Amelia Bedelia (book)

Hello there. I am a book full of giggles. Before I had a name, I was just a happy idea. An idea about a lady with a funny hat and a big, kind heart. She loved to bake pies. But oh, she was so silly. When someone told her to 'draw the drapes,' she got out her crayons and drew a picture of them. Silly, right? My pages are full of funny pictures and words to make you laugh. I am the very first storybook about the one and only Amelia Bedelia.

Two wonderful friends made me. They worked together a long, long time ago, on January 1st, 1963. A kind woman named Peggy Parish thought up all my silly words. She imagined what would happen if someone 'dusted the furniture' by sprinkling dust all over it. Can you imagine? What a mess. Then, a man named Fritz Siebel drew all my pictures with his bright colors. He gave Amelia Bedelia her big, happy smile and her cute hat with a pretty flower on top. Peggy and Fritz wanted me to be a special book. They made me so children could have a friend who made reading feel like a fun, silly game.

After I was all finished, with my bright cover and funny pages, I went on a big adventure. I went to live in libraries and on cozy bookshelves in children's rooms, just like yours. Little kids would open my pages and their faces would light up. They would giggle and laugh out loud at all of Amelia Bedelia’s funny mix-ups. They learned that words can be tricky, but they can also be very, very funny. Even today, so many years later, I love it when little hands turn my pages. I get to share my silly stories and remind everyone that a little bit of fun and a tasty lemon meringue pie can make any day a happy day. I help you see the world in a funny, new way, just by playing with words.