This is one of the first books (and series) I remember checking out in 1st or 2nd grade to read for myself. Very sweet, old-fashioned stories. Good for kids, for sure. They teach manners, relating to others, etc. I plan on reading this series with my kids when I have them. I hope I can find a set of them somewhere!

First, click on the "Google preview" button in the upper-right corner of this page to satisfy yourself that the recent printings do in fact include the original illustrations. (I'll admit, it was a huge relief to learn that!)

I must have read this book at least ten times. The Betsy books were some of my very favorites growing up.

The nostalgia factor was big for this little book! I loved all the Betsy books as a child, and have a few old ones in my collection. It was such a treat to find they were reprinted!

One of the first chapter books I ever read. I picked it up at a used book sale a few years ago to read to my daughter, and I had to do a lot of on-the-spot editing as I read it aloud. I didn't want to introduce the idea that the teachers at school might use corporal punishment . . .

So sweet. H was totally absorbed in this book and we read it in about three days.

Read it with M for our homeschool preschool year and she loved it.

This is an adorable little book about a girl named Betsy and her experience beginning first grade. This book is a level 4.3 on the AR reading scale. It's surprising that a book about a little girl beginning first grade has a fourth grade reading level. I think my daughter would like it, but I am not too keen on the idea of her reading it for a few reasons. This book is set in a different era when kids could walk to school alone, ask strangers for help,accept rides in cars from other adults without permission, and so on. Betsy is very cute, but it may be a good idea to read this out loud with younger children so as to explain to them that while children used to be able to safely do these kinds of things, that is not he case anymore. Another plus is that there are many other Betsy books, so if your child enjoys this one, there are plenty more to read.

Why do the characters do to have to react this way? I was so sad… Such a nice story. I will look forward to the next part and hope that Ms. Haywood will improve. Please dont disappoint me!!!! Thanks, Daniel

I read all of Carolyn Haywood's book as a kid, more than once, and so did my brother. The time finally came -- my daughter and I just finished this together, with me reading her a chapter a time. She loved it, but the most fun was talking about how things were different when the book was written (1939) and yet how things were the same, especially about going to school and making friends with other children. A real treat, and we look forward to reading more books about Betsy together.

This is the first book in the first series I fell in love with, back when I was seven years old. I credit Betsy for my lifelong love affair with books and libraries!

The child has asked for the next book in the series, so I guess that makes this book a success. There are certainly some elements of the book that feel like they are very much from a different time (unsurprisingly), and some elements that are objectionable (gender and other stereotyping), but on the whole it's a nice book and perfect for a 6/7 year old.

Written in 1939, I don't think this book has aged particularly well, but it was probably lovely back then.

7/10: Such a sweet, innocent story. We loved it. Full review here: http://www.sunlitpages.com/2019/07/th...