Ramona just wants everyone to be happy. If only her father would smile and joke again, her mother would look less worried, her sister would be cheerful, and Picky-picky would eat his cat-food. But Ramona's father has lost his job, and nobody in the Quimby household is in a very good mood.

Ramona tries to cheer up the family as only Ramona can -- by rehearsing for life as a rich and famous star of television commercials, for instance -- but her best efforts only make things worse. Her sister, Beezus, calls her a, pest, her parents lose patience with her, and her teacher claims she's forgotten her- manners. But when her father admits he wouldn't trade her for a million dollars, Ramona knows everything is going to work out fine in the end.

ANNOTATION

The family routine is upset during Ramona's year in second grade when her father unexpectedly loses his job.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Ramona Quimby is a character intimately known by Beverly Cleary readers. In this story of Ramona's year in second grade they will come to know Mr. Quimby equally well. As it opens he loses his job without warning, and Ramona's seven-year-old view of this all-too-frequently family crisis rings every change of mood from tears to laughter.

Not surprisingly, Ramona takes an active hand in the problems that develop. She practices television commercials in order to earn a million dollars, but only succeeds in insulting her teacher when she delivers a disparaging line about wrinkles in pantyhose. She grows concerned that Mr. Quimby's smoking will turn his lungs black launches an energetic No Smoking campaign. Sometimes Mr. Quimby's temper frays under the strain of his uncertain future and Ramona's attentions, but he proves as resilient as his daughter and the Quimbys cope better than they realize.

Once again children will be both entertained and comforted by the understanding of their triumphs and tribulations that they find in this wise, funny book."Another warm, funny, pithy story about Ramona, now in second grade. Daddy loses his job and there are resultant strains on family finances and relationships, but life goes on. In any household containing Ramona it could hardly do otherwise."—Booklist