Module Two- Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary

Cleary, Beverly. Beezus and Ramona. New York: William Morrow & Company, 1955.

Summary
Beatrice Quimby is nine years old. She likes to read by herself, embroider, play checkers with her best friend Henry, and aspires to be like her namesake, her Aunt Beatrice who lives alone and teaches school. Ramona Quimby on the other hand is four years old and out of control! She is noisy, silly, messy, quirky, disobedient, and has nicknamed Beatice, Beezus. Beezus, neat and proper, is discovering that as time goes on and Ramona gets even quirkier, that sometimes she doesn't even love Ramona. Like the time Ramona invited her entire school class over for a party that she didn't tell her mother about and Beezus has to save the day. Or when Ramona takes just one bite from every apple in the pantry. Or even worse, when Ramona completely ruins Beezus' birthday by putting her rubber doll in the oven while her birthday cake is baking. Eventually, Beezus comes to the realization that sisters will always love each other, especially after sharing exasperating experiences.



Impressions
I remember an elementary teacher reading a Ramona story aloud. I remember I loved it because Ramona was so funny. Reading Beezus and Ramona now, I identify with Beezus much more. Even though I felt all Beezus' pains, the book was still funny. I never thought Beezus was a bad person, and I still loved Ramona in the end. This book portrays both sides of being a sibling with humor and delicacy.
This book is also very easy to read. It's a perfect jump from picture book to chapter book. It's lighthearted and simple making extremely accesible for young readers.



Reviews
Beezus and Ramona. (2010). Retrieved September 11, 2010, from Amazon.com, http://www.amazon.com/Beezus-Ramona-Beverly-Cleary/dp/038070918X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291168270&sr=1-1.
"Old enough to be expected to take responsibility for her little sister, yet young enough to be mortified by every embarassing plight the precocious preschooler gets them into, Beezus is constantly struggling with her mixed-up feelings about the exasperating Ramona.
There's no one in the world like Beverly Cleary...This terrifically popular author of over two dozen children's books has withstood the test of time for generations."


Beezus and Ramona. (2010). Retrieved September 11, 2010 from Through the Looking Glass, Children's Book Reviews, lookingglassreview.com.
"Any child who has been around an annoying younger brother, sister, cousin, or friend will appreciate the six stories in this book. The problems that Beezus and Ramona have to deal with are of the everyday variety; they are the kind of problems that children can relate to. At the same time they are also funny and highly entertaining."



Suggestions for Library Use
This book should be recommended as a gentle transition for readers who are intimidated, but ready for, chapter books. Due to the story content (the relationship between two sisters), it would be best for a young girl.
Beezus and Ramona, would also be good for teaching about sibling relationships such as finding qualities to admire in each other, overcoming differences, and moving past situations in which feelings have been hurt.