Common Sense Note
Parents need to know this book deals with Ramona's father losing his job, the family's money worries, and Ramona's mom going to work full time. There is also heavy emphasis on getting Ramona's dad to stop smoking.
Families can talk about how family situations can change, as well as smoking, health, and family unity. Why does Ramona want her father to stop smoking? Why does her father begin to act different?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Terreece Clarke
RAMONA AND HER FATHER is a great Beverly Cleary classic. Ramona is back and in the second grade, her sister Beezus is lamenting a creative writing class, and her mother is trying to find creative uses for leftovers when her father drops a bomb: he lost his job.
Cleary brings us back into the warm Quimby home as they struggle to get things back to normal. The book is funny and heartwarming. We feel for Ramona as she struggles with trying to make sense of what's going on and why everyone in the house is so unhappy.
Ramona's drive to get her father to stop smoking is classic Ramona. And there are definitely moments you can tell this lovingly rambunctious girl is learning some life lessons. Like many kids, she has to have things just so, and when her mom makes a sheep costume for a Christmas play that doesn't live up to her expectations, her turnaround from disappointment to acceptance is a great lesson presented in an endearing, hilarious way.
Parents will love reading along with a classic they most likely read themselves.
From The Book
"Ye-e-ep!" sang Ramona, as she printed mice or ginny pig on her list with purple crayon. Next to Christmas and her birthday, her father's payday was her favorite day. His payday meant treats. Her mother's payday from her part-time job in a doctor's office meant they could make payments on the bedroom the Quimbys had added to their house when Ramona was in first grade.
"What's all this yeeping about?" asked Mrs. Quimby.
"I'm making a joyful noise until the Lord like they say in Sunday school," Ramona explained. "Only they don't tell us what the joyful noise sounds like so I made up my own." Hooray and wow, joyful noises to Ramona, had not sounded right, so she had settled on yeep because it sounded happy but not rowdy. "Isn't that all right?" she asked, as she began to add myna bird that talks to her list.
Plot Summary:
Ramona is all out of sorts when her father loses his job, her mom goes to work full time, and her sister Beezus becomes moody. She decides to make a million dollars, get her father to stop smoking, and cheer the family up, in her very Ramona way.
Related Books:
Other Books in the Series:
Ramona the Pest
Beezus and Ramona
Ramona Forever
Ramona and Her Mother
Ramona Quimby Age 8
Ramona the Brave
Reviewed: 11/28/2005
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Social BehaviorThe family is going through a tough time and this book shows how they deal with and grow from the experience. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoRamona's father smokes. Ramona and her sister work hard to get him to stop. |
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