Children's author Beverly Cleary turns 102 years old today!
She's one of my all-time favorite writers. I doubt I would have become a children's book writer myself if I hadn't found the shelf of hers in my hometown library and systematically read and reread them all.
I was always more of a Henry Huggins and Ribsy guy than a Ramona and Beezus Quimby fan, but that didn't stop me from following all their adventures, too. I also loved many of her other characters, like Ellen Tebbits and Otis Spofford, Ralph S. Mouse, Socks the Cat, and Leigh Botts from Dear Mr. Henshaw.
There's a wonderful realism in her heartfelt books that never feels less than dramatic, even when it's terrifically funny.
I've created a whole shrine to Beverly Cleary here, on my main website. There I give a short bio of her amazing writer's life, relate my personal connections to her work, and discuss her many books in a comprehensive list.
If you're a Beverly Cleary fan, know you've found a kindred spirit. If you've never read her work . . . well, what are you waiting for? It's delicious for adults, too.
XO
J. E.
No comments:
Post a Comment