Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off

Amelia Bedelia

by Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat (Illustrator)

Amelia Bedelia is famous for her baking, but she has her own way of doing things. Lending a hand at the bakery and entering a cake-making contest could be a recipe for disaster!

But with a pinch of sweet, a dab of silly, and a heaping helping of fun, Amelia Bedelia creates a cake like no other.

Open this book and get ready for a treat!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Cooking

64 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Herman Parish (born 1953) is the author of Amelia Bedelia children's book series, nephew of original author, Peggy Parish. Having grown up with his aunt’s tales of Amelia’s humorous misadventures, Herman decided to carry on the legacy after his aunt’s death in 1988. He did not wish to entrust the future of the series into the hands of a children’s author outside of the family. Since Peggy had the summers off from teaching, she was able to stay with the Parish family for extended periods of time, allowing Herman and Peggy to develop a close relationship. More importantly, this gave Herman a chance to keenly observe Peggy during her writing processes, gaining great insight to the road ahead of him. To carry on the essence of the series, Herman thoroughly examined his aunt’s work and did his best to capture what exactly made the character of Amelia Bedelia such a hit. Having editor Susan Hirschman and illustrator Lynn Sweat in common with his aunt helped to make the transition. He has added thirteen more books to the series. Herman is a resident of Princeton, New Jersey, and travels to libraries and schools across the United States, speaking and inspiring young children. The importance of revising and editing is often stressed during these dynamic lectures. He has presented to students in more than 22 states.

-Wikipedia

***The photo at left is of Herman with his aunt, Peggy Parish, in 1985.

Reviews

[Wynona]

My favorite part was when Amelia Bedelia won the bake contest.

[Jen]

Five stars according to my child. Amelia Bedella is always entertaining.

[Hanna]

Like usual fashion main character’s thought process same formula of literal thinking so simple but not exactly correct in process all turns into better than expected.

Minus one star for less bedazzle than first book.

[Grace Morton]

I liked that the baker was named Grace! :)

[Heather]

Amelia Bedelia enters a baking contest. I probably can't say any more than that without spoiling the puns.

I haven't read much Amelia Bedelia before (or I don't remember reading it as a kid). After reading this, I've concluded that Amelia Bedelia is either:

a. An airhead.

b. A master pun-spinner who is secretly laughing at all of the idiots who don't understand that her life is one long pun.

c. On the autism spectrum.

d. b & c

[Katie]

Cute. This is better than the science fair book I read to the kids last week. I kind of want to find the original books in the series to see if the style changed at all when Parrish’s nephew took over.

[Izzy]

Leí este libro con Aarón como parte de su clase de lectura comprensiva, pero es un desmadre la Amelia Bedelia, me cayó a toda madre. A Aarón no le agradó tanto por tonta pero nos dejó con dejó con ganas de pastel y galletas así que iremos por galletas

[Shawn Deal]

Amelia is a great cook or is she?

[Danette]

7/3/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.

[Sara]

C

[Evan Owens]

I liked it because it was about baking. I like to cook. My favorite part was when Amelia Bedelia made a sheet cake but she was so tired, the next day she turned it into a bed.

[Jacqueline]

Good book for teaching idioms.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases]

A very nice storytime book read.

[Lonicocopuffs]

Alcolu and Amelia is a bad combination. Also why didn't cousin grace show up at the bake sale? What did Amelia do?

[Elizabeth]

Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off (I Can Read! Amelia Bedelia: Level 2) by Herman Parish with Lynn Sweat – Amelia Bedelia is an old friend that I love passing on to the next generation! Happy Reading!

[alana]

Not quite as much chaos as the ones I remember reading as a kid, but some fun baking related misunderstandings. Bonus sheet cake recipe in the back.

[Set]

Amelia does it again with her crazy antics but it all turns out all right when she bakes her cake.

[Kayla Lazenby]

Genre: Fiction
Format: Chapter book
Awards: No awards

Summary: The lovely Amelia Bedelia is in pursuit of winning a bake off that is put on by one of her favorite chefs! With a large prize at stake, the very literal mock baker, is in for a wild ride as she takes us through the many steps of baking her entry pie!

Critique: I don't have much to critique. I love the humor in the book. However, I do think that if a child is focused on fluency and accuracy, and their comprehension is being grown, the student may have a difficult time with picking up on the humor of the book. She is very literal. Students might not pick up on the comedy behind her literal statements and gestures reinforcing certain statements.

Teaching Prompts: I would ask my students throughout the story to tell me all the different ingredients they hear her talking about using. We may even discuss if there are substitutes for certain ingredients and if they use substitute ingredients at home when they bake. I would like to make a text to self connection through this.

Craft Elements: My students will write a paper as if they were judging a baking contest. They would write about what it is they think a first place cake or pie looks like, taste like, and smells like! This would encourage the use of recall, senses, and creativity!

[Dolly]

Another classic story in the Amelia Bedelia series. Our girls never get tired of these, but I sure do. I'm glad that our oldest is able to read these to her sister, and she did so tonight. I read through it myself, anyway, since they want to try the cake recipe that is included in the back of the book.

Amelia Bedelia's Sheet Cake

3 cups flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup cocoa
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups water

Step 1
Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa directly into an ungreased 9"x13" pan. Add oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Pour water over all ingredients. Mix with a fork until smooth.

Step 2
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Step 3
Cool the cake and ice it in the pan with your favorite frosting.

[Nathaniel Williams]

Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off

This is one of many books about a Sweet, kindhearted maid who takes baking a crumb cake literally. Amelia Bedelia is silly, air-headed and sweeter than sugar, but she seems to always do things the hard way. This book can be an early reader and a read to. Before you read this book, please be prepared to laugh your socks off! Parish, Herman. Sweat, Lynn Illustrator. Green willow books.

[Arthur Pengerbil]

Grades K-2

Amelia Bedelia is back again... and this time she's in a baking contest! What silly antics will she get up to this time? Who knows... but they're bound to be delicious.



For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.

[Alice]

I think this is my first Amelia Bedelia. I loved the play on words and the different meanings. Like cut the recipe in half (so she rips the paper in half) I thought it was funny and silly and a good read! I love that at the end there is a recipe!

[Lee]

My two stars are for the chocolate cake recipe in the back of the book.

[Emily]

Amelia Bedelia is back again... and this time she's in a baking contest! What silly antics will she get up to this time? Who knows... but they're bound to be delicious.

[Alexandria K]

In this book, Amelia Bedelia wins $1000.00, because she makes a sheet cake.

[Brandi Streeval]

read this to my daughter cute book she loves Amelia Bedelia

[Booked 📚]

Of course there’s an extra star for nostalgia. I used to love these books as a kid.

[Leslie]

I've always like Amelia Bedelia and her crazy ways. I think it would be best as a read aloud since some of the language play might be confusing to early readers.

[Edward Creter]

The lovable ditzy maid loves to cook, so she and her cousin try out for a cooking contest you have to read to believe! Contains a fun recipe you might wanna try.

[Sudha Neelakantan]

A bit stilted

as if it were hastily cut down from a longer version. it completely lacks a flow in narrative, jumping from an idea to a conclusion without an explanatory fill