About the Author

Herman Parish was in the fourth grade when his aunt, Peggy Parish, created Amelia Bedelia, the literal-minded housekeeper. Peggy wrote twelve books in the series before she passed away in 1988. The interest of educators and the enthusiasm of young readers prompted Herman to continue the character in 1995 with his first book, Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia.

Since then, Herman has added more than thirty books to the series. He has carried on her adventures as a housekeeper in books such as the best-selling Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm, and he has broken new ground in his most recent books portraying Amelia Bedelia as a young girl. She may be little, but she is as literal as ever. There are picture books for the youngest children, including the national bestsellers Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School and Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine. Young Amelia Bedelia also appears in I Can Read Level 1 beginning readers and a new series of chapter books, starting with the best-selling Amelia Bedelia Means Business and Amelia Bedelia Unleashed.

Amelia Bedelia celebrated her 50th birthday in 2013, and she is still going strong.

Reviews

Puns and pranks abound in Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, illus. by Lynn Sweat. Here the heroine's comic misunderstandings take on a spooky bent as she helps prepare for a party (e.g., cracking a window). When Amelia says she doesn't have a disguise, Mr. Rogers wisecracks, "You wear a costume every day," commenting on her anachronistic apparel. But Amelia gets the last laugh. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

K-Gr 2-The literal maid returns, treating readers to more mishaps and misadventures. It is autumn, and the Rogerses have decorated for Halloween. When Amelia Bedelia arrives for work, she thinks that someone has vandalized the house. Once she learns that the family is having a party, she gets into the swing of things by cracking (breaking) a window and adding leaves to the dining-room table. As darkness falls, the festivities begin. After partaking of the gruesome refreshments, the costume contest is held, but no one can find Amelia Bedelia. Finally, it's revealed that she's been there all along-dressed as a scarecrow. Sweat's amusing watercolor-and-pen illustrations add to the zaniness of the story. Funny signs abound, from the tombstones on the lawn to the descriptions of the gruesome goodies. The costumes that Amelia Bedelia creates for the children are amusing and easy to duplicate. The illustrations extend the wordplay and help beginning readers understand the story. This reader is excellent for children ready for the challenge of learning the difference in meaning between such words as "which" and "witch," visually and semantically. A happy haunting with Amelia Bedelia where the laughs outweigh the screams.-Linda Staskus, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.