Children’s Book Critique
Cortez Hague
Books
• Amelia Bedelia
• Peggy Parish
• Harper Collins Publisher (1963)
• Peter Pan
• Disney
• Creative Edge Publisher (2008)
Summaries
• Amelia Bedelia
• Amelia Bedelia is a maid who shows up for her first day
at new house with rich owners. As the owners leave, they
tell her to follow the list of chores exactly. Instantly,
Amelia likes her employers and wants to bake them a pie.
She does, then she follows the list literally. For example,
“Dust the furniture” turned into Amelia throwing dust
onto the furniture, making it a mess. Multiple literal
meanings were taken to multiple chores. When the
owners returned they were furious at Amelia, but then
Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers try Amelia’s pie and realize she
must stay. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers learned to write the list
that Amelia could understand.
• Peter Pan
• Petr Pan is a story in which a boy comes to visit three
small children who desire to got to Never-land, the place
where you do not age. Once they get to Never-land,
Captain Hook, Peter Pan’s arch nemesis captures the
three small children and holds them ransom. Hook said,
Peter Pan was going, but Wendy assured the other
children Peter would come to save them. As Hook gave
the children the final ultimatum to either join his crew or
walk the plank, Peter Pan came to rescue the children.
Peter fought Hook until he feel into the water and was
chased by an alligator. The story ended with the Children
returning home to their mother while peter returned to
Never-land to continue his adventures.
Positive/ Negative Factors
• Amelia Bedelia
• Peter Pan
• Positive
• Positive
• Both Genders represented
• Encouraged imagination by both genders
• Taught compassion and second chances
• Heroism portrayed by characters
• Negatives
• Negative
• Maid was stereotypical woman
• Hero and villain were the male characters.
• Chores were womanly, that included cleaning,
• Woman needed the man to be saved.
cooking, and laundry.
Male/Female Charactors
• Amelia Bedelia
• 1 male, 2 female
• Peter Pan
• 4 male, 1 female
• The moral of the story was to give others
• The message of the story was that of
second chances who deserve them.
• Message was the same for both genders
and all readers.
• Activities by characters were stereotypical.
heroism and imagination.
• I thought the message of heroism was
intended for the male audience only.
• Activities by characters were stereotypical
and favored the male.
Why Multicultural?
• Amelia Bedelia
• Peter Pan
• I found this story multicultural based on
• This story included multiple cultures and races
the roles of gender. Both male and female
each have their own culture and
stereotypical activities that are performed
in everyday life. This story highlighted
these activities while also incorporating a
moral that is intended for all readers.
which made this story multicultural. Peter at
one point saves an Indian princess and returns
her to the Indian chief. Each gender is also
represented in this story. The morals seem to
be imagination, and heroism. While imagination
can be understood by all readers, I found the
aspect of heroism to be favored toward the
male audience.