Newbery Medal–winning author Beverly Cleary's final book in the Ramona series has all of the warmth, realism, and humor of its predecessors. Ramona Quimby can't wait to start fourth grade. With a new baby sister to brag about, new calluses to show off, and a new best friend to get to know, everything's going to be great! Or is it? When Ramona's spelling is atrocious, her teacher, Mrs. Meacham, is firm about her needing to improve. Then a scary incident at a friend's house leaves Ramona feeling at fault. Who knew growing up could be filled with such complicated situations? In the Ramona books, Beverly Cleary expertly depicts the trials and triumphs of growing up through a relatable heroine who isn't afraid to be exactly who she is. These books continue to make young readers laugh in recognition and pleasure. They're perfect for independent and shared reading, at home or in the classroom. Ramona Quimby is back! Beverly Cleary's best-loved and most exuberant character has been winning friends since the 1950s when she made her first appearance as Beezus's pesky little sister. Now, in Cleary's first Ramona book in 15 years, our beloved spitfire is 9 years old, and she fully intends to make fourth grade the best year of her life. Even with her spelling struggles, a new baby sister, and a fall through her best friend's ceiling, her wish seems to be coming true. Old friends Yard Ape and Howie are still around--and with her new best friend Daisy, Ramona is on top of her world! The ever-popular Cleary has been awarded many honors, including the prestigious Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw in 1984. Two books in the Ramona series, Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 , were named Newbery Honor Books. Cleary's masterful expression of children's emotions endears her to the hearts of her young readers, time after time. Who else could know just what it feels like to accidentally make a funny face during the school pictures, or the dread of being forced to play with the annoyingly perfect Susan? Happily, Cleary is still teamed up with illustrator Alan Tiegreen, whose simple line drawings capture the most complex of childhood predicaments. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter Grade 2-4-Picking up where Ramona Forever (Morrow, 1984) left off, Cleary gives her readers a much-awaited gem with this consistent and expressive look into the world of this beloved character. Here, eager readers find out just how well Ramona adjusts to being a big sister and a fourth grader. Irrepressible as always, she does not fail to satisfy with her antics. Beezus is in high school-getting her ears pierced, baby-sitting, and going to parties with boys-while baby Roberta is, well, busy being a baby. Ramona makes a best friend, falls through an attic ceiling, is a responsible baby-sitter, and struggles with spelling. Once again, Tiegreen provides well-chosen and well-placed black-and-white line drawings throughout. The story concludes with Ramona's 10th birthday, or "zeroteenth" as she is pleased to note. The close-ended chapters relate different episodes in the child's life, a format well suited for reading aloud. Write on Ms. Cleary!-Christy Norris Blanchette, Valley Cottage Library, NY Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. It's been a long wait ( Ramona Forever was published in 1984), but Miss Quimby is back, and she's as feisty as ever. Now in the fourth grade, Ramona is adjusting to life as a big sister to baby Roberta, finding out what it means to have a best friend, and experiencing the very first twinges of romance with her old buddy, Yard Ape. Plot threads run through the whole book, but as in the earlier novels, each chapter is also a small story unto itself. The vignettes are at their best when they get right to the heart of a child's concerns, as when Ramona accidently makes a face while having her class picture taken, a scenario immediately accessible to readers. Considering that Ramona made her first title appearance in 1955, Cleary (along with illustrator Alan Tiegreen) has done a remarkable job of keeping her au currant . There are a few slips here--girls who are almost 10 are more likely to be watching MTV than dressing up as princesses and witches--but for the most part, this is just what readers have been waiting for: vintage Ramona. Ilene Cooper PLB 0-688-16818-3 Ramona returns (Ramona Forever, 1988, etc.), and she's as feisty as ever, now nine-going-on-ten (or ``zeroteen,'' as she calls it). Her older sister Beezus is in high school, baby-sitting, getting her ears pierced, and going to her first dance, and now they have a younger baby sister, Roberta. Cleary picks up on all the details of fourth grade, from comparing hand calluses to the distribution of little plastic combs by the school photographer. This year Ramona is trying to improve her spelling, and Cleary is especially deft at limning the emotional nuances as Ramona fails and succeeds, goes from sad to happy, and from hurt to proud. The grand fi