Go West, Amelia Bedelia!

New York Times Book Review

"No child can resist Amelia [Bedelia] and her literal trips through the minefield of the English language—and no adult can fail to notice that she’s usually right when she’s wrong."

Children's Literature - Annie Laura Smith

Amelia Bedelia, the literal-minded housekeeper, visits her uncle's dude ranch, The Double B Ranch, in one of her many adventures. Young readers will learn new words and their definitions (i.e. that foreman does not mean four men; shoeing a horse does not mean shooing the horse away; a saddle horn does not honk; and a quarter horse does not mean that he is worth twenty-five cents). Her humorous vocabulary difficulties will alert young readers to the mistakes that can be made in the minefield of the English language. Amelia learns how to be a "cow-girl" through trial and error. She manages to lasso herself, and miraculously stops a cattle stampede. Delightful cartoon-like, watercolor illustrations complement the text throughout the book. This book is part of the extensive twenty-five book "Amelia Bedelia" series, which chronicles over forty years of her mixed-up adventures. Although some of the vocabulary confusion may be lost on young readers, the colorful sketches will clarify the words' meanings. These books are a delightful way for young readers to enhance their vocabularies. Reviewer: Annie Laura Smith

School Library Journal

Gr 1–3—Amelia Bedelia visits her uncle's dude ranch in this installment in the popular beginning-reader series. In typical fashion, she takes everything literally. She wonders who "broke" a horse named Cream Puff, "shoos" other horses, imagines an outlaw enjoying the "cooler" on a hot day, etc. The humor isn't over-the-top; often, it isn't even groan-worthy. The pictures don't add significant value to the text, but do help to illustrate some of Amelia's blunders. While this book would probably circulate with the child's fans, it is a forgettable tale.—Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN