Ramona and Her Mother

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Title Ramona and Her Mother

Cover of Ramona and Her Mother
Author Beverly Cleary
Cover artist Tracy Dockray
Country United States
Language English
Series Ramona Quimby
Genre(s) Novel
Publisher HarperCollins
Released 1979
Pages 190
ISBN ISBN 0-380-70952-X ISBN 978-0-380-70952-6
Preceded by Ramona and Her Father
Followed by Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Ramona and Her Mother is a juvenile fiction novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is part of the Ramona Quimby series. The book was illustrated by Alan Tiegreen and was first published in 1979. The current edition was illustrated by Tracy Dockray.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story picks up where Ramona and Her Father left off, with Mr. Quimby going to work at a supermarket after having been unemployed for a while. Mrs. Quimby is also working full time as a receptionist in a pediatrician's office, so there's now a lot of action in the household.

One key story in the book, stretching over two chapters, deals with one of those days where everything goes wrong. The day starts with Beezus and both parents criticizing her. Then, typical for Oregon, it rains and rains hard. Ramona is stuck at her friend Howie Kemp's house when her folks are late picking her up and is forced to watch the Kemps eat dinner. All the family wants is a hot dinner when they get home, but it doesn't happen because someone didn't plug in the Crock-Pot® that morning. So as they are stuck eating pancakes and carrots for dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Quimby argue. Beezus and Ramona fear that their folks may split up. Of course, in the morning, everything is brighter.

Other chapters involve Beezus' quest to have her hair cut in a salon, which doesn't go as planned, and Ramona wearing her comfortable new pajamas to school under her clothes. A misunderstanding in the last chapter has Ramona threatening to run away. Her mother comes up with a plan to convince Ramona she's wanted.

Books by Beverly Cleary

Ramona Quimby series: Beezus and RamonaRamona the PestRamona the BraveRamona and Her FatherRamona and Her MotherRamona Quimby, Age 8Ramona ForeverRamona's World

Henry Huggins series: Henry HugginsHenry and BeezusHenry and RibsyHenry and the Paper RouteHenry and the ClubhouseRibsy

The Mouse and the Motorcycle series: The Mouse and the MotorcycleRunaway RalphRalph S. Mouse

Other books: Ellen TebbitsOtis SpoffordFifteenThe Luckiest GirlJean and JohnnySister of the BrideMitch and AmySocksDear Mr. HenshawLucky ChuckA Girl from Yamhill: A MemoirMuggie MaggieStriderPetey's Bedtime StoryMy Own Two FeetThe Hullabaloo ABC