Ramona the Pest – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ramona the Pest

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book1968

92%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

Kindergarten is a battlefield, and Ramona is the tiny, misunderstood general leading the charge with a pocketful of worms.

Ramona the Pest

book

1968

92%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

Kindergarten is a battlefield, and Ramona is the tiny, misunderstood general leading the charge with a pocketful of worms.

4.7

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4.7

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Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This book is the GOAT for a reason. Beverly Cleary somehow tapped into the brain of a five-year-old and never left.

Unlike some 'classics' that feel like eating your vegetables (looking at you, Swiss Family Robinson), Ramona is punchy, funny, and holds up surprisingly well in 2026. Even if your kid is used to high-octane YouTube shorts, the drama of Ramona getting her shoe taken away or hiding behind a trash can still hits. It’s a must-read that reminds kids it’s okay to be a little bit 'too much' sometimes.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5 to 9. It's the ultimate 'read-to-me' book for kindergartners and a solid first chapter book for second graders who want to look back and laugh at how 'babyish' they used to be.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It captures the raw, chaotic, and ultimately sweet reality of being five. The family dynamics are grounded, and the school setting feels authentic rather than sanitized.

Imaginative

Ramona’s internal logic—like thinking 'the dawn’s early light' is a person named Dawn—is a masterclass in how kids actually think and create their own worlds.

Safe

Zero safety concerns. It’s a 1968 chapter book about kindergarten. The biggest 'danger' is a girl pulling someone's curls or getting her head stuck in a fence.

Enriching

High marks for empathy. It helps kids (and parents) understand that 'bad' behavior is often just a kid trying to solve a problem with limited tools.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It validates 'big feelings' without being preachy or annoying.
The humor actually lands for adults reading it aloud—Ramona's logic is hilarious.
It perfectly captures that specific age where everything feels like a life-or-death crisis.
Ramona isn't a 'perfect' kid; she's messy, loud, and real, which is a relief for kids who feel the same.

⚠

What to Watch For

It was written in 1968, so expect some old-school classroom vibes like desks in rows and very specific gendered expectations.
The word 'pest' is thrown around a lot. It’s worth a quick chat about how labels can be frustrating.

Conversation Starters

"Why did Ramona think her teacher didn't like her anymore?"
"Have you ever tried to be helpful but ended up getting in trouble by accident?"
"What’s something you thought was true when you were little that turned out to be totally wrong?"
"Is Ramona actually a 'pest,' or is she just misunderstood?"

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