Beezus and Ramona
What’s Ramona up to?
Big sister Beezus Quimby tries to be patient with her little sister, Ramona, but it it’s easy, not when Ramona powders her nose with marshmallows and invites her nursery school classmates to Beezus’s birthday party without telling her family. Sometimes Beezus doesn’t like Ramona, but the girls are sisters and that means they will always love each other…just not every single minute.
Author
Beverly Cleary
Series
Ramona Quimby, Book 1
Pages
183
AR Level
4.8
Book Review
I have read the first few books in the Ramona series for my older boys when they were younger. We also have some of the later books on the bookshelf that they could read for themselves. I was looking for a book to read with my youngest and one of the boys pulled out Ramona and her Mother. I thought I would start at the beginning of the series so that my youngest could enjoy Ramona with the rest of the family. This character is a classic, which was confirmed when we got to the end of the audiobook and I heard that it was copyrighted in 1955. I can’t believe that it was written so long ago, but you instantly identify with the characters who do not seem outdated at all.
What We Liked
This book contains 6 stories about the Quimby family when Ramona is 4. Ramona throws tantrums and gets into lots of trouble just like real kids do. You will sympathize with her exasperated mother – I certainly do. If you have a younger sibling, brother or sister, you will sympathize with Beezus having to deal with Ramona’s antics. You will certainly enjoy all of the crazy stunts that Ramona pulls.
Our favorite chapter was “Ramona and the Apples.” My older kids remembered this one from when we read the book several (maybe 4 or 5) years ago. Ramona is found hiding in the basement eating a box of apples. Not eating, but only taking 1 bite each because “the first bite tastes best.” My kids agreed, but said they would NEVER do that! Right. They had their own things that they got into, like sticks of butter.
Audiobook
We listened to the Beezus and Ramona audiobook while taking a car trip. It was read by Stockard Channing, who was excellent doing the voices of Ramona, Beezus, and mother. I was a bit annoyed at the beginning because Ramona is mumbly with a baby voice/lisp, but I got used to it. I guess she is supposed to be 4 in the book. The audiobook clocked in at 2 hrs 21 min, which was the perfect length to finish the book on our longish car ride (round-trip). This is a great rendition of the book, which allowed me to enjoy Ramona’s antics while driving.
Movie Tie-In
There is a 2010 G-rated movie Ramona and Beezus that is based upon this book series. It is a cute movie, but does not follow the plot of this or any of the other books in the series.
The Verdict
I am happy to have a whole series to read as 6 chapters were not enough. Ramona the Pest is next.
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