Beverly Cleary's World

What girl in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade doesn’t love the Ramona Quimby novel series? I, like most kids, really like the Ramona character because she is strong willed and stubborn and she says what she thinks.  Kids like honesty!  I loved reading about Ramona and her adventures when I was younger, but I predict that Ramona will be more popular this summer and fall because of the new movie coming out. I always like the books more than the movies, but I might watch Ramona and Beezus for fun. Ramona and her Father, Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, and Ramona the Pest, are on the FUSE #8 list, and I had fun looking back at the books. Like Maria Salvadore said, "the best books stand up to many readings!"



Ratings:
Ramona and Her Father *****
Henry Huggins *****
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 *****
Ramona the Pest *****

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Leigh Butts does something that most kids do at least once, he writes to his favorite author. What makes Leigh different is that he KEEPS writing lots of letters and these letters tell the story of Leigh’s life. It is a nice change of format to read a story told through letters. Leigh, again like lots of kids, is dealing with his parents divorce and problems with kids at school. This book shows the POWER authors have to help kids, both with big and little problems. Even if kids don’t actually write letters they are helped by authors; who give them books to hide in, places to find advice and learn lessons of life.


Rating: *****