“Ramona the Pest” - Beverly Cleary

 (Ramona book 2)

➿Ramona takes on kindergarten! It is remarkable how Cleary captures the first day of school feelings, all the marvels of kindergarten, having a new teacher, and worrying whether they will like you. It all feels very true to a 5-year old. 

➿ Ramona finds herself facing what we would today call “impulsivity” challenges and she works hard to overcome them. Cleary writes about her struggles in a charming way.

➿ We read this one when my youngest was in 2nd, and my 6th grader was shocked that parents allowed their kinders to walk to school alone. I told him those were different times and he shook his head and said “the 1900s”.

➿ I had a chuckle over Ramona’s existential crisis at Halloween.