seemed truly interested in the different kinds of apples, the birds eating the pie, and Amelia sneakily making her own pie. Also from this book, they both got the idea that they wanted to make an apple pie with Grandma, and they initiated and had their apple pie dates with Grandma. Making apple pie with Grandma, I'm sure, is what made the book extra special. After reading it so many times, I am ready to put the Amelia Bedelia book to rest for a while, but I think I will keep it for all the good memories, and maybe I will try the apple pie recipe in the back someday.

[Anita Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie intended audience is people of White American background. Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie Lexile level is AD530L and intended for grades preschool through 3rd. In the book Amelia Bedelia is visiting her grandparents and they have decided to bake an apple pie. Amelia Bedelia and her grandmother made an apple pie together but once the pie was done her grandmother decided to put the pie outside to cool off but some mischievous creatures got ahold of the pie. Thankfully, Amelia Bedelia’s made her own pie, which was small, but she split it with her family. I chose this book because I think this will be a really good book to incorporate in a fall in a fall themed unit and possibly make our own apple pies.

[Alicia Tavernier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features a young girl, Amelia who has autism. This book shows how important family time is when she goes with her grandfather to get apples to make an apple pie. Moments like those won't last forever. This book can help to teach kids about different holidays, and also show how amelia's differences don't change her day to day life. The illustrations are detailed and well drawn. I gave this book 3 stars out of 5 stars because I wish it included more of her aspects of autism so when children read it, they can feel like they are not alone with having trouble speaking, but also show that everyone is equal.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A huge part of the charm of Amelia Bedelia is that she's a grown-up who gets stuff wrong by being overly literal. Making her an overly literal child removes a lot of that charm, but we still get the punny wordplay, where she makes small mistakes that don't do any harm because her loving grandparents are doing the real stuff. So it's fun, but missing a lot of the action of the adult versions, where Amelia can cause major havoc because she's an adult with agency.

Kid readers probably won't miss what isn't there though -- it's still a fun read with cosy pictures, word play, and a kid saving the day.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie: A Heartwarming Story About Autumn Baking and Sharing for Kids (Ages 4-8)
by Herman Parish
Suggested for classroom library 2026, Books on apples.
Found on youtube as Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie Stories for Kids on channel Stories For Kids.
A familiar story of the literal Amelia Bedelia. The character shares her story of going to the farmers market for apples to make apple pie. Amelia Bedelia's grandparents help her understand the use of language and not to be too literal.
The artwork is playful and detailed. The watercolor wash gives reality of text.

[Mayra Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Bedelia was at her grandparents house. Her grandmother was going to teach her how to make a apple pie. Her Grandad takes Amelia to go get fresh apples at the farmers market. After they got the apples Amelia helped her grandmother make the apple pie step by step. Their was left over apples and dough so Amelia decided to make her own little one all by herself. Her grandmothers pie ended up outside and was ate by the birds but Amelia had made her little pie which she hid from everyone and ended up giving to everyone else.

[Meridee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book incorporates literary devices in a very clever, creative way! At one point, the characters talk about how they can't make apple pie without "granny smith". This is followed up on later in the book. The story ends with birds eating their precious pie; however, Amelia had made another little pie! This is a perfect story for children; even teaching children new words. There are a few words throughout the book, in which children can use context clues and pictures to decipher what the words mean.

[Lynnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with Amelia bedelia.. this is not those books. these are not beginner reader books. these are read aloud books. that being said, if you're not expecting the same thing, the illustrations are super cute the story is very sweet, she learns interesting things about apples along the way which made this perfect for my toddler. he had a hard time with Apple books that just gave information. so this is great for younger children. I think it also would keep older children interested and entertained.

[McKenna Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Bedelia’s First apple pie is a great book to have children read. Children from ages seven to ten to be clear. It is an entertaining book and with great well-rounded characters to follow. The relationship with her and grandparents is entertaining and sweet. The plot of the story is easy to follow. The whole series of Amelia Bedilia’s books are funny which makes reading it an easier process.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to use with an apple theme. Amelia Bedelia is younger and going to pick some apples from the local market with her grandparents. There is a recipe at the end of the book. It is interesting to see Amelia as a young person, especially if you have been a fan of the earlier published books in the series. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5. I would not recommend reading it aloud since it is a bit long.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My children love these little books. They thoroughly enjoy each and every story, as if they are all unique and individual without any cause for similarity among them. Even though sometimes, they might seem tedious and repetitive to me as a parent, I do enjoy being able to read short-stories to my children that are clean and respective.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an early start to 2021 Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge. This is the book I selected for a book centring a character with a disability, and Amelia Bedelia is a wonderful example of a girl with autism who breaks down barriers and ridicule from those around her. This book in particular highlights her inclusive, caring connection from her grandparents.

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with Cecilia 25 oct 2023

Written by the nephew of the original author, these are stories of a younger and more modern Amelia. But she's still as literal as ever and just as funny.
This is almost an iconic storyline, raking leaves with Granddad, baking apple pie with Grandma, having ice cream and pie with her grandparents and parents all around the table together.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Amelia Bedelia books growing up and I read this for the first time as an adult. I enjoyed it, but felt like it was really long. It's a long picture book in my opinion, but I love how Amelia takes everything literally. Great illustrations and a perfect book for pie/food theme or for a Fall unit.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

How cute was this? You can see the end coming a mile away and you still smile when it does. It has some of Amelia Bedelia's punny humor but not as much which I think makes it accessible to younger readers.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to listening to this book with my grands because I enjoyed reading Amelia Bedelia books when I was a kid. I don't know if maybe I just mis-remembered the stories, but I thought Amelia used to cause a whole lot of ruckus and was far more funny.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember reading any Amelia Bedelia books when growing up, but this one was fairly funny. Amelia misunderstands idioms/ is extremely literal, and this is the main source of humor in the book. I doubt kids understand that part, but maybe as they get older, it will sink in.

[Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was alright alright them. Definitely not one they will read again not good not bad. So on to the next one. (8 year old is trying to do reading springs as well & catch up on his goal for this year)

🍂

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had pretty illustrations and was very informative about types of apples and how to make a pie. I wasn’t thrilled with the characters and didn’t find them that relatable, but the teaching moments in the book were good.

[Kendall Denny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a perfect book to use to introduce the fall season because it follows this little girl talking about everything that involves fall. There are so many identifiers here to give the students a better visual idea of fall.