About Beverly Cleary
bio
"When it comes to writing books kids love, nobody does it better" –Ilene Cooper, Booklist
Beverly Cleary was born in McMinnville, Oregon, and, until she was old enough to attend school, lived on a farm in Yamhill, a town so small it had no library. Her mother arranged with the State Library to have books sent to Yamhill and acted as librarian in a lodge room upstairs over a bank. There young Beverly learned to love books. However, when the family moved to Portland, Beverly soon found herself in the grammar school's low reading circle, an experience that has given her sympathy for the problems of struggling readers.
By the third grade she had conquered reading and spent much of her childhood surrounded by books—either at home or in her public library. Before long her school librarian was suggesting that she should write for boys and girls when she grew up. The idea appealed to her, and she decided that someday she would write the books she longed to read but was unable to find on the library shelves: funny stories about her neighborhood and the sort of children she knew. And so Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, Ellen Tebbits, and her other beloved characters were born.
When children ask Mrs. Cleary where she finds her ideas, she replies, 'From my own experience and from the world around me.' She included a passage about the D.E.A.R. program in Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (second chapter) because she was inspired by letters she received from children who participated in 'Drop Everything and Read' activities. Their interest and enthusiasm encouraged her to provide the same experience to Ramona, who enjoys D.E.A.R. time with the rest of her class.
Mrs. Cleary's books have earned her many prestigious awards, including the 1984 John Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. Additionally, Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 were named 1978 and 1982 Newbery Honor Books, respectively.
Among Mrs. Cleary's other awards are the American Library Association's 1975 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the Catholic Library Association's 1980 Regina Medal, and the University of Southern Mississippi's 1982 Silver Medallion, all presented in recognition of her lasting contribution to children's literature. Mrs. Cleary was also the 1984 United States author nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, a prestigious international award. In 2000, to honor her invaluable contributions to children's literature, Beverly Cleary was named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. And in 2003, she was given the National Medal of Art from the National Endowment of the Arts.
In 2009 her ever-popular Ramona series was made into a movie, Ramona and Beezus, and in 2010 she received the Los Angeles Times Robert Kirsch Award, marking the first time this honor has gone to an author of books for children.
With all of these honors, of greatest importance to Beverly Cleary were the more than thirty-five statewide awards her books received, based on the direct votes of her young readers.
To celebrate her monumental one hundredth birthday in 2016, three of her books were reissued with forewords by literary luminaries Judy Blume, Amy Poehler, and Kate DiCamillo. And in 2017, her first series—the Henry Huggins books—was reissued with original art from the late Louis Darling. These six titles included forewords by award-winning authors and artists Tony DiTerlizzi, Marla Frazee, Tom Angleberger, Jeff Kinney, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and Cece Bell.
Mrs. Cleary is not only a beloved author in the United States; her legacy has spread internationally. Her books have been published in twenty-nine languages and her characters, including Henry Huggins, Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, and Beezus and Ramona Quimby, as well as Ribsy, Socks, and Ralph S. Mouse, have delighted children for generations.
Beverly Cleary lived to be 104, passing away in March of 2021, but her books—relatable, humorous, and inspiring stories for kids, about kids—will live on for generations to come.
beverly cleary honors and awards
1978 Newbery Honor Book, Ramona and Her Father
1982 Newbery Honor Book, Ramona Quimby, Age 8
1984 Newbery Medal, Dear Mr. Henshaw
National Book Award, Ramona and Her Mother
Catholic Library Association's 1980 Regina Medal Award
University of Southern Mississippi’s 1982 Silver Medallion*
Children’s Book Council 1985 Everychild Award*
American Library Association’s 1975 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award*
Named a 2000 Library of Congress 'Living Legend'*
*All presented in recognition of her lasting contribution to children's literature. In addition, Mrs. Cleary's books have received more than 35 state awards based on the direct votes of her young readers.
praise for beverly cleary
"In a humorous, lively style, she made compelling drama out of the everyday problems, small injustices and perplexing mysteries — adults chief among them — that define middle-class American childhood." – The New York Times
"Cleary has the rare gift of being able to reveal us to ourselves while still keeping an arm around our shoulder. We laugh (ha ha) to recognize the funny, peculiar little self we once were and then laugh (ahhh) with relief to know that we have been understood at last." – Katherine Paterson, author of The Bridge to Terabithia
"In a Beverly Cleary book you get ordinary people doing ordinary things with good humor; but you also get a treatise on the extraordinary, redeeming grace of being human. I lay down my pen before that magic." – Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax, Journey Home
"Ramona and Beezus stories allowed me to be unafraid in my own storytelling. As a young reader it was fun, adventurous. As a writer it's liberating. Watching Ramona get herself into messes, just being a typical five year old, shaped my idea of showing kids in their element, "warts" and all." – Paula Chase, author of Keeping it Real
"When asked the year in which her books take place, Beverly Clearly simply answered: 'In childhood.' And that is why her books will be forever be loved." – Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan
"What makes Beverly Cleary important is not the longevity of her life and career, but how her stories have stood the test of time, creating a lasting impact that readers carry with them throughout their lives." – The Romper
"Beverly Cleary was a literary treasure whose lively characters brought so much joy to this world." - Reese Witherspoon