Herman Parish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Herman Parish
Parish in 2017
Born	1953 Texas, U. S.
Died	February 10, 2024
Occupation	Novelist
Language	English
Notable works	Amelia Bedelia

Herman S. Parish III (born in 1953, passed away on February 10, 2024) was an American author who wrote books for children. He is famous for continuing the popular Amelia Bedelia book series. His aunt, Peggy Parish, first created the character of Amelia Bedelia.

Herman Parish's Life and Writing Journey

Herman Parish was born in Texas. His father worked in the US Air Force. Herman was in fourth grade when the very first Amelia Bedelia book came out.

Continuing the Amelia Bedelia Series

Herman grew up loving his aunt's funny stories about Amelia Bedelia's mix-ups. After his aunt Peggy passed away in 1988, Herman decided to continue the series himself. He wanted to make sure the beloved character stayed in the family.

Peggy Parish, being a teacher, had summers off. She often stayed with Herman's family for long visits. This allowed Herman and Peggy to become very close. It also gave Herman a chance to watch his aunt write. He learned a lot about how she created her stories. This knowledge helped him greatly when he started writing the books himself.

Herman's Writing Style

To keep the spirit of the series alive, Herman carefully studied his aunt's books. He wanted to understand what made Amelia Bedelia so popular. In an interview, Herman explained that he didn't just want to copy his aunt's style. His aunt's stories often showed Amelia getting a list of tasks and then taking them too literally.

Herman chose to have Amelia's misunderstandings happen more often when she was talking to people face-to-face. This added a new twist to her funny adventures. Having the same editor, Susan Hirschman, and illustrator, Lynn Sweat, as his aunt also helped make the change smooth.

Connecting with Young Readers

Herman Parish lived in Princeton, New Jersey. He often traveled to libraries and elementary schools across the United States. He enjoyed speaking to young children about his books. During these talks, he often emphasized how important it is to revise and edit your writing. He shared his message with students in more than 22 states.

In May 2014, Herman Parish had a health issue at his home. He spent some time recovering in the hospital. Later, he dedicated his book Amelia Bedelia Cleans Up to two of his doctors.

Amelia Bedelia Books by Herman Parish

Herman Parish wrote many books in the Amelia Bedelia series. These books continued the fun adventures of the character.

Amelia Bedelia (Original Series)

• Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia (1995)
• Bravo, Amelia Bedelia! (1997)
• Amelia Bedelia 4 Mayor (1999)
• Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia (2002)
• Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm (2003)
• Amelia Bedelia and the Christmas List* (2003)
• Amelia Bedelia Goes Back to School* (2004)
• Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia (2004)
• Be My Valentine, Amelia Bedelia* (2005)
• Amelia Bedelia, Rocket Scientist? (2005)
• Amelia Bedelia Under Construction (2006)
• Amelia Bedelia's Masterpiece (2007)
• Amelia Bedelia and the Cat (2008)
• Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey (2008)
• Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off (2010)
• Go West, Amelia Bedelia! (2011)
• Amelia Bedelia Cub Reporter (2012)
• Good Work, Amelia Bedelia!(2012)

Young Amelia Bedelia (Early Adventures)

• Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School (2009)
• Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine (2009)
• Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie (2010)
• Amelia Bedelia's First Field Trip (2011)
• Amelia Bedelia Makes a Friend (2011)
• Amelia Bedelia's First Vote (2012)
• Amelia Bedelia Sleeps Over (2012)
• Amelia Bedelia Hits the Trail (2013)
• Amelia Bedelia Means Business (2013, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Unleashed (2013, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card (2013)
• Amelia Bedelia Road Trip! (2013, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Tries Her Luck (2013)
• Amelia Bedelia Goes Wild (2014, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Shapes Up (2014, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Cleans Up (2015, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail (2015, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Dances Off (2015, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia On the Job (2016, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Ties the Knot (2016, chapter book)
• Amelia Bedelia Makes a Splash (2017, chapter book)

These books were published by Greenwillow Books, which is part of HarperCollins Publishers. Some special "gatefold books" (marked with an asterisk) were published by HarperFestival.