By Emilie Weinbeck, Features Assignment Editor
Growing up, chances are you heard of or read the famous Ramona Quimby books, “Henry Huggins or Ralph S. Mouse.” These beloved children’s books were written by author Beverly Cleary who passed away last Thursday at the age of 104.
In 1950, Cleary started her writing career by publishing “Henry Huggins.” The book is about the chronicles of a regular little boy on Klickitat Street in Portland.
A librarian by trade, Cleary introduced a contemporary note into children’s literature. With a humorous and lively tone, she made compelling drama out of everyday problems making her books easily relatable to children.
Cleary’s books sold more than 85 million copies over the course of her career with her most popular prints being about a young girl named Ramona Quimby.
Mischievous, spunky and a hater of all things spelling, Quimby rose to fame in her first book “Ramona the Pest.” There would later end up being seven books following Quimby growing up and exploring the world.
The Ramona Quimby books are now being praised for teaching young girls that it is okay to express your true feelings, be high maintenance and take up space in the world because people will love you for your most authentic self.
In 2010, Ramona and her older sister Beezus hit the big screen with stars Joey King and Selena Gomez to play the main characters. The movie follows the girls’ adventure as they work to navigate life and save their family’s home.
Cleary’s books have brought in many awards over the years and were constantly being reprinted and illustrated. Librarians all over the country have kepts shelves devoted entirely to Cleary’s books and many elementary school teachers regularly read aloud her books to their students.
Even with all the modern day distractions that kids are faced with, Cleary believed that kids would still keep reading.
“I don’t think anything takes the place of reading,” Cleary said in 2006 during an interview.
In one fan letter written to Cleary by a little girl, she said that reading was “like having a little television set in your head.”
Cleary was born on April 12, 1916, in McMinnville, Oregon. She spent most of her early childhood on the family farm in nearby Yamhill. The farm eventually went south for the family and Cleary ended up moving to Portland where she spent the rest of her childhood.
Cleary described her childhood in the first volume of her memoirs “A Girl From Yamhill’’ that was published in 1988. Cleary is survived by her twins Malcolm and Marianne, three grandchildren and one great grandchild. Her husband passed away in 2004.
Even though the world of children’s books will greatly miss Cleary, her memory will forever live on in her books that continue to capture the hearts of children all over the country.
weinbeec20@bonaventure.edu
