Beverly Cleary author page

Beverly Cleary biography

Beverly Cleary was an American children’s author whose books focus on children, families and everyday neighbourhood experiences. As a child, she enjoyed reading but noticed that many stories she found were about wealthy English children with ponies and nannies. She later set out to write stories about children like those she had known, with humour, sympathy and a strong sense of reality.

Cleary spent time in the public library in Portland, Oregon, after struggling with reading and writing as a child. Her books introduced characters including Beezus and Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins and Ralph, the motorcycle-riding mouse. Her work includes the Ramona books, the Henry Huggins books and Dear Mr. Henshaw.

Cleary received the American Library Association’s Laura Ingalls Award for her lasting contribution to children’s literature. Dear Mr. Henshaw won the Newbery Medal. Ramona and Her Father was a 1978 Newbery Honor Book, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 was a 1982 Newbery Honor Book.