Ramona Quimby, Age 8
#6 in Ramona Quimby Series
What’s inside...
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is a humorous children's novel by Beverly Cleary that follows the adventures and misadventures of Ramona Quimby as she navigates third grade. Now at a new school, Ramona faces challenges such as being responsible for cracking a raw egg on her head during lunch, dealing with a strict teacher, and coping with her older sister Beezus' growing pains. Despite these trials, Ramona's spirited nature and imaginative outlook on life help her to find joy and learn important lessons about growing up, family, and friendship. Ramona's job is to be nice to fussy Mrs. Kemp, who watches her while her mother works. If Mrs. Quimby didn't work, Mr. Quimby couldn't return to college. On top of all that, third grade isn't turning out as Ramona expected, even though she enjoys her class's new reading program, D. E. A. R. Danny the Yard Ape teases her, and, on one horrible day, she throws up - at school. Being eight isn't easy, but it's never dull! In this special reissue of Newbery Honor Book Ramona Quimby, Age 8, the timeless classic now features a special foreword written by actress, producer, and author Amy Poehler, as well as an exclusive interview with Beverly Cleary herself.
Discussion points
How do you think Ramona felt when she faced challenges at school and at home? Can you relate to any of her feelings?
What do you think about the way Ramona handles her problems? What would you have done differently?
Why is it important for Ramona to have supportive family and friends? How do they help her throughout the story?
What did you learn from Ramona's experiences? Is there a lesson in the story that stands out to you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and emotions about Ramona's situations, relating them to their own experiences at school or with friends.
Discuss the importance of family and friendship in the book. Ask your child about their support system and how they help in times of need.
Highlight Ramona's problem-solving skills. Urge your child to think about how they tackle challenges and confront issues in daily life.
Recognize the lessons in the book. Prompt your child to identify morals and takeaways which could be applied in their own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Ramona learns to handle her own school and home duties without being constantly supervised.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by taking charge of small tasks at home, such as cleaning their room or doing homework independently.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Throughout the book, Ramona begins to understand and empathize with her peers and her teacher's feelings and perspectives.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to consider others' emotions and viewpoints in school or during play, fostering healthier social interactions.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Ramona faces several challenges, such as being misunderstood by adults and dealing with school issues, but she shows resilience in coping with these situations.
Real-World Application: Children learn to adapt and bounce back from setbacks or misunderstandings they might encounter in everyday activities.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: The character often uses her imaginative thinking to solve problems or entertain herself.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to use their creativity to tackle tasks or challenges creatively, both academically and in play.