Kiddo’s Corner Reviews: Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary
Kiddo’s Corner Reviews is my new feature here at The Overstuffed Bookcase, where my 7-year-old son reviews children’s books! Go here to find out more.
Ramona and Her Mother Author: Beverly Cleary
Series: Ramona Quimby #5
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Published: 1977
Genres: Children, Chapter Book
Pages: 190
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
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Goodreads
Ramona Quimby is no longer seven, but not quite eight. She's "seven and a half right now," if you ask her! Not allowed to stay home alone, yet old enough to watch pesky Willa Jean, Ramona wonders when her mother will treat her like her older, more mature sister, Beezus.
But with her parents' unsettling quarrels and some spelling trouble at school, Ramona wonders if growing up is all it's cracked up to be. No matter what, she'll always be her mother's little girl…right? This warm-hearted story of a mother's love for her spirited young daughter is told beautifully by Newbery Medal winning author Beverly Cleary. (Cover and synopsis from Goodreads.)
FTC Disclaimer: We purchased this book ourselves. We were in no way compensated for this review.
First Thoughts…
Me: So what was the book about?
Kiddo: Ramona is 7 1/2 and she has problems with her mom.
Me: What kind of problems?
Kiddo: Well, she thinks her mom likes Beezus more.
A Bit More Detail…
Me: What’s your favorite part?
Kiddo: When Willa Jean throws out the tissues.
Me: When she throws them everywhere?
Kiddo: Mmm hmm. And my least favorite part is when her mom packs for her.
Me: When she’s going to run away?
Kiddo: Mmm hmm.
Me: Yeah, I don’t like that part, either.
Kiddo: Yeah. I don’t think anybody likes that. Unless they’re mean parents.
Me: Well, I don’t like the way her parents didn’t say anything when she said that she felt like nobody cares about her. And when she said she was going to run away. Poor Ramona. She must have felt so sad and alone.
Kiddo: Yeah, I don’t like that either.
Final Thoughts…
Me: So did you like the pictures?
Kiddo: Yes.
Me: Any final thoughts before we give it stars?
Kiddo: Well, this book…um, I kinda like it a little bit less than the other ones.
Me: So you think you’d give it less stars?
Kiddo: Yeah, like 3 stars.
Me: Just 3?
Kiddo: Yeah.
The Verdict…
Ramona and Her Mother was definitely my least favorite of the Ramona Quimby books so far, and it seems like the Kiddo agrees. It seems to not have as cohesive of a plot as the rest of the books, and it also has that scene where poor Ramona is heartbroken and tells her whole family that she feels like no one cares about her and they don’t say anything! And then she says she’s going to run away and they let her go into her room to pack! Sure, later, her mom comes into her room and “helps” her pack by making her bring every single thing so that she can’t carry her suitcase, making it impossible for her to run away, but I just felt so bad for Ramona. I would never want my children to think, even for a minute, that I didn’t care about them and that I was okay with them running away. So the Kiddo gave this one 3 stars, and I’ll stick with that, but I personally didn’t like this book that much at all.
Andrea
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