‘Amelia Bedelia’, is the first book in the Amelia Bedelia children’s picture book series about a housekeeper who takes owner’s instructions literally. It was written by Peggy Parish and was published in 1963.
Amelia Bedelia is hired as a maid for the wealthy Rogers family. Despite meaning well, Amelia cannot seem to do anything right, because she does not understand the vernacular used by her employers.
Mrs. Rogers once gives her a list of chores to complete, while the family goes out. After choosing to make a pie to be nice, Amelia proceeds to take all the chores literally: she ‘dresses the chicken’ in clothes, ‘drawing the drapes’ on a piece of notebook paper, and ‘puts out the lights’ by hanging them on the clothesline.
When the Rogers return home, Mrs. Rogers is bewildered that none of the chores are done. On the verge of firing Amelia, she has a bite of Amelia’s pie, and finds it so delicious. Mrs. Rogers forgives Amelia and vows to write down instructions explicitly in the future.
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