Betsy's Busy Summer

Betsy #7

by Carolyn Haywood

Relates the many adventures of Betsy and her friends during one summer

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Summer, Chapter Books, Classics, Friendship, Historical

Paperback

First published August 1, 1956

About the author

Carolyn Haywood was an American writer and illustrator from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She wrote 47 children's books, most notably the series under the "Eddie" and "Betsy" titles.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a couple Betsy books growing up and enjoyed them. And reading this one now, I can say that it’s not a boring beginning reader for the parent - I actually chuckled a few times!

Haywood’s stories are fun and they don’t always turn out how you might think, and often with a comical twist.

My favorite chapters in this book were A Bell for Jim Dandy (about the ice cream truck) and Betsy and Ellen Go to Market. Though the chapter with the muddy swimming pool was pretty funny.

Ages: 4 - 9
Reading Level: 1st - 3rd grades

Content Considerations: most of the children behave or at least feel bad when they’ve done wrong. Linda is younger (maybe 4) so the author seems to excuse her whining and selfishness.

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[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very gentle book. Almost timeless. Just a tiny bit sexist... no more than Walmart girls' and boys' departments are now. Funny, but with good lessons. I would have loved it when I was a young child in the 60s. A little younger and sweeter than Beverly Cleary's classics.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite Betsy books and my son really enjoyed it too, asking for chapter after chapter. Betsy's summer is full of the delights of childhood and summertime and, while taking place in the 1940s/50s, I think most modern children would still delight in them if they had the opportunity. There's the fun of trying to find a substitute sound for the ice cream truck bell when it goes out of order (and getting to ride along on the truck, too); the neighborhood kids trying to fry an egg on the sidewalk on a very hot day; the excitement of watching the neighbor's pool be built (and the anticipation of that first day of swimming!); and, of course, the wonderful fun in the summer playhouse Betsy's father builds for her and her little sister in the backyard and which affords Betsy's friends so much fun over the summer, including the watermelon party! Though the episodes are mostly just great fun, a few lessons are tucked in here and there (without being obnoxiously didactic). Betsy has plenty of friends who are boys and they get almost as much page time as Betsy, so if you have young readers who don't want a "girl book" just try to get them to give it a chance. I'm also really pleased that this book continues to include Lillybelle, the African-American daughter of Betsy's neighbor's housekeeper, and she is counted just as much a friend as anyone and is invited to the swimming party, too.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the Betsy books when I was a kid, and I recently re-read the three listed here. I smiled the whole way through (which probably made fellow ferry passengers think I was insane). There's just something so comforting about these books for me--the wholesome 1940s values, the neighborhood really being like one big family, the general goodwill and lack of anything bad every happening. I still adore the Betsy books, but they're never going to be popular again--kids today aren't going to have the slightest clue what they're about. I mean, finding a woman and two kids stranded on a highway in a blizzard is one thing--but taking them home to live with your family for a week until help can arrive? The childless family that puts in a pool, and invites all the neighborhood kids over to swim in it? The 1940s must have been such a pleasant time to be a kid...

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was free of any questionable issues. I really like the idea of kids playing outside all day, the village raising of children, etc.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking for these books everywhere and I am so glad to have finally found them! While my friends in elementary school were always checking out the more "popular" books in the library, I found myself coming back to this series again and again. I'm pretty sure I read every book in the series at least twice! I'm a little perturbed to discover that they've been re-released with a more modern cover, because I actually prefer the vintage look. Brings back so many memories and should I stumble across these somewhere, I may just have to read them again!

[Rosie Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good, it is not as adventurous as i like. But it is still good. It is about kids, and what they do in the summer. I recommend it to age-group 9-10, it's like real-life, you can relate.

[Stasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am fairly certain that I read quite a few of the 'Betsy' books by Carolyn Haywood in my childhood. I remember bits and pieces, and want to revisit them again. The copy of this book I received from the library is a hardcover from the 1950's, and the pages have that soft feel from being turned many, many times through the years, and the whole book just feels like nostalgia at its' finest. Obviously a fairly quick read, but laugh out loud funny, and the author's illustrations are charming, which I think is what I remembered most. Another series to make you sigh for simpler times of days gone by...

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to myself many times as a kid and it was really fun to read to my 7 year old.

[Kathy Lynch]

A book that's a blast from my past that I couldn't resist reading just for fun. Of course, pretty much all the books I read are for fun and pleasure.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family discussion about the Duckess with the fish in her pants led me to reread this old favorite.

[Kathleen Behrendt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This charming book takes readers back to a simpler era. Betsy, her sister Star and her friends spend the summer having all kinds of adventures doing some things children still do now (lemonade stand, watching things get built, chasing the ice cream truck). Some of their escapades raise eyebrows, like stuffing 11 people in a station wagon to go to a hayride and letting children use not one, but two, knives to break a string! Unfortunately, this book is out of print.

Recommend this book to readers, especially girls, who like old-fashioned type stories, second grade and up.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic fiction became immensely popular during this decade, and this 1956 title is a wonderful example. Betsy and her friends are just like any other children of the times, but a light is cast on their adventures, games, and mishaps that remind many of the more timeless qualities of childhood, and that imagination is for the ages.

[Angelica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Betsy is a classic series from Caroly Haywood. As soon as school lets out Betsy and her friend are free to do whatever they want with their summer. Antics include trying to fry an egg on the sidewalk or just having fun at a watermelon party. There is never dull moment between Betsy and her friends.

Great for boys or girls ages 8-10 who love classic books.

[Esther May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is probably my favorite Betsy book so far. It includes all of my favorite things to do in the summer: icecream, swimming, watermelon, friends and lemonade. I love this Betsy book series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In First Grade, I would borrow these from the ancient Riverton Elementary library. I LOVED these books. They bring back such good mems!!

[Casertalaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Betsy adventure. I have really enjoyed reading this series with Annie!! Makes me feel like a kid again!

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable highjinks of ordinary children, but not up to Ramona the Pest or Clementine standards. Found it in the summer rental and was happy to read it, though.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last read
September 2014
and
January 2013

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved it

[Amyem]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5...

[Libbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book to read with your kids!!! Or for kids to read, reading level 3.7 AR Points 3.0.