Girls Even Boys Will Like

I love a story about a girl who doesn’t always behave in the most ladylike way.  As an example, I love Emma by Jane Austen.  She is a nosy buttinsky.  Kids aren’t ready for Emma but here are some girls I think are worth taking a look at.

 

Ramona Quimby Series by Beverly Cleary. Start off with Ramona, the Pest and follow her through the trials of Kindergarten, First Grade and beyond.  Ramona is spunky.  She kicks the bedroom wall one more time after her parents tell her to stop just because she has spunk.  At school, she designs a slipper from paper towels to wear when she has lost a shoe.  She likes to scare herself by jumping from the new construction at her house into the original house.  She thinks the dawn’s early light is Dawnzer lee light.  She is a delight to read about.  Pick the grade that’s just younger than your child and let them have a good laugh.

 

Junie B. Jones goes one step beyond Ramona.  She is trouble all wrapped up in a cute little package.  She speaks her mind and thinks for herself even if it lands her in a locked up school all by herself with a need to use the facilities.  She is rambunctious and totally believable.  Sometimes she strikes me as immature but then what kid isn’t once in a while, right?

 

Both these series are chapter books.  Ramona may be one you read to your child and if your child is old enough, he/she may be able to read about Junie B. all alone.  But don’t be tempted to skip reading the stories even if you aren’t the reader.  You won’t be sorry.

 

I would read these books to children from 5-8 years old.  Older kids in the 9-11 year category may enjoy reading Ramona on there own.  Junie B. is definitely for younger readers.

Chapter books teach a child the enjoyment of anticipation of what happens next.  Don’t you wonder what I’m up to next?

You’ll find out next week.  Until then, keep on reading.