Ramona and Her Mother

Ramona Quimby is seven and a half, and being the youngest in her family often leaves her feeling overlooked. With both parents working and money tight, the Quimby household feels busy and stretched, and Ramona begins to worry that she matters less than her sensible older sister, Beezus. Through a series of everyday episodes at home and at school, she tries to work out how her mother really feels about her and where she fits in. Beverly Cleary writes about a young child's worries, frustrations and sudden joys with humor and understanding, and the book has long been a favorite for reading aloud or reading alone. It won the National Book Award.