Ramona the Pest

Cleary, B. (1968). Ramona
the pest. New York:
HarperCollins Publishers.

Ramona the Pest
By Beverly Cleary
Original illustrations by Louis Darling
Harper Collins Publishers
New York
1968
 211 pages

Ramona the Pest is Beverly Cleary's first book to feature Ramona as the protagonist. Ramona first appeared in Beezus and Ramona, which featured Ramona's big sister Beezus as the protagonist. 

Ramona is excited to start kindergarten. However, she has a hard time being on her best behavior - as the title suggests, she's kind of a pest. Throughout the story, Ramona gets into some interesting adventures. Ramona loves her teacher Miss Binney and she loves Susan's (a girl in her class) curls - she loves their boinginess. They're just so tempting! She pulls on one and has to sit on a bench for the rest of recess. Ramona really likes school, but she finds it difficult to sit quietly and do her work because she is so interested in seeing what everyone else is doing. Overall, though, kindergarten is going well for Ramona - until a substitute teacher arrives. Ramona refuses to go into her classroom without her teacher Miss Binney so she hides behind the trash cans. Her sister Beezus finds her and takes her to the principal's office, where she is then sent to class. Ramona has a couple more adventures, but the real fun begins when Ramona loses a tooth one day at school. She really wants to show Susan the hole in her mouth where the tooth had been, but Susan really doesn't want to. Susan calls Ramona a pest and Ramona retaliates by boinging Susan's curls, which Miss Binney just got done telling Ramona not to do. Miss Binney tells Ramona that she must go home until she knows she can stop pulling hair. Ramona is heartbroken because she thinks Miss Binney doesn't like her anymore, so she refuses to go back to school. That is until one day she gets a letter from Miss Binney signed "Love and Kisses" (or at least that's what she thinks it says) and Ramona is more than happy to go back to kindergarten. Purchase the book here.

Ramona Geraldine Quimby

Ramona's story contains levels of humor for young and old. Beverly Cleary's writing style is magnificently vivid, bringing Ramona and her story to life through humor and situations that many children, parents, and teachers can relate to. I have always been a fan of Cleary's books and this one is one of my favorites - who doesn't love hearing about the hilarious adventures of a pesky kindergartener?  Ramona exudes spirit and exuberance and she can make anyone laugh out loud. The book is a great read-aloud for six- and seven-year olds and a great book for independent reading for older students - there's something in it for everyone. I guarantee, young or old, you'll laugh out loud! 

About Beverly Cleary

• April 12th, Beverly Cleary's birthday, is celebrated across the country as D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) Day.
• She finds her ideas "from her own experience and the world around her". 
• Awards
• 1978 Newbery Honor Book, Ramona and Her Father
• 19822 Newbery Honor Book, Ramona Quimby, Age 8
• National Book Award, Ramona and Her Mother
• Catholic Library Association's 1980 Regina Medal Award
• University of Southern Mississippi's 1982 Silver Medallion
• Children's Book Council 1985 Everychild Award
• American Library Association's 1975 Laura Ingall's Wilder Award
• Named a 2000 Library of Congress "Living Legend"

Visit www.beverlycleary.com to meet all of Beverly Cleary's characters, to learn more about Beverly Cleary, for teacher resources, and for fun and games. A truly magnificent, interactive site!

• "The World of Ramona", a teacher's guide for Cleary's Ramona books, includes short synopses of the Ramona books, suggestions for classroom use, and extension activities.

Consider discussing with students whether or not they would be friends with Ramona and why. Talk with your students about what they would do if one of their classmates was bothering them. (For older grades, consider turning some of the discussions into writing prompts.)

Ramona makes the Q in her last name into a cat when she writes it. Have your students use a letter in their name to create an animal or design.