Ramona the Pest (Ramona Quimby (Pb)) [Hardcover]

Beverly Cleary (Author), Tracy Dockray (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001 | Age Range: 7 and up | Series: Ramona Quimby (Pb)

Here comes Ramona!

Ramona Quimby is thrilled to be starting kindergarten. She likes a little boy named Davy so much she wants to kiss him, and she loves Susan's beautiful curls so much she wants to pull them to see them boing. Her teacher even promises her a present just for sitting still! So how does Ramona get in trouble? Well, anyone who knows Ramona knows that she is never a pest on purpose.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The engaging tale of young Ramona Quimby's first days in kindergarten, Ramona the Pest takes a pint-sized perspective on the trials and delights of beginning school. Ramona can't wait to learn all the important things. But she's disappointed when her teacher can't fill in missing parts of story lines, such as how Mike Mulligan (of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel) went to the bathroom while digging the basement of the town hall. Nonetheless, Ramona loves her teacher, and loves going to school in spite of the torments--having to wear hand-me-down boots, for example, or having to (sometimes) suppress the urge to pull on another girl's "boing-boing" curls. Ramona's energetic take on life appeals to children who have passed through this stage, or who are dealing with a kindergarten-age sibling who is exhibiting Ramona-ish tendencies. (Ages 7 to 12) --Richard Farr --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Inside Flap

2 hours, 27 minutes
2 cassettes
Performance by Stockard Channing

Ramona's big day has finally arrived! This is the day she starts kindergarten. But, she certainly proves she can be the peskiest kindergartener ever. When things get out of hand it's almost enough to make her the world's first kindergarten drop-out! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 211 pages
• Publisher: Perfection Learning (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812422732
• ISBN-13: 978-0812422733
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beverly Cleary's birthday, April 12th, is celebrated across the country on D.E.A.R. Day, with activities related to the Drop Everything and Read Program. One of the most popular and honored authors of all time, Beverly Cleary has won the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw, and both Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. She makes her home in coastal California.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Both the 12- and the 6-year old were rolling in the aisles September 29, 2000

By Elizabeth G. Melillo VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

From my long past days of teaching elementary school, I remember that Beverly Cleary's books were the general favourite of those in my classes. I recently acquired sets for my niece and nephew, and this book in particular had both of them laughing aloud - not a small feat when kids are, respectively, 12 and 6, and the former is not without a marked similarity to Ramona in some respects. I myself nearly choked at "sit here for the present," and the Mike Mulligan dilemma.

Besides a vivid and delightful writing style, Beverly's books undoubtedly have a wide appeal because the incidents described are comparable to what children would have in their own lives or in those of others they know. The characters seem like close friends ... or, at the very least, friends one wishes one had.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Now she'd be called a "spirited child" May 1, 2004

By K. Norlander

Format:Paperback

I wasn't very fond of Ramona when I was little. As a bit of a nerd from the very beginning, I just couldn't relate to Ramona's exuberance that always got her into trouble, and I more or less thought of her as a bad girl. But I still carried memories of the book with me into adulthood -- especially Ramona's enchanting way of writing "Q."

Fast-forward to parenting a spirited daughter. I re-read the book and decided that I absolutely had to share it with my daughter. I now see Ramona in a whole new light; as the author herself states, Ramona never (well, rarely) really means to be naughty. Most adults just don't understand her -- the way she cannot resist the temptation to boing a beautiful curl, her need for shiny new girls' boots and the glory of stamping through the mud the first day she wears them, her need to know that her teacher loves her.

My five-year-old was indeed caught up in Ramona's story, frequently asking me to read another chapter when I had finished one. Ramona became so real to her that she covered her ears when it was clear that Ramona was headed for trouble -- she couldn't bear to listen to the consequences. I may have been too much of a goody-goody to fully appreciate the book earlier, but I certainly enjoy it now and am glad that my daughter enjoys it, too.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Ramona the Pest is GREAT! March 12, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I am in second-grade. My teacher read this book to us in class, and I liked it so much I read it myself. It's about a little girl who is always doing everything wrong. A lot of parts are funny. One funny part was when Ramona stuck her tongue out at her neighbor because she asked if her tongue was glued to her mouth because she wasn't speaking. She has an older sister Beezus who is sometimes a big tattle-tale. Anyway, I really liked the book and now I am reading "Ramona and her Mother." Madeleine, age 8.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Be warned: Louis Darling's illustrations have been dumped August 7, 2012

By Aunt Book

Format:Hardcover

I just received new copies of Beverly Cleary's books for my library. I realized that the dust jackets were different when I ordered them; I don't like it, but I've learned to live with that. Then I opened Ramona the Pest and realized that they've replaced Louis Darling's marvelous illustrations, with those wild, exuberant, inky pictures of a Ramona who practically leaps from the pages, with drab, dreary, bland, anodyne, pallid and uninteresting things. What an awful thing to do to wonderful books. (And I know all the arguments about "Oh, children today are *different*, and they must have new new new pictures that look like everything else they've ever seen because otherwise they might not read the books..." Bilge.)

The story deserves five stars. I've removed four of them for crimes against illustration.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Am Not A Pest! February 14, 2000

By R. Wutke

Format:Hardcover

Ramona, the Pest is a book about Ramona Quimby, and herkindergarten adventures. Ramona doesn't understand why her sister,Beezus, always calls her a pest. Her thoughts are that sometimes there is a need to be a little bit louder and more noisier than others because that is what it takes for little people to be noticed sometimes. She loves everything about kindergarten. She loves her teacher Miss Binney, boinging Susan's long red curls, chasing Davy on the playground for a kiss, being the naptime wake-up fairy, and seat work where she practices making her Q's into cats. Ramona also gets excited about being the "baddest witch" at the Halloween Parade, wearing her new boots in the mud, and loosing her first tooth. She plans to dropout of kindergarten when her stubborn behavior makes Miss Binney send her home until she can promise to be good. Don't miss this delightful story's ending. I liked this book because it was humorous, and was told in a believable manner. The things children think we say and how they perceive them are shown in the "dawnzer song." This is one of my son's favorite books, now I see why. I think the author captured the stubborn, independent, and somewhat impulsive behavior of a kindergarten age child. I am sure kids would enjoy listening to this book, and probably many could relate to Ramona's feelings of wanting to be a big girl. I think boys will identify to the story with characters like Henry, Howie and Davy. I can't wait to read the other Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. Everyone will enjoy this book. You will be smiling and giggling while you discover why Ramona's friends call her a pest!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ramona the Pest October 8, 2004

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

RAMONA THE PEST

Ramona is so excited about her first day of kindergarden. She meets her teacher, Miss.Binney, and she tells her to sit in a seat for the present. Ramona not knowing that much thinks she's going to get a present from her teacher. She tells everyone in the class that Miss.Binney is going to give her a present and no one else. The class goes outside and Ramona finally figures out that Miss.Binney just meant to sit in the seat for now. Ramona was a little upset about it but she moved on. Ramona gets in trouble for pulling Susan's hair and she gets in trouble and goes home and doesn't go back until Miss.Binney sends home a letter telling Ramona that she misses her and that she wants her to come back. She also enclosed her tooth that she lost the day that she went home from school. Ramona goes back to school and she's in the Halloween parade and that really makes her happy. She has a scary mask and a lot of other people have it to. Ramona is scared that no one will notice her so she made a sing saying, "Ramona the Greatest Witch''.

Ramona is a little girl with a big sister. She has brown short hair and she usually wears dresses and play cloths. She doesn't want to listen to what she's told all the time. She talks to people a lot and she's friendly but can get a temper sometimes. Ramona and I are alike because we both like to talk to other people and both lost our first tooth in kindergarden. We are different because she's in kindergarden and I'm in the 6th grade. Also she has an older sister and I have a younger brother.

I really enjoyed this book because it was funny and I was able to sit down and enjoy it and get into it. My favorite part was when Ramona lost her tooth and went home.... I think it was kinda funny the way she just left and didn't come back for like a week. I would recommend thins book to a friend because this book is very funny and it makes you laugh. Read more ›