Beatrice Quimby’s biggest problem was her little sister Ramona. Beatrice, or Beezus (as everyone called her, because that was what Ramona had called her when she first learned to talk), knew other nine-year-old girls who had little sisters who went to nursery school, but she did not know anyone with a little sister like Ramona.
When your child begins reading chapter books, Beverly Cleary is a great choice for an author. Although Ramona Quimby makes her first appearance in Cleary’s books about Henry Huggins, “Beezus and Ramona” is the first book in which Ramona is a major character. Focused mainly on Ramona’s older sister Beezus, this book will have you and your child laughing out loud.
First of all, Beezus can’t stand the fact that Ramona always has to be tagging along. When Henry comes over to play, Ramona always ends up causing some sort of mischief like ruining their checkers game or locking Henry’s dog Ribsy in the bathroom. The worst is when Beezus takes Ramona to the library so that she does not have to read about Scoopy the Steam Shovel anymore. Not only does Ramona insist on wearing paper Easter bunny ears to the library, but she also ends up picking out a book about another steam shovel!
Beezus also gets frustrated because Ramona has a habit of ruining parties. One day, Ramona felt like having a party so she invited all of her nursery school friends over for a party the next day. Mrs. Quimby only finds out when the children start arriving! Now, Beezus is stuck helping her mother with an unplanned party instead of planning her own birthday party. Speaking of her own birthday party, Mrs. Quimby plans to bake a cake for Beezus’s tenth birthday. The first time she attempts to make the cake, Ramona drops in all of the eggs in the house. Once the next cake gets into the oven, something else unbelievable happens. To find out what happens to the birthday cake, read this book with your child.
“Beezus and Ramona” is a timeless classic and anyone with siblings can understand the plight of Beatrice Quimby and her little sister.
“Beezus and Ramona” can be purchased at any major bookseller including Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.