Beezus and Ramona (Ramona Quimby Book 1)

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First, it should be noted that the eight books were written over a span of 45 years (1955-1999). That they DO possess such a timeless, contemporary feel throughout the series is astonishing, really. But in the early books there are situations that are almost unimaginable now. A nine-year-old Beezus is in charge of her four-year-old sister, and they walk a good distance unaccompanied to the library. Kindergarten-aged Ramona regularly walks to school by herself, and one morning is left home with instructions on what time to leave for school. The girls are (until later books) expected to share a bedroom. And they are expected to eat whatever is fixed for dinner without complaining, even if the main dish is tongue! The Grumbies: An older couple who doesn't like Ribsy, Henry's dog, because he likes to chase their cat.

Beezus and Ramona” has a Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) score of 34. The DRA scale helps educators and parents gauge a child’s ability to read the material. This score indicates that the book is suitable for children in Grade 2 or 3, or around 7 to 8 years old. Beezus and Ramona” falls within this range, making it suitable for independent reading or guided reading for children at the corresponding grade level. Beezus And Ramona Accelerated Reader (AR) LevelThe Beezus and Ramona is an engaging read for kids aged approximately 7 to 10 years old, targeting readers within the 2nd to 5th-grade level. The Guided Reading Level (GRL) of “Beezus and Ramona” by Beverly Cleary is typically classified as M or N. The GRL system is a method used to assess the difficulty and reading level of books in schools. The levels range from A to Z, with A representing the easiest books and Z representing the most challenging ones.

Beverly Cleary (April 12, 1916 - March 25, 2021) was the author of over 30 books for young adults and children. Her characters are normal children facing challenges that many of us face growing up, and her stories are liberally laced with humour. Some of her best known and loved characters are Ramona Quimby and her sister Beatrice ("Beezus"), Henry Huggins, and Ralph S. Mouse. Ramona the Pest: Ramona’s curiosity and energy make her a handful as she enters kindergarten, and you’ll find yourself cheering on her amusing escapades. a b c Silvey, Anita (editor), The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators, Houghton Mifflin, 2002, pg. 90; She moved to California to attend the University of California, Berkeley, and after graduation with a B.A in English in 1938, studied at the School of Librarianship at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she earned a degree in librarianship in 1939. Her first job was as a librarian in Yakima, Washington, where she met many children who were searching for the same books that she had always hoped to find as a child herself. In response, she wrote her first book, Henry Huggins, which was published in 1950. Beezus and Ramona, Cleary's first novel to feature the Quimby sisters as the central focus of the story, was published in 1955, although Beezus and Ramona made frequent appearances in the Henry Huggins series as supporting characters. Ultimately, “Beezus and Ramona” offers a heartwarming portrayal of sibling relationships, showing both the challenges and joys of growing up with siblings. Educational lessonsAunt Beatrice Day-Kemp: Mrs. Quimby's sister, who is a teacher, and Beezus' favorite aunt and ideal adult. She marries Hobart Kemp later in the series. She is imaginative and carefree and tells the girls that she was remarkably like Ramona as a child. (Note that the sisters' maiden name was "Haswell" in the book Beezus and Ramona.) This was my 4 years first regular chapter book. We started out reading it, and then switched to listening to an audiobook during the commute to school. 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 Ramona the Brave: Ramona faces fears big and small and proves that she is indeed brave. Journey along with her as she navigates a new school and discovers her inner strength.

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. When I was a child, I never read the Ramona books, because my mom thought they displayed Bad Attitudes and encouraged me to read other things instead. I never cared, but recently, I thought I should try out the classic stories for cultural knowledge and appreciation. I now have cultural knowledge and an increased appreciation for my mother's discernment. I really did not need to read this book when I was little, and would have been even more scandalized by it than I was now. Ramona the Pest, like the remaining books in the series, is written from Ramona's point of view. In Ramona the Pest Ramona enters kindergarten. The succeeding books follow her as she grows up and advances through school, usually at the rate of one grade over two books. Written from the 1950s through the 1990s, dates aren't mentioned in the books, and the children are designed to appeal to real children in any time period. The last Ramona book, Ramona's World, was published in 1999, 15 years after the previous one. Howie Kemp: Ramona's friend who loves building things. He becomes Ramona's cousin in Ramona Forever when his Uncle Hobart marries her Aunt Beatrice. He never gets excited about anything, which really makes Ramona disappointed. You’ll find that Beverly Cleary beautifully captures the ups and downs of sibling relationships, highlighting the bond between an older sister and her little sister. As you read, you’ll be reminded of the importance of family and the impact it has on shaping who you are. Challenges and antics

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. The book is done in short stories. Which at times annoyed me, I wasn't expected a short story book, I was expected a long running story. Grandma Kemp: Howie's grandmother, who lives in the same house and watches Ramona, Howie, Willa Jean, and sometimes Beezus after school. 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.)

All in all, Beverly Cleary is a national treasure. She writes beautifully, without dumbing things down (which I love!), tenderly, and honestly.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.)