Ramona Quimby is seven-and-a-half and in second grade. Lately she has been wishing to spend more time with her mother. In “Ramona and Her Mother,” Ramona faces many new challenges from getting used to a new teacher in the middle of the year to dealing with her friend Howie’s little sister Willa Jean.
At the beginning of the book, the Quimbys throw a brunch celebrating Mr. Quimby finding a job after being out of work for months. Ramona’s job is to keep Willa Jean Kemp — her friend Howie’s younger sister — occupied and out of trouble. She decides to give Willa Jean a present in the hopes that this will keep her from messing with Ramona’s toys. She gets a full box of Kleenex out of the bathroom and wraps it. After Ramona and Willa Jean eat in a room separate from everyone else, Ramona decides to give Willa Jean her present in the hopes that she will be able to hold Willa Jean’s beautiful new teddy bear Roger — Woger, as Willa Jean calls him. Willa Jean shows no interest in the present until Ramona shows her how to pull out each sheet and throw it in the air. Much to the dismay of everyone at the brunch, Willa Jean runs through the house throwing Kleenex everywhere. The brunch ends shortly afterward and Ramona is left to clean the mess. How unfair!
In an effort to get her mother to feel like she couldn’t get along without her, Ramona tries to spend more time with her working mother. When Mrs. Quimby decides to spend one of her days off sewing, Ramona decides to try and teach herself how to sew. She takes some scrap material and her old stuffed animal Ella Funt and attempts to sew some pants. She even uses the sewing machine! Unfortunately, the pants do not fit the little elephant and Ramona becomes extremely cross. When Ramona’s older sister Beezus complains to her mother about not wanting a home haircut, Ramona decides to state how much she likes her mother’s haircuts. Eventually, Mrs. Quimby is convinced by Beezus to let her get a haircut at Robert’s School of Hair Design. Will Beezus get the dream haircut she is hoping for? Does Ramona get a chance to have her hair cut, too? You won’t know until you read this book with your child.
“Ramona and Her Mother” is a perfect chapter book to read with your child. You will both love the silly antics and situations that Ramona creates.
“Ramona and Her Mother” is available at most major booksellers, including Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble.