All of Amelia Bedelia's friends love to dance. She has friends who are ballerinas, friends who do modern dance, and friends who tap. But Amelia Bedelia isn't sure what kind of dance is right for her. After all, if she is going to dance to a particular tune, she'd like it to be her own! Amelia Bedelia's funny search for the perfect dance fit involves friends, family, teachers, and pets, and it will have readers dancing on air! The Amelia Bedelia chapter books star Amelia Bedelia as a young girl, are great for building vocabulary, and feature a guide to some of the idioms and expressions introduced in the story.
What happens when the world’s most literal-minded girl joins a dance class?
Herman Parish (1953-2024) was in the fourth grade when his aunt, Peggy Parish, created Amelia Bedelia, the literal-minded housekeeper. Peggy Parish wrote twelve books in the series before she passed away in 1988. The interest of educators and the enthusiasm of young readers prompted Herman Parish to continue the character in 1995 with his first book, Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia. Herman Parish went on to add more than forty books to the series, carrying on Amelia Bedelia’s adventures in books such as the bestselling Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm. Additionally, Herman Parish broke new ground by portraying Amelia Bedelia as a young girl. Young Amelia is featured in picture books for the youngest children, I Can Read Level 1 beginning readers, and a series of chapter books. Sixty million copies later, Amelia Bedelia is a beloved character for readers young and old.
Lynne Avril is a painter and illustrator, best known for her work on the young Amelia Bedelia book series, written by Herman Parish. She has illustrated well over 100 books in her career. As a painter, her works are visual journals of her life, reflecting thoughts, travels, and music (she’s a bass player too!). Lynne Avril grew up in Montana and received her BA in art from the University of Montana, and lives in Portland, Oregon.