Beezus and Ramona (Ramona Quimby Book 1)

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Beverly Cleary does have remarkable insight into the minds of children. Ramona as a character feels like a vivid recollection of the hundred miniature crises that successively fill life's horizon when one is very young. I appreciate how how Cleary writes in a matter-of-fact way that produces gentle humor and maturation rather than heedless sermonizing. I enjoyed my hours spent with Ramona. Beezus and Ramona is a middle-grade novel, originally published in 1955, written by Beverly Cleary. It is the first book in the Ramona series and is a great choice for young children as a guided reading book, or for readers who are moving into chapter books. And I was overjoyed, because I knew in that moment that my 4 year old got it...that empathy...that connection to characters that made me fall in love with reading. Well, they're good. *Of course* they're good. People have been loving and praising Ramona for decades. But they weren't quite what I expected. From reading my friends enthusiasm about Ramona, I expected her to be a kind of wild and crazy kid, a child Lucy Ricardo. (For those too young to remember, Lucy Ricardo was the central character of the TV show I Love Lucy, played by Lucille Ball. I'm guess even the young folks will have heard of I Love Lucy -- if not, google it.)

a b c d "Beverly Cleary Biographical Essay". Educational Book and Media Assoc . Retrieved 2012-04-28.

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Beezus and Ramona introduces us to Ramona, and as a mother, I feel better just knowing that someone - Beverly Cleary! - seemed to understand what it's like to parent a difficult child like Ramona. It made me feel not so bad about my own kids' misbehavior. :P I like that it highlights the relationship between two sisters - they love each other, of course, but they don't always like each other, and that's okay. a b c Silvey, Anita (editor), The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators, Houghton Mifflin, 2002, pg. 90; Its DRA score of 34 and Lexile score of 780L ensure that it is a fitting choice for young readers who are developing their reading competency. Storyline and themes Sisterhood and family

The Ramona book series is designed for young readers aged 6 to 9, with a focus on beginning readers. The Accelerated Reader Level of this book is 5.2, which points to the general readability and comprehension level of the target audience. Reading level and age range As a parent, I was also moved by the Quimby's socioeconomic state. I love that they make do with less and how lovingly Cleary navigates Mr. Quimby's job loss, return to school to teach art, and the reality of not securing a fairy-tale ending of a job in the field he returned to school for. Wow. That is so rare, especially in children's books. Cleary is far more honest about reality, and rather than painting their struggles as a tragedy or anything pitiable, she brings beauty into it. The scene in the restaurant, when the older gentleman pays for their Whopperburger meal... gosh, it was so lovely. It was also heartening to see Ms. Quimby enter the workforce and taking charge of financially providing for the family while her husband struggled to find another job. They were true partners and supported each other, while having those real, hard conversations in their bedroom. It was also fun to see their parenting strategies in action, such as when they invited the girls to cook dinner for them as both a lesson and source of entertainment, haha. I also like that Ramona’s actions have consequences, whereas too frequently in other stories like this the older sibling is instead at fault for not having unlimited, supernatural patience (to take one example, All's Faire in Middle School, a book by my beloved Victoria Jamieson that I didn’t really like for that very reason, amongst others.) Eccleshare, Julia, (editor), 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, Universe Publishing, 2009, pg. 277.Mrs. Dorothy Quimby (née Day): Ramona's mother, who works as a bookkeeper for a doctor. She is calm and practical, and much like Beezus in temperament, though she also has a deep and loving bond with Ramona. Grandpa Day: Mrs. Quimby and Aunt Bea's dad, who helps planned Aunt Bea's wedding. His wife Grandma Day died before the first book, so Ramona probably met her, but was young to remember. Beezus and Ramona: Beezus, the older sister, tries to have patience with her lively little sister, Ramona. Readers can empathize with their sibling bond and the challenges that come with it. Willa Jean Kemp: Howie's bratty little sister, who is frequently thrust on Ramona. People say that she is very like Ramona when she was little; however, Willa Jean does not seem to possess Ramona's imagination.

Beezus could not help feeling annoyed. Miss Robbins was letting Ramona stay in the class—the one place where she was never allowed to tag along! Miss Robbins would probably like her painting, because it would be so full of imagination. Ramona’s pictures, in fact, were so full of imagination that it took even more imagination to tell what they were.Beyond its entertainment value, “Beezus and Ramona” offers several educational benefits for young readers. The book encourages critical thinking as children navigate through the characters’ dilemmas and determine possible solutions. It also fosters empathy and emotional intelligence as readers gain insights into the perspectives and feelings of both Beezus and Ramona. Henry Huggins: Beezus' red-headed friend. The Ramona series of books are a spin-off of the Henry Huggins series. I always loved the Ramona books when I was a kid so when I found this collection on sale, I didn't hesitate. In a Battle of the Brats, my son couldn't decide whether Fudge or Ramona would win. I, however, thought Ramona the true champion. But she is hilarious. And actually, I started to admire her when she gives the excuse, "Because I wanted to see what would happen." Usually in books it is the boys who are scamps, but Beverly Clearly makes a little girl about as naughty and mischievous as possible. She was ahead of her time.