Grant Park could be just the perfect place for a birthday party. Ramona imagines the park with the sun shining though the fir trees, cake and whipped cream on the picnic table, and presents surrounding her. When the big day finally arrives, the picnic table that Ramona wants, the one between the wading pool and the playground is vacant. Everything might just work out perfectly.

Ramona's guests, all of them carrying interesting packages, come running across the grass, but when they see Ramona's cute baby sister Roberta, everybody seems to forget about Ramona. They don't even say "Happy Birthday" but coo, squeal and admire the adorable Roberta.

      Ramona felt forgetten. She knew about Roberta's tiny hands and feet. All babies had them. She knew about her teeth too. She had listened to Roberta fret and wiped her drool when she was teething. She marvelled at Roberta's growth, but not today. This was her birthday, her very own day, not Roberta's. Ramona sat beside her pile of presents and scowled.

Luckily, Roberta starts to fuss and Ramona's friends wish her a Happy Birthday as they gather around to watch her open all of her presents. When the girls begin to eat their sandwiches and carrot sticks, guess who comes hollering and running up to them? Yard Ape and two of his friends!

What will happen next at Ramona's birthday party?