Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie by Herman Parish

 

Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie

Parish, Herman.  New York: Greenwillow Books, 2010.  9780061964091

Quantitative Reading Level:  Reading Level 2.5, Lexile 530

Qualitative Reading Analysis:

I would rate this as Middle Low on the “Text Complexity: Qualitative Measures Rubric for Literary Text”.  As is usual for an Amelia Bedelia book there are some words and phrases that have double meanings that trip up Amelia Bedelia.  Younger readers may not understand or get the humor without support.  Other than that Amelia’s experiences would be familiar to readers.

Summary:

 

Amelia Bedelia is staying with her grandparents.  Her grandmother decides to make an apple pie and sends Amelia and her grandfather in search of Granny Smith.  In typical Amelia Bedelia fashion there are some misunderstandings along the way.  When Grandma makes her pie Amelia makes a small one as well.  It’s a good thing too, because Grandma’s pie becomes food for the crows.  There is a recipe for apple pie at the end of the book.

Content Area: Reading/ELA

Content area standard:

 

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5 Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Curriculum Suggestions:

Talk about the words and phrases that Amelia misunderstands.  Figure out what they really mean and what she thinks they mean.

Author’s Website: http://www.authorsillustrators.com/parish/bio.htm

Personal Thoughts:

I love Amelia Bedelia.  I have used the original books to teach multiple meanings and idioms.  That being said, I do not enjoy the newer books by Herman Parish as much.  I feel like he tries too hard and the misunderstandings are forced.  I have them in my library and we often compare the two authors and the books about Amelia as a young girl are a way to introduce students to the other books.

Series Information: Another installment of Amelia Bedelia picture books.  In these books Amelia is a young girl.

High Interest Annotation: Amelia Bedelia is at it again.  This time she will be making an apple pie with Granny Smith.