Anna’s latest book fad has been reading Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series of books. That is, having the books read to her. Of course, most of the books Anna has are ones that we have picked out for her, or ones that were given to her as gifts. Of these, the ones that Anna really latches on to are books where the main characters are strong girls. First Madeline (”to the tiger in the zoo, Madeline just said, ‘pooh pooh.’”), then Eloise (not so much strong as stubborn), then Pippi, and now Ramona and her sister Beezus. Anna now maintains that she is in fact stronger than Pippi because Pippi can only lift up a horse, but Anna can pick up the whole world (”Where would you stand?” I asked. Answer: “underground”).

Although Ramona and Beezus are the most true-to-life of the characters I mentioned, it is interesting that they take place in much different place and time than today… where a nine-year-old can be sent on an errand to the grocery store, or take her four year old sister to the library. For that matter, a couple of four-year-olds can want to and from kindergarten on their own. Now that I think about it, I walked to kindergarten when I was young… how different the world is today!

Anna had another reward-worthy night of sleep, and earned the book Babar Loses His Crown. I still don’t like these Babar books. Are we supposed to feel sorry for the boastful, elitist King Babar because he has lost his crown and cannot bear to be seen at the opera without it? Seriously, that is the great tragedy my four-year-old is supposed to be identifying with. Also, I noted that before going to the opera, King Babar and Queen Celeste put their children to bed in the hotel and leave them unattended while they go out on the town in Paris; what kind of message is that? At best, they have brought some of their palace staff to attend to the children, and simply don’t feel they are worth mentioning in the book.

All I have to say is don’t blame me, I voted for Curious George.