The Amelia Bedelia Story
Amelia Bedelia is a housekeeper who takes her instructions very literally. Reading the list of chores that her employer has left
her, Amelia begins with "Dust the furniture." How odd, Amelia thinks to herself. "At my house we undust the furniture." Nonetheless,
she dutifully locates the "Dusting Powder" in the bathroom, and proceeds to sprinkle it all over the living-room furniture and floor.
Next she is asked to "Draw the drapes when the sun comes in." So of course, Amelia sits down with a sketchpad and gives it her best
shot. Children love reading about the antics of silly Amelia Bedelia for myriad reasons. It's an early reader book, so children in
primary grades can take satisfaction in reading the book on their own. But, even more thrilling, children who are six and older can
successfully interpret the figurative meaning behind most adult idioms. Being told to "keep an eye on the cat," for example, might
compel some preschoolers to stick their eyeballs on a cat's face, eliciting peals of laughter from know-it-all grownups. But older
children know better, and they love the fact that they know better. Young readers will find this bumblingly charming, eager-to-please
housekeeper as irresistible as Amelia Bedelia's employers do. Get several of these great books.