It was so interesting to listen to these two back-to-back, since they were written nearly 20 years apart. Two things struck me about Ramona the Pest: 1) Kindergarten doesn't seem to have changed that much in 50 years, and 2) Ramona's father is almost absent from the story. He barely gets a speaking role in the 2nd half. I don't know if that was a cultural thing or more of a deliberate choice based on a kindergartner's perspective. But it's a real contrast to later books where the action and tension is much more family-centered, with the family pulling together to cope with Mr. Quimby's unemployment and education, Mrs. Quimby going back to work, money worries, etc. I remember reading Ramona Forever when I was in elementary school (it came out in 1984) and loving it. It holds up! Stockard Channing is such a great narrator, as well.