Beezus and Ramona, written in 1955 and published by Harper Collins, is a middle-grade novel and the first in the Ramona series by author Beverly Cleary. The original publication includes illustrations from Louis Darling. Later editions feature updated illustrations by different artists. The novel has 99 editions and has been translated into six different languages.

Ramona was introduced in Cleary’s first novel, Henry Huggins, published in 1950. Tracing the antics of Ramona Quimby and her family on Klickitat Street, a real street in Portland, Oregon, the novel also features other characters from earlier Cleary novels, including Henry and his dog, Ribsy. Cleary waited 13 years after Beezus and Ramona’s publication before she resumed writing the series, completing it in 1999. In 2010, the book was adapted into a major motion picture starring Selena Gomez, Ramona and Beezus .

Beverly Cleary died in 2021 at age 104. According to her obituary published by Oregon Public Broadcasting, 91 million copies of her books have been sold in 14 languages.

Plot Summary

Beatrice “Beezus” Quimby wishes she had a normal sister, not one like her noisy, messy four-year-old sibling, Ramona, who gave nine-year-old Beezus her nickname and is a constant nuisance to her. As Beezus tries to work quietly on a Christmas gift for her aunt, Ramona rides her tricycle through the living room while playing the harmonica.

Ramona asks Beezus to read her favorite book to her, the story of a forlorn steam shovel named Scoopy. Everyone in the house is tired of hearing the book, but Beezus relents and reads it to her, making all the machinery sounds. In hopes of finding another book to distract Ramona from Scoopy, Beezus takes her to the library, although she is embarrassed because Ramona insists on wearing paper rabbit ears. At the library, Beezus scolds Ramona for speaking too loudly. Ramona finds a new book that—unfortunately—also features a steam shovel. Ramona is sad she cannot sign her name to get a library card, so Beezus takes her home and helps her work on her signature. When the time comes to return the book two weeks later, Beezus realizes Ramona signed her name on every page. The girls pay for the damaged book and take it home with them.

Later, Beezus attends her after-school art class while Ramona plays at the park nearby. Beezus wishes she were more creative like her little sister, and she struggles with the assignment to paint an imaginary animal. Ramona interrupts the class with her imaginary lizard, Ralph, and the teacher lets her paint a picture of him. However, Ramona causes trouble and spills the paint. After failing to paint a winged horse, Beezus tries again and creates a whimsical dragon. She is overjoyed when her teacher features it prominently on the wall. In addition to art class, Beezus enjoys playing checkers with her friend Henry. One afternoon when Henry and his dog, Ribsy, visit, Ramona ruins their game by knocking over the checkerboard and locking Ribsy in the bathroom. Mrs. Quimby frees the trapped dog, and Ramona confesses she put Ribsy in time-out because he tried to eat her cookie. Mrs. Quimby sends Ramona to her room, as she often does, without other consequences. Beezus feels guilty that she does not like her little sister.

Mrs. Quimby often leaves Beezus to tend to Ramona. One day while her mom is out, Beezus cannot find Ramona anywhere in the house. Braving the dark basement and frightening furnace, Beezus finds her sister next to a crate of apples with a Ramona-sized bite taken out of each one. When Aunt Beatrice calls, a frazzled Beezus asks for help in dealing with Ramona. Beatrice suggests ignoring Ramona and not giving her the satisfaction of “being bad.” She also suggests making applesauce with the ruined fruit. The girls spend the rest of the afternoon making applesauce that the entire family enjoys for dessert that night. Mr. Quimby joins in the plan to ignore Ramona’s mischief, and for a moment the girls get along. However, Ramona’s good behavior does not last. Beezus and her mother do not understand what is happening when all the neighborhood kids begin showing up at their doorstep one rainy afternoon. Ramona explains that she invited them to a party, leaving Mother and Beezus to entertain over 15 neighborhood kids indoors. With some quick thinking and teamwork, Beezus wrangles the children into a parade led by Ramona’s friend Howie while Mrs. Quimby dishes out applesauce from their large stockpile. The party quickly turns frantic, as Ramona’s guests will not follow her directions, and she erupts into a tantrum. Beezus saves the day with her helpful attitude, but she longs for the day her annoying sister will grow up and stop being such a pest.

As her 10th birthday approaches, Beezus dreams of a cake with pink frosting and a visit from Aunt Beatrice. Ramona threatens to spoil Beezus’s special day when she ruins the cake Mrs. Quimby was baking. Beezus entertains Ramona with a reading of Hansel and Gretel while Mrs. Quimby bakes cake number two. Later, when the house goes quiet and the air is filled with a chemical stench, Beezus discovers Ramona put her doll in the oven, mimicking the fairy tale, and the doll melted into the cake. Both girls shout at each other and dissolve into tears. Aunt Beatrice arrives later and rescues the celebration with a perfect store-bought cake and presents for Beezus. The family gathers around the dinner table to celebrate Beezus, but Ramona tries to take the spotlight by mixing grape jelly into her mashed potatoes. She is sent to her room again, and Beezus, burdened with guilt and crestfallen that her birthday is ruined, hangs her head in sadness. Mrs. Quimby and Beatrice comfort Beezus by telling her humorous stories from when they were kids. They had their disagreements, just like Beezus and Ramona do, but they grew out of it and are now best friends. Beezus blows out her candle and wishes every birthday could be just like this one.