Ramona and Her Father

infobox Book
name = Ramona and Her Father


image_caption = Cover of Ramona and Her Father
author = Beverly Cleary
cover_artist = Tracy Dockray
country = United States
language = English
series = Ramona Quimby
genre = Novel
publisher = HarperCollins
release_date = 1977
media_type =
pages = 165
isbn = ISBN 0-380-70916-3 ISBN 978-0-380-70916-8
preceded_by = Ramona the Brave
followed_by = Ramona and Her Mother

"Ramona and Her Father" is a juvenile fiction novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is part of Cleary's acclaimed Ramona Quimby series. The book was first published in 1977 and was illustrated by Alan Tiegreen. The current edition was illustrated by Tracy Dockray.

Plot

Ramona is well into her second grade year at Glenwood School, and all is going well until one day her father comes home and announces that he has lost his job. The Quimbys must now cope with the breadwinner now searching for another job - filling out job applications and collecting unemployment insurance. Until then, Mrs. Quimby, who has been working part time at a hospital, secures full time work (for another doctor she has been working for in the past) to keep the family going, in essence becoming the breadwinner herself, but things are still very tight for the family.

Many of the chapters in the book are of Ramona hilariously trying to keep things together despite all this. The Quimbys try to have a Halloween, only to have their cat Picky-picky eat the jack o'lantern. Other subplots deal with the family's temperamental car, Beezus and her hangups about creative writing, and Ramona's crafty attempts to get her father to kick his smoking habit.

The final chapter finds Mr. Quimby finally getting a job as a supermarket cashier, and of Beezus and Ramona participating in their church's annual Christmas pageant with Beezus' friend Henry Huggins. Ramona has the idea for her and her friends Howie Kemp and Davy to be sheep in the pageant, but Ramona's costume is made of a pair of old pajamas because her mother had little time to sew (mainly due to her full time work schedule). Nevertheless, the sheep steal the show.

Awards

* Land of Enchantment Book Award (New Mexico)
* Texas Bluebonnet Award
* Nene Award (Hawaii)
* Newbery Honor Book
* Beehive Award (Utah)
* IRA/CBC Children's Choice [cite web |url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780380709168/Ramona_and_Her_Father/index.aspx |title=Ramona and Her Father: by Beverly Cleary |accessdate=2007-01-08]

References

External links

* " [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0380709163 Amazon.com listing]
* [http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Teachers/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780688221140&BDMode=8 Chapter 1 at harpercollinschildrens.com]