Beverly Cleary, who turns 90 today, says that a school librarian encouraged her to become a children's author. "It seemed like a good idea, so I did."
Posted on 04/12/2006 7:52:38 AM PDT by Borges
Next time you're at your school or public library, check out the "C" section of kids' fiction. Chances are you'll see at least one shelf filled with books by Beverly Cleary.
The author who created characters as memorable as Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins has written 39 children's books, and most libraries have several copies of her most popular titles.
Beverly Cleary turns 90 today. To celebrate her birthday, kids across the country will Drop Everything And Read, just like Ramona does in "Ramona Quimby, Age 8."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"Ramona we do not put jelly on our mashed potatoes!"
loved, Loved, LOVED Ramona!!!
Boy, does this bring back memories! I might just have to become a collector.
I remember when Ramona's galoshes got stuck in the big mud puddle....poor Ramona.
I loved my Ramona Quimby books when I was little and basically anything by Cleary. Ramona, Ralph S. Mouse, Dear Mr. Henshaw, etc.
I can't wait to get some of those books for my soon to be born daughter.
Loved those books when I was a kid.
My son is reading the books, and is shocked to learn that I read them, too. That makes me ANCIENT! :)
Great books - loved them as a kid. Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary!
My favorite character of that neighborhood is Ribsy -- what a great dog! And left-pawed, same as me!
I love when Ramona tells her father to get the Dawnzer when he's having trouble reading his evening paper, "It gives off lee light." LOL!!
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
Thanks for the ping!
I literally was just telling someone I had a boing-boing curl. They looked at me like I had three heads. (Yes, it's a Ramona-ism!)
How cool! We own four of her books. Didn't know she was still alive. Am considering having the kids write a letter to her.
I like your boing-boing curl...
I think ill just go shuffle off into a corner and die nowif i can rember where the corner is with my alzhiemers acting up today
In fact, I owe a lot to Ms. Cleary. I wanted to be a writer after I read her stuff, and especially a writer of kids literature.
I mean, I named my daughter Beatrice (and yes, her nickname IS BEEZUS!)
No offense to your daughter, and I probably turned out more like Beezus than Ramona in the end, but at the time, Beezus annoyed the living h*ll out of me.
Oh man, does this bring back memories. I think I read everything she wrote.
Otis Spofford
Absolutely THE funniest kids book ever written.
I loved how every time she looked at the other girl's springy curls, she thought "boing."
Oh, I KNOW! Beezus was as absolute jerk--but I still loved the name! ;-)
Oh, thanks for the ping!! Just about a month or so ago I did a walking tour in town through Beverly Cleary's neighborhood. (Portland, Oregon)
It was SO cool to see the houses she lived in a different ages, learn the things that took place in her childhood that inspired the characters and events in her books. I saw the library she used to frequent, on and on. Made it so real.....
But I didn't know she was still alive, either! What a great, great author. Now my kids are enjoying her works.
Happy Birthday Beverly!!!
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