Carolyn Haywood (1898–1990)

Oh dear. Not only is there that troublesome old set of 'Indian' stereotypes, but Betsy is such a fortunate child that it's like there were 13 good fairies at her christening.

She doesn't want the teacher who wears black for second grade, so on the first day of school she discovers that teacher is gone and her beloved first grade teacher has been promoted to second grade. She wants a baby sister for Christmas... and Star is born on Christmas morning (and not only that, but Betsy gets to name show more the baby!). Thumpy gets picked up by the dogcatcher, but Mr. Kilpatrick happens to be driving by and so he gives her a lift to the pound. Etc.

This child will never learn resilience... and I know that I, as a child, would have been furiously envious.

I recommend skipping this one with your family. I'm all for 'teachable moments' but I think it would be hard to explain why this is bad to small children. Let me know if I'm wrong, please. show less

More dated than some in the series; read Kathryn's careful review for details. I think it would be great to read these together and discuss the problematic bits... after all, when your children are independent readers, they'll encounter references to Indian braves, organ grinders' monkeys, etc. There are bits to love, too... I agree with Kathryn that the chapter where Betsy is naughty and picks violets without permission is delightful.

This is one of those old children's books that has been in my wife's family for a long time. It was a Christmas present to her brother in 1975, and here it is still on our library shelf fifty years later. Alas, it is not one of those books that is constantly re-read because it is so beloved, it is simply still around because it lucked into being possessed by book hoarders.

It was published in 1966 but feels like it is a media tie-in for a generic 1950s family sitcom. Eddie Wilson wanders his show more suburban neighborhood having gentle little adventures with his friends that are regularly punctuated with what are supposed to be comic developments.

Hoping to raise some cash over the summer, he goes into business with Annie Pat Wallace. She will create portraits of people's dogs and cut him in for a share of the profits if he drums up customers and holds the dogs still while she paints. Hijinks ensue as the dogs get loose, get dirty, and all come out looking orange in the final product. And then a young fellow with a camera shows up to open a rival service.

Apparently, this was popular for a while back in the 1960s. This particular book is the tenth in a series of sixteen about Eddie and his friends. And I suppose if you grew up watching Leave It to Beaver this would feel pretty comfortable.

Too bland for me.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter 1. Aunt Mabel's Cocker Spaniel -- Chapter 2. Eddie Goes to a Party -- Chapter 3. Painting Buster -- Chapter 4. Now It's a German Shepherd -- Chapter 5. Boodles' Birthday Present -- Chapter 6. A Yankee-Doodle Dog -- Chapter 7. Valuable Property -- Chapter 8. An Unexpected Caller -- Chapter 9. Back to School show less

Haywood, C. (1945). Betsy and the Boys. Orlando: Harcourt Books.

0152051023

Don’t judge a book by the cover. This cover is an update. The content of this book and the illustrations are authentic 1940s fluff. Betsy and the Boys follows the daily lives of Betsy and her best friend Billy as they cook, attend school, enjoy Valentine's Day, prepare for a play, wash dogs and play football.

With all of the ‘gees’, ‘gollies’, ‘jimminies’ and ‘you betchas,’ it’s easy to think the show more book is stereotypical of the time it’s describing. That is of course, until you think about the plot. Billy bakes along side Betsy. And Betsy searches for a way to play football with the boys. (Don’t get me wrong, this book doesn’t completely deconstruct gender stereotypes—the parents seem to embody traditional gender roles and Betsy *SPOILER* is subtly directed away from playing football)

Betsy and the Boys shares the experiences of everyday middle class (white!) suburban experience. Most of the children in the narrative are good and well-intentioned. The chapters feel episodic (which would lend itself to being read aloud) with an overarching plot that fades in and out.

This is one book in a larger Betsy series by Haywood.


Activities to do with the book:

While I wouldn’t say that Betsy and the Boys is the most tense or fast-paced book in the history of the world, it can still manage to be engrossing as a read aloud to eight or nine-year-olds or as a social studies read into life in the U.S. during the 1940s (without that pesky second World War to bring anyone down).

Older students could use this book to examine how both gender and childhood are constructed. Since Valentine's Day is celebrated in a certain way in the book, students could "write back" with their own experiences of the holiday.


Favorite Quotes:

“Betsy, Billy, and Ellen had met in the first grade. They had become fast friends as they worked and played together” (p. 1).

“After the pancake and cream puff experience, Billy began calling Betsy “Pancake” and Betsy called Billy “Cream Puff.”
At first, Billy didn’t mind. He just thought it was funny. But when the Wilson boys, who lived around the corner from Billy, heard Betsy call Billy Cream Puff, they screamed with laughter” (p. 16).

“Who ever heard of a girl on a football team?
“Girls can do anything,” said Betsy. “Girls can fly airplanes and drive taxicabs and run streetcars. Why can’t they play football?”
“Cause they can’t,” said Rudy.
“Well, I betcha I’ll be on the team,” said Betsy” (p. 20).

For more of my reviews, visit sjkessel.blogspot.com. show less