Every day after school Howie goes outside to ride bikes with his friends, and Ramona is forced to play baby games with Willa Jean.

At one point, Mr. Quimby has had enough of the gloom on one Sunday and insists the family go out to eat so they go to Ramona's favorite restaurant.

Critics welcomed the latest volume in this series, praising Cleary's ability to convey the real concerns of ordinary children with clarity and sensitivity.

The Children's Literature review says, "Kids may easily identify with Ramona's difficulties, as Cleary depicts this 'typical' white American middle-class family with warmth and interest.

"[1] Kirkus Reviews agree that readers will identify with Ramona, writing "Though the family has its money worries and its cranky days, things are never so bad that a Sunday dinner at the Whopperburger can't cheer them up... As always, Ramona's thought processes are amusing, touching, and revealing.