A Beverly Cleary Story

A Beverly Cleary Story

By: Sara Frasier

The Early Years Beverly Cleary was born in McMinnville, Oregon on April 12, 1916 and, until she

was old enough to attend school, lived on a farm in Yamhill, a town so small it had no library. 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 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.

And the Award Goes to….. Mrs. Cleary's books have earned her many prestigious awards, including; the 2003 National Medal of Art from the National Endowment of the Arts the 1984 John Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 were named 1978 and

1982 Newbery Honor Books, respectively. the American Library Association's 1975 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award the Catholic Library Association's 1980 Regina Medal, the University of Southern Mississippi's 1982 Silver Medallion In addition, Mrs. Cleary was the 1984 United States author nominee for the

Hans Christian Andersen Award, a prestigious international award. more than 35 statewide awards In 2000, Beverly Cleary was named a "Living Legend" by the Library of

Congress. This witty and warm author is truly an international favorite. Mrs. Cleary's

books appear in over twenty countries in fourteen 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. And her popularity has not diminished.

This witty and warm author is truly an international favorite. Mrs. Cleary's books appear in over twenty countries in fourteen 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. And her popularity has not diminished.

Books By BeverlyCollections: •Leave It to Beaver (1960)

Picture Books: •Real Hole, the (1960)•Hullabaloo ABC (1960)•Two Dog Biscuits (1961)•Lucky Chuck (1984)•Growing-up Feet, the (1987)

•Janet's Thingamajigs (1987)•Petey's Bedtime Story (1993)

Series: •Ramona•Ralph S. Mouse•Henry Huggins Series

Books By Beverly Cont’dNovels: •Henry Huggins (1950)•Ellen Tebbits (1951)•Henry and Beezus (1952)•Otis Spofford (1953)•Henry and Ribsy (1954)•Beezus and Ramona (1955)•Fifteen (1956)•Henry and the Paper Route (1957)•Luckiest Girl, the (1958)•Jean and Johnny (1958)•Emily's Runaway Imagination (1960)•Henry and the Clubhouse (1962)•Sister of the Bride (1963)•Ribsy (1964)

•Mouse and the Motorcycle, the (1965)•Mitch and Amy (1967)•Ramona the Pest (1968)•Runaway Ralph (1970)•Socks (1973)•Ramona the Brave (1975)•Ramona and Her Father (1977)•Ramona and Her Mother (1979)•Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (1981)•Ralph S. Mouse (1982)•Dear Mr. Henshaw (1983)•Ramona Forever (1984)•Muggie Maggie (1990)•Strider (1997)•Ramona's World (1999)

Written By:

According to Beverly…

I think the best teachers had a real interest in the subject they were teaching and a love for children.-Beverly Cleary

People are inclined to say that I am Ramona. I'm not sure that's true, but I did share some experiences with her.-Beverly Cleary

Quotes

Quotes Cont’d

“Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only answer I can give is, In childhood.”

-Beverly Cleary

Happy Birthday!

Did you know that Beverly Cleary wrote about D.E.A.R. in Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Since then, “Drop Everything and Read” programs have been held nationwide on April 12th in honor of Mrs. Cleary’s birthday.

Action…

2010

1955

Work Cited

http://www.beverlycleary.com/about.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Cleary

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/beverly_cleary.html#D5xDLDovbUU28ci6.99

http://www.dropeverythingandread.com/