by Beverly Cleary
performed by Stockard Channing
We listened to this collection of books once a week when the two youngest and I drove First Daughter to her allergy shots. First Son stayed home but he'd already heard all the books before. I loved to hear them laughing while we listened.
This is probably my third or fourth time listening to these books after being a mother. I cannot recommend them highly enough, not just for the delight they bring to young children, but because they so perfectly describe the thoughts in the mind of a young child. So many times, as I listened to these books, I remembered all over again the thoughts going through the minds of my children as they do the things they do that just don't make sense. They do make sense, just sometimes in an unexpected way. Only it not unexpected for Beverly Cleary.
The other thing I love about the Ramona books is how Ramona interacts with the adults in her life. In book after book, Ramona's imagination leads her into trouble, anxiety, and sometimes despair. Eventually, her mother, her father, or her teacher will convince Ramona to confide her woes. The adult is understanding and compassionate and then promptly helps Ramona discover a solution or comforts her. Listening along with my young children, I was pleased to give them so many examples of trusted adults responding with kindness and wisdom.
As we listened, Second Daughter was inspired to read the books: The Complete Ramona Collection. Second Son picked up Ribsy but I don't know if he finished it.
Stockard Channing does a magnificent job being Ramona. In fact, in the early books, Kansas Dad thought her Ramona impersonation was too much like a loud obnoxious kid in the van so we switched to listening without him. It is annoying that you can't easily forward to books because they're not marked in the chapters. "Ellen" reviewed it on Audible and kindly provided the chapter locations for each of the books:
- Ch 1: Beezus and Ramona
- Ch 7: Ramona the Pest
- Ch 15: Ramona the Brave
- Ch 24: Ramona and Her Father
- Ch 31: Ramona and Her Mother
- Ch 38: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
- Ch 47: Ramona Forever
- Ch 57: Ramona's World
