Peggy Parish (1927–1988)
Author of Amelia Bedelia
About the Author
Peggy Parish was born in Manning, South Carolina on July 14, 1927. She attended the University of South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. While visiting her brother in Kentucky, Parish was persuaded to enter the teaching profession. After teaching creative dancing to young show more children, she moved to Oklahoma and taught third grade in the Panhandle, in addition to teaching dance and producing community shows. Parish's first book, My Golden Book of Manners, was published in 1961, followed by Let's Be Indians in 1962. A parent of one of the students, who was an editor of adult books, found out she was trying to break into the writing field and introduced her to an editor at Harper who helped improve her skills as a storyteller. This, of course, led to her biggest breakthrough, the creation of Amelia Bedelia in 1963. Parish eventually wrote 11 more Amelia Bedelia books as well as a number of mystery novels, and arts and crafts books. Among these other titles are Haunted House, Dinosaur Time, The Chimp That Went to School and Let's Celebrate: Holiday Decorations You Can Make. In addition to writing books, Parish did television pieces on preschool education and children's books, wrote book review columns and led a number of in-service training workshops for teachers. Parish died of an aneurysm on November 19, 1988. Her nephew, Herman Parish, continues to recreate new titles in the Amelia Bedelia series. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Peggy Parish
Amelia Bedelia I Can Read Box Set #1: Amelia Bedelia Hit the Books Collection (I Can Read Level 2) (2016) 125 copies
Amelia Bedelia and Her Wacky World: Amelia Bedelia and the Baby, Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping, Amelia Bedelia Helps Out,… (1986) 57 copies
I Can Read Amelia Bedelia 6 Pack Set, Level 2 (Amelia Bedelia Helps Out, Good Driving Amelia Bedelia, Calling Doctor… (1905) 14 copies
Amelia Bedelia Collection (Amelia Bedelia's Family Album; Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia; Thank You, Amelia Bedelia;… (2010) 8 copies
Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower/The Smallest Cow in the World -- An I Can Read Activity Book (2003) 4 copies
Amelia Bedelia Set of 5 Books (Amelia Bedelia ~ Good Work, Amelia Bedelia ~ Thank You, Amelia Bedelia ~ Good Driving,… (1998) 3 copies
Let's Celebrate: Holiday Decorations You Can Make by Peggy Parish & illustrated by Lynn Sweat (1976) 3 copies
Amelia Bedelia Returns:Vol Two of the Amelia Bedelia Audio Collection UA CD: Amelia Bedelia for Mayor, Bravo Amelia… (2007) 3 copies
Amelia Bedelia Audio Collection: Amelia Bedelia; Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower; Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia;… (2009) 2 copies
Amelia Bedelia Audio Collection: Bravo, Amelia Bedelia!/ Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping/ Amelia Bedelia Helps Out/ Amelia… (2009) 2 copies
Lets Be Indians 2 copies
I Can Read Amelia Bedelia 50th Birthday 6 Pack Set, Level 2 (Amelia Bedelia, Amelia Bedelia Helps Out, Amelia Bedelia… (2013) 2 copies
Mr. Adam's Mistake 1 copy
Hermit Dan 1 copy
Amelia Bedelia Box Set of 7 ; Amelia Bedelia, Good Work AB, Teach us AB, AB & the Baby, AB Family Album, Too Many… (1990) 1 copy
Be Ready at Eight 1 copy
Amelia Bedelia 4 1 copy
Biscuit Finds a Friend 1 copy
Associated Works
The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud (1998) — Author — 1,585 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Parish, Margaret Cecile (birth name)
- Birthdate
- 1927-07-14
- Date of death
- 1988-11-19
- Burial location
- Manning Cemetery, Manning, South Carolina, USA
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Manning, South Carolina, USA
- Place of death
- Manning, South Carolina, USA
- Cause of death
- aneurysm
- Places of residence
- Manning, South Carolina, USA
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Nashville, Tennessee, USA - Education
- University of South Carolina (BA|English)
Vanderbilt University - Occupations
- teacher
children's book author
children's book reviewer
dance instructor - Relationships
- Parish, Herman (nephew)
- Organizations
- Authors Guild
Authors League of America
Delta Kappa Gamma
Dalton School
Carolina Today - Short biography
- Margaret Cecile "Peggy" Parish was an American writer known best for the children's book series and fictional character Amelia Bedelia. Parish was born in Manning, South Carolina to a poor family, attended the University of South Carolina, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She worked as a teacher in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and in New York. She taught at the Dalton School in Manhattan for 15 years and published her first children's book while teaching third grade there. She authored over 30 books, which had sold 7 million copies at the time of her death.
Members
Discussions
Children's Mystery: Clues, Treasure in the Walls? in Name that Book (July 2017)
Reviews
Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parish
This book is about three kids who are visiting their grandparents and come upon a mystery. This book was written in the 60's and felt very wholesome to me. There is some squabbling between the siblings but at one point the kids ask if they can help clean up after dinner and I felt that helpfulness really refreshing. It felt different than the books that are more current. I really enjoyed the different puzzles in the book and I think children reading this would have fun trying to solve the puzzles themselves. I was very invested in solving the mystery and read this very quickly (it's a pretty short book).… (more)
In "Amelia Bedelia," we follow a housekeeper named Amelia Bedelia as she does her chores for the Rogers family. But Amelia Bedelia has a funny way of doing things—she takes everything people say very literally! So when she's told to "dress the chicken," she thinks it means putting clothes on it. And when she's asked to "draw the drapes," she grabs her pencils and starts drawing pictures of curtains. "Amelia Bedelia" is full of funny moments that show how Amelia Bedelia's literal thinking can lead to unexpected and amusing situations. But no matter what, she always brings a smile to the faces of those she meets. Teachers can engage students in discussions about the meanings of words and phrases, as well as the importance of context in understanding communication.… (more)
Guess who's at bat? The lovable, hilarious Amelia Bedelia is back, filling in for a sick player on the Grizzlies baseball team. Watch out! Because nobody plays ball like Amelia Bedelia.
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Statistics
- Works
- 87
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 42,786
- Popularity
- #401
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 606
- ISBNs
- 509
- Languages
- 4
- Favorited
- 8