Celebrating author Beverly Cleary...

 

“Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.” ( Beverly Cleary)

 

Author Spotlight- Beverly Cleary, author of over 30 books for youth, including the ‘Ramona’ series books. (1916-2021)

I remember reading books by Beverly Cleary as a youth (The Mouse and the Motorcycle comes to mind), my children have read many of the Ramona books and they are barely being held together by their spines because they have been read a lot and are falling apart from age, and now my grandchildren have enjoyed reading books by this author. Our family also remembers a Ramona TV series that was shown on PBS (1988), with episodes still available on You tube. Plus, there is a movie version Ramona and Beezuz (2010) which combines several situations from the Ramona books with Selena Gomez playing the older sister. For any approaching retirement age Beverly Cleary is also the author of 3 Leave it to Beaver books, that also had a TV series originally airing 1957-1963, and reruns played for years afterwards.

This wonderful author brought childhood to life with characters that you could relate to as a kid yourself. Beverly Cleary, American author of children’s and young adult fiction, recently passed away in March of 2021, at the age of 104, about a week before her 105^th birthday, so it seemed appropriate to give a tribute to this talented author. Her books have sold 91 million copies worldwide and include the Ralph S. Mouse books, Henry Huggins books, and the books about the Quimby sisters, Beezus and Ramona.

Ms. Cleary worked as a school librarian, and she wrote her first book in 1950. An interesting story is told about how she what prompted her to become an author. While growing up in rural Oregon in the early part of the 1900’s, she struggled herself with reading. As a child, she felt that many of the books available to youth at the time were not all that interesting, they did not deal with every day kids living their everyday lives. She voiced her opinion of this to the librarian in her elementary school. The librarian subsequently suggested to her that she might like to become an author when she grew up so she could write those kinds of books which might be more interesting to children. That day the librarian planted a seed in young Beverly’s mind that would grow and produce many fine interesting books for other children to read and enjoy.

As a school librarian herself, she would also get questions from students such as “Which one is an interesting book?”, and “Where are the books about kids like me?” So, she took it to heart and wrote them. When asked where she was able to glean ideas for her stories she would say from my own experience and the world around me. She must have had a good memory, then added some humor to it and wrote believable stories about kids who were average and also adventurous in a way that made the books interesting for generations of kids. 

Her work was unique at the time (1950’s) because it made compelling drama out of everyday life and situations. These were not stories about rich kids going on a grand adventure, her characters were everyday kids, doing everyday things. She portrayed real life in an honest and accurate way and in a way that readers could understand and relate to. Things like; anxiety over school picture day, getting along with siblings, worrying about family finances, moving, fitting in at school and on and on. Her books entertain as well as give the reader courage to face similar situations, offer insight with the characters self-dialogue, and insert humor into daily life. Plus, doesn’t everybody love quirky little Ramona Quimby, age 8?

Ms. Cleary has been the recipient of many awards and honors for her contributions to children’s literature and even had a special reading holiday proclaimed on her birthday which is April 12. Many schools celebrate D.E.A.R. day (Drop Everything and Read) during the month of April. DEAR day is a way “to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. Because, what’s more fun(damental) than reading, really?”

  (Quote from https://www.beverlycleary.com/dear-day)

There are 8 Ramona Quimby books, 3 Ralph S. Mouse, and 6 Henry Huggins books, these are probably the most popular ones you may have read or heard of yourself. But she also wrote 3 Leave it to Beaver books, 4 First Love books, 2 Ellen and Otis, 2 Leigh Botts books as well.