Customer Reviews

"B" Is for Betsy

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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The Betsy series are a wonderful way to introduce a young daughter to the delights of starting school. While Betsy's adventures reflect life in the first half of our century, they ring true as high drama to a five-year-old. There's the search for a lost dog, plans for a birthday party, a lesson learned from violets snatched from the neighbor's yard, walking to school, meeting the new teacher etc...The books, four in all, include just enough drawings to keep a child peeking ahead to the next chapter. Each chapter is short enough to read at one sitting

When I was a youngster my favorite books were the Betsy series. Carolyn Haywood captured for me the innocent charm of childhood, the adventures of youth, and the joy of young friends. I recently re-read B is for Betsy and it only served to renew my pleasure in the Betsy series!

I was 7 years old, in the second grade when our teacher read the book "B is for Betsy". After our teacher had finished the book I checked it out myself to read again. Within a couple of months I had read through the entire twelve book series.
The story is of Betsy and her childhood adventures. You will meet her mother, father, grandparents and friends in this delightful story. The storyline is innocent, clean and wholesome the way childhood should be. I also love the illustrations which were done by the author as well, they are beautiful works of art which fuel a child's imagination.
This is the best book series for young children. I would also recommend the other books written by Miss Haywood. You can find them listed on the Amazon website or your local library. They are a delight to children of all ages!

Found this lovely little book in the "discard" pile at the library, so I grabbed it for my two daughters (ages 6 & 8). The book is about 150 pages with 10 chapters and pictures throughout for personal enjoyment. I immediately enjoyed the book from chapter 1, and each night I read a chapter with my girls, asking them questions about what's happening, what's happened, and what they think is going to happen. They are really relating to the adventures. Simple, yet entertaining. Love how little educational tidbits are placed in the story. It's a wonderful learning tool. Honestly, my daughters are begging for the next chapter each night! That's why I'm online now trying to order another book by this lovely author. Never a dull moment. Recommend this little gem highly! - Happy Mom. :)

I start every school year reading this book, a chapter a day, to my class. I've taught first grade and kindergarten, and the students never fail to connect with Betsy. They can't wait to hear what will happen next!

A classic from my childhood that I never forgot--a book that's just plain fun.

I start every school year reading this book, a chapter a day, to my class. I've taught first grade and kindergarten, and the students never fail to connect with Betsy. They can't wait to hear what will happen next!

A classic from my childhood that I never forgot--a book that's just plain fun.

I ordered this book because it was the first chapter book I read as a child. I read this book in the 4th grade and remember my surprise that I could actually read a "really long book." As all reading teachers know a child's first chapter book is a milestone is literacy development. I am now a reading teacher and in my 50's. It was good to find this book.

Carolyn Haywood wrote "B" is for Betsy in 1939, but this story of a young girl's first year at school is timeless.

Betsy is an only child who is not looking forward to the first grade because Old Ned, a hired hand on her grandfather's farm, has shared unpleasant memories of the school he attended in his youth. Betsy soon discovers, however, that her own experience will be quite unlike Old Ned's. Her teacher is kind and friendly, and the classroom has neither a switch nor a dunce cap. Betsy quickly befriends Ellen, a little girl in her class, and Mr. Kilpatrick, the police officer who helps the children cross a busy street on the way to school.

The children in Betsy's class build a model of a Native American village and watch tadpoles turn into frogs. The first graders assemble a Thanksgiving basket for a poor, elderly woman who makes her living by selling pretzels, and give a circus performance for the sixth graders, which is enlivened by a visit by an organ-grinder and his monkey.

Outside of the classroom, the adventures continue. Betsy saves her money to buy Ellen the perfect birthday present. She rescues a lost dog and is given a cocker spaniel puppy. When Betsy goes to her grandfather's farm for the summer, she is thrilled when Ellen joins her.

This gentle story is timeless, and only a few words betray the fact that it was written nearly seventy years ago---for example, the word "policeman" instead of "police officer" or "Indian" instead of "Native American".

The children are occasionally naughty, but their transgressions are mild and their contrition sincere. The adults do hold the children accountable for their misbehavior, but are helpful and understanding instead of harsh.

This is an excellent book for children who are ready for chapter books, but are too young or sensitive to handle books with frightening or disturbing themes.

I remember going to the library with my first grade class and choosing B is for Betsy all by myself. It was a worn red cloth hardcover with few pictures inside, which made me sure I was so grown up. I LOVED Betsy (I also had a grandparents farm to go to) I read all the books by Carolyn Haywood after that, and will always credit Betsy for giving me my love of literature.

Welcome to a little paradise where a little girl named Betsy is going to go to school for the first time. She is going to first grade, I guess there was no kindergarten back then. You won't find any magic spells or dinosaurs or Sponge Bob square pants in this book. Not even a talking mouse. Instead real things happen that kids can really connect to. It all seems so real, you feel like you are there. This book shows you how to get along in class and how to make new friends. Betsy sets a good example for our children in being respectful, caring, helpful, energetic and curious: all the things you need for school. There is no danger to be scared of in this book and yet the visit to this place is so enjoyable that you don't need danger to bring excitement. The adults also set a good example for us. They are respectful and helpful and always doing their best. The best part about this book is that there's more. In the next book, Betsy goes to 2nd grade and surprise! Miss Grey has also been promoted to the 2nd grade. The children are delighted and so is Miss Grey. The book is called Betsy and Billy. Some things never change. There will always be friends and dogs and teachers and birthday parties. Something will always get lost and a good surprise will always happen. You will always have to figure out your problems cleverly and honestly. You will find in this book the things that don't change with the times. You will also find some things did change but you wish they didn't because in your heart you know that that's the way things should be.