To celebrate Beverly Cleary's 100th birthday, I thought I would share my top ten Ramona moments.
10. "Ramona Sits" from Ramona's World
Ramona cat-sits Daisy's cat. It is NOT a fun week. Seven days feels like
forever. Especially when her Mom leaves her in charge of Roberta
too--for a whole FIFTEEN MINUTES.
9. "Ramona's New Pajamas" from Ramona and Her Mother
Ramona loves, loves, loves her new pajamas. But is it a good idea to wear pajamas under your clothes and go to school?!
8. "Owl Trouble" and "Parents' Night" from Ramona the Brave
Poor Ramona! Susan and Ramona have ISSUES over their owls at art time. I feel for Ramona in this situation. The owl-drama continues. And Ramona writes the sweetest heart-felt note
to her mom. COME HERE MOTHER. COME HERE TO ME. This chapter is just one
reason why I love, love, love Cleary's writing. She KNOWS what it feels
like to be a kid.
7. "The Quimbys' Quarrel" and "The Extra-good Sunday" from Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Ramona and Beezus complain about eating TONGUE. And the parents decide to punish them. Beezus and Ramona do not get out of their punishment: cooking a meal for
the family. What do Ramona and Beezus know how to cook, or to cook
well? It will be an experiment for sure.
6. "Ramona's Great Day" from Ramona the Pest
Ramona's first day of morning kindergarten. Her teacher is Miss Binney.
The days has its ups and downs. But Ramona by the end of the day feels
good about this thing called school. But will it last?! This is the
chapter where Ramona asks Miss Binney HOW DID MIKE MULLIGAN GO TO THE
BATHROOM?!
6. "Supernuisance" "The Patient" and "The Book Report" from Ramona Quimby Age 8
Ramona gets sick at school and throws up in front of the class. She's so embarrassed. Her mom stays home to take care of her when she's sick. Ramona gets a homework assignment: a book report. Ramona has to read The LEFT BEHIND CAT for a book report, but, she
doesn't like it. How to make the review entertaining? How about doing
her report like a commercial? This is a funny chapter!
5. "Beezus and Her Little Sister." from Beezus and Ramona
Ramona LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to have The Littlest Steam Shovel read to
her. Her parents are unwilling to read it to her--they have come to have
no tolerance for it. But Beezus, well, she'll read it to Ramona, not
that she likes it, but, she'll give in now and then. She gets the idea
to take Ramona to the library to get a brand new book--for two weeks.
Ramona picks a new book, but, it is still about steam shovels. She likes
it so much, that she does something NAUGHTY so she can keep it for
always. What will Beezus do since it was checked out on her card? Just
how sympathetic will the librarian be?
4. "Slacks for Ella Funt" from Ramona and Her Mother
What's the Quimby household like on a Saturday? Well, on this particular
Saturday, it's an interesting one. Ramona wants to have a sewing
project like Beezus and her mom. She decides that she will make her
elephant a pair of pants. Does it go well? Not really. Could she have
successfully made a skirt for her elephant? Most likely without any
trouble. But stubborn Ramona wanted PANTS. When it doesn't end well, she
gets upset, which leads to her doing something very naughty with a tube
of toothpaste!
3. "The Sheep Suit" and "Ramona and the Three Wise Persons" from Ramona and Her Father
Christmas is a coming. Ramona wants to be a sheep. She volunteers her
mom to make her a costume. (At least she didn't volunteer her mom to
make all three costumes! So it could always be worse!) But will her mom
have time to make the costume?! It doesn't look like it! Will Ramona get
to be a sheep?
Pageant night! Ramona may not be wearing a satisfactory costume, but,
will she go on and participate anyway? Three older girls filling in for
the wise men may help her out! The book which has had its serious
moments ends on a joyful tone.
2. "Ramona Says A Bad Word" from Ramona the Brave
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this chapter. I do. Ramona's had a
horrible time of it throughout the whole book, and, she's had enough of
it. She breaks down. She lets loose. GUTS. GUTS. GUTS. GUTS. But why is
everyone laughing at her?! She wasn't trying to be funny! She was doing
some serious venting!!!
1. "Ramona's Engagement" Ring from Ramona the Pest
This chapter is
probably one of my FAVORITE chapters from the whole series. In this
chapter, Ramona has issues with her boots. She doesn't want hand-me-down
brown "boy" boots. She wants pretty RED boots that are obvious girl
boots. She does get them eventually. But can she use them responsibly?!
This is the chapter where Henry Huggins becomes Ramona's hero...much to
Davy's relief. It has Ramona joyfully shouting that she WILL MARRY HENRY
HUGGINS. She has a worm engagement ring and everything.
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
2 comments:
These are great, Becky.
Oh, I loved the Ramona books, although I don't think I had any of my own; I used to get them out of the library all the time when I was in primary school. My most vivid memory from that series was of Willa Jean pulling tissues out of a box and throwing them everywhere. :D
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