Award-Winning Author Beverly Cleary

Monday April 26, 2010

I'm visiting Portland, Oregon, this week, and signs of beloved children's author Beverly Cleary are everywhere, from the Beverly Cleary children's room in the downtown library to the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden for Children in Portland's Grant Park. Beverly Cleary grew up in Portland and the Klickitat Street neighborhood featured in 14 of her children's books is based on her childhood neighborhood. For several generations, Beverly Cleary has delighted young readers, particularly 8-12 year olds, with her humorous, yet realistic, stories about the ordinary lives of children. She has won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. Two of her books about Ramona Quimby were designated Newbery Honor Books. Her most recent Ramona book is Ramona's World, published in 1999. Ramona and Beezus, the first movie based on the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, is scheduled for release on July 23, 2010.