Way Back Wednesday - Snowbound with Betsy

Snowbound With Betsy by Carolyn Haywood was the first book in the Betsy series I read as a child and it remained one of my favorite books until I reached adulthood.

The week before Christmas, a terrific snowstorm hits, and Betsy, Star, and their parents are snowbound, much to the girls' delight. There are snowmen to be built, Christmas presents to be made, and a tree to be decorated.

Not only was Betsy's family snowbound, but that also took in a mother and her little boy who became stranded in the neighborhood.

I can remember making birdfeeding cups out of orange rinds and peanut butter just like Betsy and Star. I laughed so hard reading about the popcorn they tried to "dry out" in the oven, only to have popped corn all over the kitchen. I also remember making snow angels for the first time after reading how Betsy and her friends made them.

And when Christmas finally arrived, everyone received homemade gifts because it was impossible to get to the store to buy gifts. The children made new objects out of old objects they found in the attic. This has always been my inspiration for making homemade gifts every year for the holidays.

Snowbound with Betsy was written the year I was born 1962. When my older girls were little, I bought the newer "paperback" version of this book, but I really missed the original cover. When my youngest daughter was four, I was able to find a vintage copy of Snowbound on eBay - with the cover I remembered and loved.

Way Back Wednesday - Betsy's Little Star

Betsy's Little Star by Carolyn Haywood was first published in 1950.

One of my favorites of the entire series, it was difficult to find a "vintage" cover of the book I remember. Betsy's Little Star has been out of print for many years, but the newer paperback books are still readily available.


This story features Betsy's little sister - Star - who at four years old is too young to go to school. Illustrated with black and white drawings by the author, Star has to deal with her emotions of being much younger than Betsy. But soon Star will turn five years old and will be heading off to kindergarten.

Way Back Wednesday - "B" is for Betsy

When Carolyn Haywood (1898 - 1990) published "B" is for Betsy in 1939, she probably didn't think that 70 years later, several generations of children would have enjoyed - and are still enjoying - a little girl named Betsy. I loved Betsy - she is the reason I love to read because I got started with all her books. Betsy lived a very normal life, and I tried hard to mimick her very action.


In this first book, Betsy is scared about going to first grade, but it turns out school is a great place. She learns about tadpoles and the true meaning of Thanksgiving, makes new friends, and has more fun than she'd ever imagined.


I was 7 years old and in the second grade when my favorite librarian, Miss Gash, recommended "B is for Betsy". After I finished the book, I proceeded to check out the other books in the series. Even though the stories are slightly outdated, the appeal of Betsy and her friends transcend time. I read these books to my daughters, and I plan to read them to my grandchildren as well.