I finally convinced Bri to pause on her beloved Magic Treehouse books long enough to let me read her something else. Both girls enjoyed this sweet little book about starting first grade before cars were a thing. There's nothing earth-shaking here, but the girls like hearing about other children going through things similar to their own lives. With Bri starting school next year, she particularly enjoys this type of book.

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.

The second chapter book I read aloud with my daughter was "B" Is for Betsy.

I read so many of Carolyn Haywood's Betsy stories when I was a child, and was very excited to read them to my daughter. She loved this book. When we'd finish one chapter, she would want to peek ahead and learn what the title would be to the next chapter. I also enjoyed it for the nostalgia.

In this first book of the series, Betsy goes off to first grade. The novel follows her through the course of the school year. There were some aspects I glossed over - notably, Betsy is initially scared to go to school because someone has told her the teachers will use a switch on her if she's naughty. I changed that up a bit.

Overall, even though these books are set generations ago, there's much to hold a child's attention today.

This was a very quick read. Written in 1939 it has a nice old fashioned feeling to it. It reminded me of my growing up in the late 50s. I remember reading it as a child, but don't really remember my reactions to it. I would have read it in my first years at school. I think I would have liked the small town feel and the fact that Betsy was always looked after. Fun things happen, but nothing too scary or dangerous. Sweet.

I re-read this book after my friend posed the question “which books made you fall in love with reading?”

B is for Betsy is a timeless classic.
Reading this transported me to an innocent time beyond my mother’s years while simultaneously reminding me of the sweet time when my mother introduced me to her favorite book when she was a little girl.

Betsy has forever entwined my mother and I and I will always love her for it.

The original "Betsy Books" were written in 1939. They are timeless, all sweetness stories, that capture the innocence of 6+ year olds with perfection. I loved these stories when my mother read them to me, and now my own little girls can't wait to sit down and read another chapter. The stories are about the everyday happenings of curious, friendly, kind little children in grade school. Ms. Haywood writes about how the first day of school can be scary, watching tadpoles grow is exciting, and best friends make life sparkle. Mommy and Daddy are heroes that can fix anything, teachers are thoughtful and kind, and the jolly crossing guard is your friend. These are stories about what childhood should be like, and they are wonderful.

I don't love these quite as much as the Betsy-Tacy books but they are very sweet. Published in 1939, their period details are charming. A boy brings tadpoles to school in a cardboard box (no plastic)! Betsy walks to school alone at 6 years old. But some eternals remain, like the joy of discovering one's very first school friends.

This was a nice, easy read.
The style is similar to the Ramona Quimby books; each chapter has its own little adventure (rescuing dogs, putting on a circus) to fill up one school year. Betsy is definitely much better behaved than Ramona, but still has interesting adventures.
This is an easy book to read, however I would suggest adult assistance if a child were to read it. The story was originally written in 1939, therefore there are some references that children might not understand (word choice) or might need some additional discussion (reference to being hit with switches at school). I would recommend for children who enjoy reading and are mature enough to handle the understanding of changes in writing and society that have taken place since this book was published.
A very cute book with a likeable main character.

What I love about Betsy is the pace of her life. She is in first grade but not expected yet to read. It is okay if she is not in an accelerated class or enrolled in five after school classes. Betsy's biggest accomplishment is that she can walk to school by herself, even if she does get lost. The policeman is always there to set her straight. These stories, beginning with Betsy's first day of school, when she enters first grade, and going through the school year, until June, are delightfully written, beautifully illustrated, and hark back to a time when the world was less crowded, and communities genuinely looked after their children.

Obviously dated since this is 80 years old but I delighted in reading this to my 1st grader, as Betsy is in 1st grade in this book. I read at least part of this series as a kid and I loved sharing it with him.

I loved this book as a child; it was my first venture into chapter books as a kindergartner. It was also my first venture into reading all the books I could find by a single author: Carolyn Haywood. This is a sweet book, but, like many books from past eras (1939), it does not smoothly fit the world of a child of today. That being said, it did not do so when I read it, either (1964). That was the point. I loved the small town and the old-timey feel of it even then. If I was sharing this with a modern child, I would be certain to discuss some of the scenes that are problematic. I don't think it is necessary to completely discount something lovely just because it would not be written today. Children are fully capable of appreciating the story while learning about how times have changed.

Anna got most of the way through this one on her own. First real chapter book and now she's off to the races.