Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t Ramona only 4 when she played at the playground outside the community center where Beezus took an art class? That struck me. Nobody could do that now.

We coddle our children so much

We coddle our children because really bad things can happen and we aren't having as many children.

I'm not taking a risk with my kids being kidnapped, raped and murdered.

You are insane.

We listened to the audiobooks over the past year on road trips - my daughter loved and I was so impressed with how relevant the stories were so many years later. The first book was written in 1955 and the last one was in the 90s.

Her dad went to school to be an art teacher. But couldn’t find a teaching job and worked at a grocery store instead.

You will find zero children’s books in 2024 with that storyline.

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t Ramona only 4 when she played at the playground outside the community center where Beezus took an art class? That struck me. Nobody could do that now.

We coddle our children so much

The difference between Ramona's Kindergarten, where she was working on writing her own name, and taking a nap, and playing outside, and her mom stopped walking her to school after showing her the way one time, and 2024 Kindergarten is startling.

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t Ramona only 4 when she played at the playground outside the community center where Beezus took an art class? That struck me. Nobody could do that now.

We coddle our children so much

We coddle our children because really bad things can happen and we aren't having as many children.

I'm not taking a risk with my kids being kidnapped, raped and murdered.

These books helped me to be a better mom. Ramona’s perspective really changed me and helped me understand my own kids better.

Wasn’t Ramona only 4 when she played at the playground outside the community center where Beezus took an art class? That struck me. Nobody could do that now.

We coddle our children so much

These books dealt with real family issues so beautifully: parent job loss, parent going back to work after being home, death of a pet. I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about them.

OP here.

I loved Mrs. Quincy saying something to the effect of “one formal maternity dress is all a neighborhood needs.” She’s right! Can you imagine women doing that today? I lived the description of how pretty she looked wearing this borrowed dress at her sister’s wedding.

Read these aloud in my classroom every year! Beverly Cleary was a gifted storyteller. Fifty plus years later and my students still find them relatable.

Loved it!

Anonymous wrote:I re-read some of the books in this series recently. They’re so good! I loved them as a kid and it was balm for the soul to read them with an adult perspective.

How do you think Ramona turned out as an adult? Love her energy and protectiveness of her family, her determination to help out.

I also loved reading about a true middle class family, the kind that was everywhere in my neighborhood growing up. Simple house, buying what was on clearance at grocery store, saying they couldn’t afford things, only one used car…the whole storyline about Ramona’s dad losing his job.

Just truly enjoyed going back into this world.

"We must scrimp and pinch to make ends meet." This series is where I first learned the phrases "scrimp and pinch" and the concept of "making ends meet."

Those books are wonderful. I reread them with my kid a few years ago. So sympathetic and true to how kids actually are! And I also liked all the details about family life in the 50s.

Loved re-reading those books with my kids when they were younger! Truly some of the best children’s literature out there.

I re-read some of the books in this series recently. They’re so good! I loved them as a kid and it was balm for the soul to read them with an adult perspective.

How do you think Ramona turned out as an adult? Love her energy and protectiveness of her family, her determination to help out.

I also loved reading about a true middle class family, the kind that was everywhere in my neighborhood growing up. Simple house, buying what was on clearance at grocery store, saying they couldn’t afford things, only one used car…the whole storyline about Ramona’s dad losing his job.

Just truly enjoyed going back into this world.