________________ CM . . . . Volume X Number 12. . . . February 13, 2004

cover

Amelia Bedelia and the Christmas List.

Herman Parish. Illustrated by Lynn Sweat.
New York, NY: HarperCollins (Distributed in Canada by HarperCollins Canada), 2003.
16 pp., pbk., $9.99.
ISBN 0-06-051874-X.

Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7.

Review by Gail Hamilton.

** /4

excerpt:

"Now for Mr. Rogers- he wants headphones. I wonder how many phones Mr. Rogers can put on his head."

internal artAmelia Bedelia, armed with a list, goes to the department store to do Mrs. Rogers' Christmas shopping. All of the items on the list are compound words: earrings, a basketball, a pair of sunglasses, headphones, peppermints and a snowboard. In typical Amelia Bedelia fashion, Amelia interprets the list her own way, taking the words literally. Sunglasses, for example, are simply drinking glasses with sun motifs painted on them while a snowboard is just a section of a 2 x 4 covered with snow.

     Printed on sturdy, glossy paper, this gatefold book is the perfect format to show Amelia Bedelia's interpretation first and then the actual intended gift underneath the flap.

internal art     Carrying on in the tradition of his aunt, Herman Parish has been faithful, up to this point, to the original concept (and hilarity) of the Amelia Bedelia books. In this title, however, the play on words lacks punch, and, in most cases, isn't even funny. For example, the illustration of Amelia's interpretation of earrings shows her ringing two bells near her ears while that of peppermints shows her holding three mints in one hand and a peppermill in the other.

     Sweat's trademark Amelia Bedelia illustrations are brighter and more colourful than usual, perhaps in an attempt to liven up the brief story.

     Definitely not the best title to mark the 40th anniversary of Amelia Bedelia, this book will likely appeal only to the very young or to diehard Amelia Bedelia fans.

Recommended with reservations.

Gail Hamilton is a teacher-librarian at Bird's Hill School in East St. Paul, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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