Ramona the Pest is the first of Beverly Cleary's books to focus mainly on Ramona Quimby, who is often considered a "pest" by many, including her older sister Beatrice (known as Beezus). Told with a delicious sense of humor and a real insight to a kindergartener's mind, this children's book chronicles the adventures of Ramona's first few months at kindergarten. She spends her days pulling on the beautiful curly hair of the bossy Susan, chasing Davy around the playground for kisses, harassing the crossing guard Henry Huggins, making the "Q" in her name look like a cat, and seeking love and approval from her teacher, Miss Binney.

However, despite her love for learning and kindergarten, school isn't as fair as Ramona would have hoped, which is why she finds herself hiding behind the school's trash cans in the cold, sitting on a bench while the rest of the class plays Grey Duck, being scolded by Miss Binney, and ultimately feeling as though she is unwanted in the classroom. What can Ramona do to prove that she's not a pest?