Amelia Bedelia, Cub Reporter

PreS-Gr 3–A newspaper flying through the window and someone yelling “Duck!” set the stage for this latest story starring the goofy maid heroine. Peter, the paper carrier, enlists Amelia Bedelia to help him finish his paper route and then take him to school in the hope that the woman can provide an excuse for his late arrival. Luckily for her, the principal happens to need an adult to help with the school newspaper. These events pave the way for Amelia Bedelia to learn about the wonderful world of computers through her work on the School Scoop. With her literal thinking, it is quite amusing, and her headlines garner lots of attention. This engaging story lends itself to talk about homonyms, idioms, and newspapers, especially the craft of making headlines that grab readers’ attention. Simple artwork and a controlled vocabulary make this selection a great choice for beginning readers. It might entice some classes to start newspapers of their own.–Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN