Critical Reception
Kirkus Reviews praised the book. "Ramona's going to school. . . who needs a review? … The conjunction of belly laugh and basal emotion puts this on a par with the best in the series." Common Sense Media writes that "the sparkling writing style and humorous story line are both engaging and highly appealing." Choosing Books for Kids says that in Ramona the Pest "Cleary rings true and touches sixes and sevens feelings and funny bones." It includes the book on its list of Ten Books Every Six- and Seven-Year-Old Should Know
Other reviewers noted that the appeal of the book is not limited any particular age group. "Ramona's determination to be chosen as the wake-up fairy at nap time on her first day of kindergarten… contains levels of humour for older children, from the faintly ludicrous physical situation through to the ironic implications as to what is going on in Ramona's mind; and it brings a smile to the face of all those teachers who have encountered a Ramona." Recommending the book for beginning readers, Great Books for Girls calls it, "A popular read-aloud for younger children, too." Reviewer Anita Silvey praises Cleary's ability to write books "that can be enjoyed by even the youngest readers yet are so sharply observed that readers of all ages respond to the material." And according to author and children's book reviewer Rob Reid, "Her year in kindergarten makes one of the funniest books on the market.".
Read more about this topic: Ramona The Pest
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