Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (1981)

Well, I was "conned" into spending a few days in Queens, taking care of my 6-month old granddaughter, Ramona, while her parents were sampling beer in Germany...and other things, perhaps even a spot of "work". So, naturally, I had to read the next Ramona book to get into shape for the "ordeal", so to speak.

In this book, Ramona is now 8-years old, in third grade, and is going to a new school. She's old enough to ride the school bus on her own. Naturally, she gets some things wrong and has some issues learning to get along with the people in her class and with her teacher. She also gets stomach flue and vomits all over the place. But, of course, it all turns out ok in the end. I think Ramona in the book is almost as adorable as my Ramona.

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Ramona's Dad goes back to college to become a teacher. She deals with a "Yard Ape" at school. Beezus longs for a fancy haircut and Ramona and her sister make dinner together for the first time. My 4-year-old and I are still loving these audiobooks! ( )

Poor Ramona. She overhears her teacher call her a "nuisance" and then later throws up in class! Once again, Beverly Clearly amazes us with her astute, yet unforced, realization of the life of an unintentionally trouble-prone child. ( )

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