Amelia Bedelia’s Masterpiece
Author: Herman Parish
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 64
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Rating: ***

Summary:
Amelia Bedelia came to the art museum to help Mrs. Rogers. She was more trouble than help though it appeared to the art director. She almost touched a piece of art, and she completely cleaned up a room of modern art because she thought it was messy. She learned what reproductions were and even bought a replication bust…which is a statue of the head, neck, and shoulders. On her way through the museum she put her replication in place of the original bust, so that she could clean it and went on her way. On her way through the museum she noticed an art thief. She spotted him and told a painter in the museum. Along with this she also discovered Drew, a school boy who she let pain his art on one of the bare walls. Well she saved the day by getting the painting back, discovering a new painter. But little did everyone know she also caught the thief. But she let him go if he promised do never do it again, and he did and when the new part of the museum opened up with Drew’s work, a painting of her was delivered by you know who.

Who would benefit from reading this?
Amelia Bedelia series is fun for most kids. It has all sorts of different adventures. I would gear this more towards elementary aged kids.

Potential problems/conflicts:
This book was kind of complicated for a child to follow. It also made stealing seem okay and with no consequences if you didn’t do it again.

My reaction:
I loved to read this series when I was a kid. This book I wasn’t the biggest fan of but others are fun to read. They are fairly fast reads, but long enough for older kids. A good series, but there are other books in the series that I was more impressed with than this one.