Title Page

Beverly Cleary

I L L U S T R AT E D B Y

Tracy Dockray

viii

Contents

1. The Rich Uncle 1

2. Ramona’s Problem 29

3. Being Good 47

4. Picky-picky 64

5. “IT”

81

6. A Surprise, Sort Of 100

7. The Chain of Command 119

8. The Families Get Together 132

9. Ramona Saves the Day 146

10. Another Big Event 167

About the Author

Other Books by Beverly Cleary

Credits

Cover

Copyright

About the Publisher

1

The Rich Uncle

“ Guess what?” Ramona Quimby asked

one Friday evening when her Aunt

Beatrice dropped by to show off her new

ski clothes and to stay for supper. Ramona’s mother, father, and big sister Beezus, whose real name was Beatrice, paid no attention and went on eating. Picky-picky, the cat, meowed through the basement door, asking to share the meal.

1

Aunt Beatrice, who taught third grade, knew how to behave toward her third-grade

niece. “What?” she asked, laying down her

fork as if she expected to be astounded by Ramona’s news.

Ramona took a deep breath and an-

nounced, “Howie Kemp’s rich uncle is

coming to visit.” Except for Aunt Bea, her family was not as curious as Ramona had

hoped. She plunged on anyway because she

was happy for her friend. “Howie’s grand-

mother is really excited, and so are Howie and Willa Jean.” And so, to be truthful, was Ramona, who disliked having to go to the

Kemps’ house after school, where Howie’s

grandmother looked after her grandchildren and Ramona while the two mothers were at

work.A rich uncle, even someone else’s rich uncle, should make those long after-school hours more interesting.

“I didn’t know Howie had a rich uncle,”

said Mrs. Quimby.

2

“He’s Howie’s father’s little brother, only now he’s big,” explained Ramona.

“Why, that must be Hobart Kemp,” said

Aunt Beatrice. “He was in my class in high school.”

“Oh, yes. I remember.That boy with the

blond curly hair who played baseball.” Mrs.

Quimby motioned to her daughters to clear

3

away the plates. “All the girls said he was cute.”

“That’s the one,” said Aunt Bea.“He used

to chew licorice and spit on the grass to make the principal think he was chewing tobacco like a professional baseball player, which was what he wanted to be.”

“Where’s this cute licorice-chewing uncle

coming from, and how did he get so rich?”

asked Ramona’s father, beginning to be interested. “Playing baseball?”

“He’s coming from—” Ramona frowned.

“I can’t remember the name, but it sounds like a fairy tale and has camels.” Narnia? Never-never-land? No, those names weren’t right.

“Saudi Arabia,” said Beezus, who also went to the Kemps’ after school. Being in junior high school, she could take her time getting there.

“Yes, that’s it!” Ramona wished she had

remembered first.“Howie says he’s bringing 4

the whole family presents.” She imagined bags of gold like those in The Arabian Nights, which Beezus had read to her. Of course,