The new books include Amelia Bedelia: Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, a facsimile of the 1963 volume, which has an announced first printing of 100,000 copies. In January, Greenwillow launches its celebration of the literal-minded housekeeper’s golden anniversary with five Amelia Bedelia releases. Published by Harper & Row in September 1963, Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia, illustrated by Fritz Siebel, was the first in a series of picture books and I Can Read! titles that have entertained multiple generations of children and sold more than 35 million copies in the U.S. Peggy Parish's nephew, Herman Parish, has written Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia and Bravo, Amelia Bedelia!, published by Greenwillow Books in 19 respectively.It’s been a half-century since Amelia Bedelia first bumbled into the Rogers’ household and dusted the furniture with dusting powder, put the lights out on the clothesline, and dressed the chicken in overalls. And if a positive attitude toward reading is not developed during the first three years of school, it is virtually impossible to develop it later.'Īfter living in New York for many years, Peggy Parish returned to her native South Carolina. Today's children are not going to read what they are not interested in. What I try to show teachers is that all the skills needed to read can be taught outside of textbooks. In discussing her ideas about education, she said, 'Children's rights are taken away from them when they enter school.

It was at Dalton that she began to find ways to release her creative ideas and energy, Though she never took a writing course, 'writing stories for children came naturally.' Her first book, published in 1961, was followed with Let's Be Indians and in 1963 with her unforgettable Amelia Bedelia.Īlways involved with education in some way, Peggy Parish did television pieces on preschool education and children's books, wrote children's book review columns, and led numerous in-service training workshops for teachers. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in English, she taught school in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and, for over 15 years, at the well-known, progressive Dalton School in New York City. Peggy Parish knew what children like to read. Parish wrote nearly three dozen children's books-many of which include her most famous character, the literal-minded maid named Amelia Bedelia. 'I hate reading but your books are changing my opinion.' This letter, from a young Peggy Parish fan, comes as no surprise to the teachers and librarians who have put her books in the hands of children over the years. The late Peggy Parish, well known for her stories about Amelia Bedelia, wrote many popular books for children, including Dinosaur Time, illustrated by Arnold Lobel.

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