School can be kind of scary for someone who is just starting, but Betsy is trying very hard to be brave. It turns out that school is not what she thought it would be-school can be fun! She makes lots of new friends, her teacher is really nice and the classroom is bright and sunny. She learns something new all the time and throughout the school year there are many surprising adventures waiting for her. Author Carolyn Haywood has penned more than 40 books, including this American classic, in which children have found familiar characters and predicaments.
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"The "Betsy" books were among my favorites when I was young. My mom introduced me to them in elementary school and I would love to do the same for my Jillian. They are out of print, so I seek them out at used book sales and stores. I recently found my first 2!! "
— Stacy (5 out of 5 stars)
" I read this to my five year old and she really liked it. "
— Julie, 2/17/2014" The Betsy series has an old time-y feel without seeming dated. This is the perfect book for many first and second grade girls who are ready for a real novel and like stories about real life. These books are meatier than many books put out for this age range today. "
— Jacqueline, 2/14/2014" I loved these books as a kid "
— dena, 2/10/2014" I read this book as a child. I can't wait for my daughter to read it too. "
— Starla, 1/29/2014" I remember loving the Betsy series when I was young -- one of the first series of chapter books I read all by myself. I was curious to read her books again, as an adult. This book is sweet, and contains funny parts that my children laughed at, as we read it together. We also talked a lot about how different the world is, compared to Betsy's era. "
— Heather, 1/26/2014" This book is absolutely adorable. Written in 1939 it is a classic little girl book - and for big girls, too! "
— Kathryn, 1/24/2014" The "Betsy" books were among my favorites when I was young. My mom introduced me to them in elementary school and I would love to do the same for my Jillian. They are out of print, so I seek them out at used book sales and stores. I recently found my first 2!! "
— Stacy, 1/16/2014" My 8yo really enjoyed this book! She read it in a day! She is excited to read the next in the series, but our library doesn't have them. I guess these books are worth the investment, as I have three younger daughters who will read through them, too. "
— Sarah, 1/16/2014" Read this with my daughter. Sweet - well written from a grade-schooler's perspective. "
— Jeannie, 1/16/2014" This was the first chapter book that I ever read on my own. I cherished sharing with my daughter. "
— Loree, 12/30/2013" My mom read them to me and now I'm reading them to my kids. They are the most wholesome books that I can think of. Perfect length of chapters for reading aloud. All-American 1940's and 50's kids in a small town. "
— Marisa, 12/26/2013" Pure childhood nostalgia! "
— Amanda, 12/25/2013" What a cute book. Good for young kids "
— Emily, 12/19/2013" I read the out of print book with the illustrations by Carolyn Haywood. The images in the book are one of the reasons I liked the story so much. I have a spot in my heart for all things old-fashioned, and this book was just the fix I needed. "
— Jessi, 12/12/2013" My mom read me the Betsy series when I was little. It was the first chapter book she read to me. They are sweet old-fashioned stories. "
— Ginny, 12/6/2013" This was my favorite book as a young child....I still remember it fondly! "
— Arlene, 11/30/2013" This is the first chapter book I ever read and I loved every minute of it. "
— Connie, 9/26/2013" i loved this book when i read it in second grade. i think it was the first 'big book' i ever read. :) "
— Kathleen, 6/2/2013" My first chapter book! "
— Anna, 10/17/2012" In third and fourth grade I remember reading all the Carolyn Haywood books by elementary school had. In fourth grade we had to write to authors and I wrote to Carolyn Haywood and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Hearing from both of them only made them shine even more for me. "
— Janice, 2/21/2012" My favorite books as a kid....must have been in 2nd or 3rd grade. Remember lining up to go to the school library and being so excited to see another book there. When I ran out of Betsy, I tried Eddie, but no, I was all about Betsy. "
— Geralyn, 2/21/2012" I still have my tattered copy from childhood. Sweet story. "
— Betsy, 2/1/2012" Dare I say I read a book as a girl. Growing up, reading just didn't seem like a normal thing. But yes, I read "B" is for Betsy. I don't remember too much, but I remember feeling really good about finishing a chapter book and actually liking it. "
— Jeannette, 12/23/2011" i read it in 2nd grade so....i thought it wa okay. it was about betsy obviously who was scared about 2nd grade and her experience as a 2nd grader..these are a series of lk three. "
— Sai, 12/23/2011" This is an elementary school age series about what life is like at that age that I read growing up and really liked. "
— Elisabeth, 10/6/2011" When I was in first grade, I loved to check out these books (it was a series) from the school library. Wow - what memories.... "
— Jessica, 9/30/2011" LOVED these books as a young one...but why oh why don't they reprint them with the original drawings? "
— Carol, 9/21/2011" The Betsy Books were my first chapter books!<br/> "
— Patty, 6/30/2011" My 8yo really enjoyed this book! She read it in a day! She is excited to read the next in the series, but our library doesn't have them. I guess these books are worth the investment, as I have three younger daughters who will read through them, too. "
— Sarah, 6/18/2011" One of the first books I ever read!! Such a sweet little book :) "
— Molly, 5/5/2011" This is the series that got me going as a reader and a library user. "
— Stephanie, 2/3/2011" i loved this book when i read it in second grade. i think it was the first 'big book' i ever read. :) "
— Kathleen, 10/20/2010" so far it is fine. Elizabeth really likes it as it is about a girl starting school. It is interesting as it was written long ago so I like to see how schools were. "
— Allyson, 10/7/2010" Looking for another good series with a female lead for Kate. <br/> <br/>But this wasn't quite it. Sometimes old school is best. We loved Pippi and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. However, 1939 Betsy just didn't do anything for Kate and we spent more time explaining what they meant than we did reading. "
— Kristen, 4/29/2010" I read the out of print book with the illustrations by Carolyn Haywood. The images in the book are one of the reasons I liked the story so much. I have a spot in my heart for all things old-fashioned, and this book was just the fix I needed. "
— Jessi, 9/15/2009" In third and fourth grade I remember reading all the Carolyn Haywood books by elementary school had. In fourth grade we had to write to authors and I wrote to Carolyn Haywood and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Hearing from both of them only made them shine even more for me. "
— Janice, 9/4/2009Carolyn Haywood (1898–1990) was a native of Philadelphia. One of America’s most popular authors of children’s books, she published her first book, “B” Is for Betsy, in 1939, and wrote more than forty books in all. Many of her own childhood experiences can be found in her novels.
Stina Nielsen is an actress and audiobook narrator. Her reading of Kevin Henke’s Junonia earned her a 2011 Best Voice from AudioFile magazine. She is the winner of three AudioFile Earphones Awards.