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Margaret Cecile Parish born in Manning, South Carolina, on July 14, 1927, was most famously known as an author and a children’s book reviewer. She started off her studies attending the University of South Carolina earning her degree in English. Then continued her studies at Vanderbilt University. She got famous for her engaging writing styles and abilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parish, Margaret Cecile |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/parish-margaret-cecile/ |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=South Carolina Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref>
Margaret Cecile Parish born in Manning, South Carolina, on July 14, 1927, was most famously known as an author and a children’s book reviewer. She started off her studies attending the University of South Carolina earning her degree in English. Then continued her studies at Vanderbilt University. She got famous for her engaging writing styles and abilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parish, Margaret Cecile |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/parish-margaret-cecile/ |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=South Carolina Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref>
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Parish was heavily involved with education in any way she could be, she would often discuss her ideas on education stating “Children’s rights are taken away from them when they enter school, what I try to show teachers is that all the skills needed to read can be taught outside of textbooks”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Authors & Illustrators – Amelia Bedelia |url=https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250829094803/https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=www.ameliabedeliabooks.com |language=en}}</ref>… even going into saying “Today’s children are not going to read what they are not interested in. And if a positive attitude toward reading is not developed during the first three years of school, it is virtually impossible to develop it later”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Authors & Illustrators – Amelia Bedelia |url=https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250829094803/https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=www.ameliabedeliabooks.com |language=en}}</ref>…
Parish was heavily involved with education in any way she could be, she would often discuss her ideas on education stating “Children’s rights are taken away from them when they enter school, what I try to show teachers is that all the skills needed to read can be taught outside of textbooks”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Authors & Illustrators – Amelia Bedelia |url=https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250829094803/https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=www.ameliabedeliabooks.com |language=en}}</ref>… even going into saying “Today’s children are not going to read what they are not interested in. And if a positive attitude toward reading is not developed during the first three years of school, it is virtually impossible to develop it later”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Authors & Illustrators – Amelia Bedelia |url=https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250829094803/https://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/authors |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=www.ameliabedeliabooks.com |language=en}}</ref>…
Margaret Parish had a nephew named Herman Parish, who when his aunt passed away carried on her legacy for the new generation of readers, continuing the tradition she once carried years ago. Herman added many books about the grown up version of Amelia Bedelia, in picture books, Level 1 readings, and even chapter books. He created the “Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia” book. He made sure to make edits on his books with his aunts previous editor, Susan Hirschman, with his books to ensure that his transitions from Peggy’s books to his where as seamless as possible. Herman was over the moon about being able to continue writing the Amelia Bedelia legacy on, as well as his inspiring family tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=The Country’s Most Famous House Maid Turns 50 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/amelia-bedelia-turns-50-35-million-books-sold/story?id=18337520 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>
Margaret Parish had a nephew named Herman Parish, on legacy of , the years . Herman added many books about the grown up version of Amelia Bedelia, in picture books, Level 1 readings, and even chapter books. He created the “Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia” book. He made sure to make edits on his books with his aunts previous editor, Susan Hirschman, with his books to ensure that his transitions from Peggy’s books to his where as seamless as possible. Herman was over the moon about being able to continue writing the Amelia Bedelia legacy on, as well as his inspiring family tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=The Country’s Most Famous House Maid Turns 50 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/amelia-bedelia-turns-50-35-million-books-sold/story?id=18337520 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>
Returning to her home town in 1972, Parish continued to write her famous books until her death on November 19, 1988. In 1988, for the upcoming 25th birthday of her most famous piece “Amelia Bedelia”, publishers sponsored a nationwide celebration, influencing students to send cards and letters to libraries and bookstores around the nation. Parish’s best character created Amelia Bedelia, a maid who abided by everything she was told to do, with a determined attitude sparked the imagination of children to challenge themselves to be like Amelia. This character is loved deeply by every school child who reads about her. <ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-11-22 |title=Peggy Parish, 61, Author of Books On Inept Maid, Amelia Bedelia (Published 1988) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/22/obituaries/peggy-parish-61-author-of-books-on-inept-maid-amelia-bedelia.html |access-date=2025-10-11 |language=en}}</ref>
Returning to her home town in 1972, Parish continued to write her famous books until her death on November 19, 1988. In 1988, for the upcoming 25th birthday of her most famous piece “Amelia Bedelia”, publishers sponsored a nationwide celebration, influencing students to send cards and letters to libraries and bookstores around the nation. Parish’s best character created Amelia Bedelia, a maid who abided by everything she was told to do, with a determined attitude sparked the imagination of children to challenge themselves to be like Amelia. This character is loved deeply by every school child who reads about her. <ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-11-22 |title=Peggy Parish, 61, Author of Books On Inept Maid, Amelia Bedelia (Published 1988) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/22/obituaries/peggy-parish-61-author-of-books-on-inept-maid-amelia-bedelia.html |access-date=2025-10-11 |language=en}}</ref>
=== References ===
=== References ===
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Margaret Cecile Parish born in Manning, South Carolina, on July 14, 1927, was most famously known as an author and a children’s book reviewer. She started off her studies attending the University of South Carolina earning her degree in English. Then continued her studies at Vanderbilt University. She got famous for her engaging writing styles and abilities.[1] Parish tragically passed away due to a ruptured abdominal aneurysm at the age of 61, right after finishing her last Amelia Bedelia book, called “Amelia Bedelia’s Family Album”. [2]
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Parish moved to New York after a couple years settling down in Oklahoma and Kentucky to begin teaching reading at Dalton School, going on to work there for the next 15 years. Where she then went on to write books for the children there, even coming out with her first book “My Golden Book of Manners” in 1962 with the help of Golden Pleasure Books. A year later, a second book was published “Let’s Be Indians”, which was a highly popular book for years to come. After years of teaching she became a Children’s book reviewer on the Carolina Today television show. She was also a contributor of many book reviews to newspapers. She created more than 30 children’s books over the course of her life while producing more than 7 million copies. She spoke to many library associations and children’s education groups about her passions for writing, and even about her writings. Her books are often used in many schools due to the way they could capture the attention of the little kids reading her writings. Other than the already famous books she created, she also came out with books like “The Cat’s Burglar”, “Dinosaur Time”, “The Ghosts of Cougar Island”, “Good Hunting Little Indian”, “Hermit Dan” and “Let’s Be Early Settlers with Daniel Boone”. [3]
Parish was heavily involved with education in any way she could be, she would often discuss her ideas on education stating “Children’s rights are taken away from them when they enter school, what I try to show teachers is that all the skills needed to read can be taught outside of textbooks”[4]… even going into saying “Today’s children are not going to read what they are not interested in. And if a positive attitude toward reading is not developed during the first three years of school, it is virtually impossible to develop it later”[5]…
Margaret Parish had a nephew named Herman Parish, also an American children’s author best known for continuing on his aunts legacy and traditions of “Amelia Bedelia” since 1995[6]. Herman spent his time earning a degree from University of Pennsylvania, and served four years in the U.S. Navy. After his schooling, he spent 13 years as an advertising copywriter before transitioning to starting his journey with children’s literature. [7] Herman added many books about the grown up version of Amelia Bedelia, in picture books, Level 1 readings, and even chapter books. He created the “Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia” book. He made sure to make edits on his books with his aunts previous editor, Susan Hirschman, with his books to ensure that his transitions from Peggy’s books to his where as seamless as possible. Herman was over the moon about being able to continue writing the Amelia Bedelia legacy on, as well as his inspiring family tradition.[8] 30 years had gone by and Herman authored more than 60 titles for Amelia Bedelia, helping achieve over 55 million copies sold worldwide, his contribution played a huge role in the continuation of the popularity Amelia Bedelia holds. Sadly, in February of 2024, he passed away at the age of 71. His legacy, along with Peggy’s still shines and their work still holds joy in younger readers hearts. [9]
Returning to her home town in 1972, Parish continued to write her famous books until her death on November 19, 1988. In 1988, for the upcoming 25th birthday of her most famous piece “Amelia Bedelia”, publishers sponsored a nationwide celebration, influencing students to send cards and letters to libraries and bookstores around the nation. Another huge milestone came up in later years, the 50th anniversary of the beloved “Amelia Bedelia”, with this milestone came a release of drawings from the original illustrator of Amelia Bedelia, with behind the scenes looks at how the series came to be what it is today.[10] Parish’s best character created Amelia Bedelia, a maid who abided by everything she was told to do, with a determined attitude sparked the imagination of children to challenge themselves to be like Amelia. This character is loved deeply by every school child who reads about her. [11]
https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/parish-margaret-cecile/
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/peggy-parish
