Ramona's World (Ramona Series) (Ramona, 8)

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