“What can I say? Except that we read all the books, and listened to all the tapes where Stockard Channing brilliantly did all the voices in Ramona’s world. Whole car trips were spent laughing hysterically over Ramona’s antics, including the one where she sabotages her sister’s birthday cake by throwing her doll in the oven, after reading Hansel and Gretel.” — The Week in Writing
Recently, I listened to an interview with Beverly Clearly and was reminded that Ramona started out in the Henry books. Pesky Ramona and responsible sister Beezus first made their appearance as supporting characters in Henry Huggins, Henry and Beezus, etc.
One particular moment that captivated me was the description of Ramona eating her animal crackers from the little box with the string. Don’t we all remember that Ringling Brothers circus caravan with the animals pictures on the side? And the taste. Decades later I recall the Nabisco Ringling Brothers being better than an off brand, with a slight hint of spice. Ginger, perhaps? Just enough so a child would not be turned off.
This is the kind of detail that an expert fiction writer includes to take you in, feel at home, as if you are right there.
It’s called “world building” and nobody did it better than Beverly Clearly.