Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary
Beverly Atlee Clearyis an American writer of children's and young adult fiction. One of America's most successful living authors, 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide since her first book was published in 1950. Some of her best known characters are Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy, Ramona and Beezus Quimby, and Ralph S. Mouse...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionChildren's Author
Date of Birth12 April 1916
CityMcminnville, OR
CountryUnited States of America
People are usually surprised to hear this, but I don't really read children's books.
I think the best teachers had a real interest in the subject they were teaching and a love for children.
I had a bad time in school in the first grade. Because I had been a rather lonely child on a farm, but I was free and wild and to be shut up in a classroom - there were 40 children on those days in the classroom, and it was quite a shock.
I was an only child; I didn't have a sister, or sisters.
I feel sometimes that in children's books there are more and more grim problems, but I don't know that I want to burden third- and fourth-graders with them.
I don't think children's inner feelings have changed. They still want a mother and father in the very same house; they want places to play.
I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys in my neighborhood growing up.
What interests me is what children go through while growing up.
As a child, I disliked books in which children learned to be 'better' children.
Children want to do what grownups do.
I didn't start out writing to give children hope, but I'm glad some of them found it.
Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.
I hope children will be happy with the books I've written, and go on to be readers all of their lives.
I read my books aloud before they were published.