Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary was a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her children's and young adult fiction books. She was born as Beverly Atlee Bunn in McMinnville, Oregon, on April 12, 1916, and later moved to Portland, Oregon, where she spent most of her childhood. Cleary faced challenges in learning to read, which was a source of frustration for her throughout her early school years. However, her reading skills improved significantly in the third grade when she discovered her love for books through The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. This newfound love for reading eventually inspired her to become a writer, enabling her to create the kind of books she always wanted to read as a child.

Cleary attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her English degree in 1938. She later pursued a degree in librarianship at the University of Washington in Seattle, which she completed in 1939. Her first job was as a librarian in Yakima, Washington, where she realized the lack of children's books that featured characters relatable to her young patrons. In 1950, she published her first book, Henry Huggins, which marked the beginning of her successful writing career. Some of her most beloved characters include Ramona Quimby, Beatrice ("Beezus") Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph S. Mouse.

Over the course of her career, Cleary wrote over 30 books and sold around 91 million printed copies worldwide. Her works have been translated into numerous languages, and she has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw and Newbery Honor Books for Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father. In addition, her birthday, April 12th, is celebrated across the country as D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) Day. Beverly Cleary passed away on March 25, 2021, at the age of 104, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to captivate and inspire young readers.