tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post5260419064042586785..comments2024-02-29T02:17:09.801-05:00Comments on disdressed: book week: Ramona and friendsLiesl Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077922825872748873noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-18154203360931592602014-02-19T09:59:01.227-05:002014-02-19T09:59:01.227-05:00I simply could NOT agree MORE with you, that repla...I simply could NOT agree MORE with you, that replacing those wonderful Louis Darling illustrations was an absolute travesty. I only discovered this crime last week, when purchasing a few of the books for a niece of mine, and I was so astounded, angry, disgusted and appalled at this betrayal that I have yet to recover. I do indeed feel betrayed. I immediately went home and called the publisher (I left the editor one heckuva an earful, let me tell you). Then immediately penned an email as well. The IDEA, that they would replace the scowling, jump-off-the-page Ramona of the Darling illustrations with such tepid, anodyne, bland new ones is truly a crime. The Darling/Cleary marriage was perfect. A pox on the editor for breaking it upPaul Leonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-70142783117663370642013-02-09T20:03:48.877-05:002013-02-09T20:03:48.877-05:00I agree with you about the illustrations. As an ar...I agree with you about the illustrations. As an artist/illustrator myself, I always feel it's important to have the characters and settings 'feel' right. I think many times new illustrations on old books can feel cheap. <br /><br />Two other young adult instances where I was saddened to see this occur were on S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders and also - don't laugh, the Francine Pascal series' Sweet Valley High and Sweet Valley Twins. Although those were only covers, no interior illos, still, to me they were an entrance to a world. I would stare at them and *be* there.<br /><br />Today, I feel publishers (and the world really) sometimes dumb things down for kids. I think they feel that if you aren't going what 'everyone else is doing' as far as a trend, then children or teens won't be interested. I don't think that's true. Verso Graphics Studio/Deanna Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05117821888648871214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-65816601555884998732009-11-30T10:08:58.765-05:002009-11-30T10:08:58.765-05:00When Tsia is about a year older, may I recommend t...When Tsia is about a year older, may I recommend the Junie B. Jones series? We just love them over here! We started them because my daughter's kindergarten teacher was reading them aloud to the class. They're about a kindergartner who is as practical and hilarious as Ramona, only different but still wonderful.<br /><br />WV: fallate. Ummmm...Maria Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860866965815658652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-43883763696126700532009-11-26T21:07:58.816-05:002009-11-26T21:07:58.816-05:00i am so with you about the original illustrations!...i am so with you about the original illustrations!i have some of the old books (mostly Henry Huggins)--but what a treasure you have in the autographed copies!dokiquiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16882889465477918606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-8104791353715765252009-11-25T22:00:42.571-05:002009-11-25T22:00:42.571-05:00I adore the Romana books! I even have a sister cal...I adore the Romana books! I even have a sister called Beezus!! We'll, that's her nickname but its stuck and even as an adult she can't shake it although she does try to encourage people to call her Elizabeth :-)Duyvkenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17660918523479855890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-69812119883912734542009-11-25T00:21:34.455-05:002009-11-25T00:21:34.455-05:00Ylime, Tsia is almost 5 now. We tried Pippi earlie...Ylime, Tsia is almost 5 now. We tried Pippi earlier this summer and it didn't fly. Your daughter might enjoy the books when Ramona is really young: try Ramona the Pest and work your way up. I bet she'll love them! If she's not ready yet, I'll bet she will be ready if you try again in a few months.Liesl Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01077922825872748873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-48995859849871182492009-11-24T20:24:38.393-05:002009-11-24T20:24:38.393-05:00how old is your little girl? mine is almost 4 and ...how old is your little girl? mine is almost 4 and we were about to try pippi longstocking, but I ended up taking it back to the library when my husband couldn't get her to sit still through the wizard of oz.Sew Flippin Coolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700234721908919681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-15442268399697987072009-11-24T20:10:12.235-05:002009-11-24T20:10:12.235-05:00I'm totally with you on the Ramona Quimby orig...I'm totally with you on the Ramona Quimby original illustrations. I feel the same way about the original illustrations in James and the Giant Peach. Beverly Cleary is a genius.Tiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08630499753049804761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-74942757175004544602009-11-24T17:28:20.175-05:002009-11-24T17:28:20.175-05:00You might try the Clementine books by Sara Pennypa...You might try the Clementine books by Sara Pennypacker. Clementine lives in an apartment building in NYC and is allergic to sitting still. I loved reading them with my daughter. I can't wait to read the new one she is getting for St Nicholas day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-5267258323704103062009-11-24T12:20:05.005-05:002009-11-24T12:20:05.005-05:00We're loving Beverly Cleary as well.. Mouse an...We're loving Beverly Cleary as well.. Mouse and the Motorcycle was a big hit and now we're working our way through Ralph S. Mouse. And my kids loved Henry and Ribsy! Maybe we should read Ramona next?Brooke Reynoldshttp://www.inchmark.squarespace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-74962313564029089642009-11-24T07:23:20.928-05:002009-11-24T07:23:20.928-05:00I remember really loving The Boxcar Children serie...I remember really loving The Boxcar Children series (and there are so many!) maybe check those out once you have exhausted the Ramona books.Courtneyhttp://www.pockettcraft.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-51415757222443062222009-11-23T23:30:01.111-05:002009-11-23T23:30:01.111-05:00another thing we have in common: love for ramona q...another thing we have in common: love for ramona quimby! i actually have a tattoo of her, holding her doll chevrolet ;n)<br />and thanks for your lovely review of the book!hodge podgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15414156316565619626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-74737836273963155352009-11-23T23:07:04.406-05:002009-11-23T23:07:04.406-05:00Love the illustration of Ramona with her doll, Che...Love the illustration of Ramona with her doll, Chevrolet. <br /><br />I also love the early images of Ramona as a preschooler when she was Beezus' pesky shadow in her overalls and bunny ears or jump rope tail. <br /><br />Those books feel like part of me, I read them ragged. I'm jealous you have autographed copies!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09652304693670344168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-3856726900348304842009-11-23T22:25:18.285-05:002009-11-23T22:25:18.285-05:00The original illustrator was definitely the best--...The original illustrator was definitely the best--that's how I still see Ramona in my head, too.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10801190508845898744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-22078873197174334672009-11-23T22:03:04.607-05:002009-11-23T22:03:04.607-05:00Oh the memories that brings back for me! I was a R...Oh the memories that brings back for me! I was a Ramona fiend! I lived for our local store getting another Ramona book (we didn't have a local library). I would devour it in one sit down and put it on the bookshelf my dad made for me. <br /><br />I was Ramona, the girl with messy hair and the older sister who always drove me crazy. I still have my collection, tucked away in the attic for safekeeping. I can't wait to pull them out to share with my own little Ramona.<br /><br />PS - bring back the old Ramona!the sandwich makerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14895623827464690681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-65569246794338730162009-11-23T21:14:08.702-05:002009-11-23T21:14:08.702-05:00We did the same thing this summer. My daughter was...We did the same thing this summer. My daughter was enthralled. I totally agree with you about the illustrations. It's those exact illustrations that made me want to be an illustrator when I was a little girl. What a treasure you have in those books. <br /><br />Thanks for highlighting something I dearly love.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15291157496867832930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15639962.post-37120118593501858932009-11-23T21:00:10.884-05:002009-11-23T21:00:10.884-05:00I read those with my little boy and then moved on ...I read those with my little boy and then moved on to The Mouse and the Motorcycle. We love Beverly Cleary!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14876189538236809036noreply@blogger.com