Beverly Cleary is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author. Educated at colleges in
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Washington, she worked as a librarian before writing children's books. Cleary has written more than 30 books for young adults and children. Some of her best-known characters are
Henry HugginsHenry Huggins ' is a character appearing in a series of children's literature novels by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Louis Darling, and first appearing in Henry Huggins. Henry is a young boy living on Klickitat Street in Portland, Oregon. The novels take place in the 1950s, which is when Cleary...
,
RibsyRibsy is a children's book by Beverly Cleary. It is the sixth and final book in the Henry Huggins series. Henry plays a minor role in the story, however, as the narrative focuses primarily on his dog, Ribsy.-Plot:...
,
Beatrice ("Beezus") QuimbyBeatrice Ann "Beezus" Quimby is a character from the Henry Huggins and Ramona series of books by Beverly Cleary. She is the friend of Henry, Mary Jane, and the older sister of Ramona and Roberta. Beezus earned her nickname from Ramona, who had a hard time saying Beatrice...
, her sister
RamonaRamona Geraldine Quimby is a character from a series of novels by Beverly Cleary. She starts out in the Henry Huggins series as the pestering little sister of Henry's friend Beatrice, called "Beezus" by Ramona and her family. She was given a larger role in the novel Beezus and Ramona...
, and
Ralph S. MouseRalph S. Mouse is a children's novel by Beverly Cleary. It features Ralph, a mouse with the ability to speak, but only with certain people who tend to be loners....
. She has won many awards, including the 1984
Newbery MedalThe John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
for her book
Dear Mr. HenshawDear Mr. Henshaw is a juvenile epistolary novel by Beverly Cleary which was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1984.-Plot summary:Dear Mr. Henshaw begins with the book's main character, Leigh Botts, writing a letter, as part of a second grade classroom assignment, to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Mr...
.
Early years
Cleary was born in
McMinnville, OregonMcMinnville is the county seat and largest city of Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby , an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee...
. Until she was old enough to attend school, Cleary lived on a farm in
YamhillYamhill is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. Located in the northern part of the county, it is situated at the intersection of Oregon Route 47 and Oregon Route 240. The population was 794 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimate is 855 residents...
, a town so small it had no library. Still, Beverly learned to love books, due largely to her mother's arrangement with the Oregon State Library to have books sent to Yamhill.
When Cleary was six years old, her family left the farm and moved to
Portland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where she attended elementary and high school. She blamed her struggle with reading in this new school setting partly on her dissatisfaction with the books she was required to read and partly on an unpleasant first-grade teacher. Also, after six years of living in the country, on a farm, the city life in Portland took a toll on her health, and she was frequently ill, which set back her schoolwork and reading skills further.
In the second grade, Cleary studied under her favorite teacher, and by the third grade, she had greatly improved her reading ability and found new joy in books. She read
The Dutch Twins by
Lucy Fitch PerkinsLucy Fitch Perkins was an American children's book author and illustrator, famous for writing the Twins series of books.-Background:...
, and became a frequent visitor to the library. As a child her favorite book was
Dandelion Cottage by Caroll Watson Rankin.
The grammar school librarian was largely responsible for developing her love of reading. She encouraged Cleary to check out books about subjects to which she could relate. The librarian not only encouraged her to read but also to write her own books, and instilled in her the belief that she, too, could write for children some day.
Professional life
In 1934, age 18, Cleary moved to
Ontario, CaliforniaOntario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
, to attend
Chaffey CollegeChaffey College is a public community college in the San Bernardino County city of Rancho Cucamonga, California, in the northern part of the community of Alta Loma. Chaffey provides students with different classes and programs, including business, science, the arts, history, philosophy,...
, from which she earned an
Associate of ArtsAn associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
degree. She worked as a substitute librarian at the Ontario City Library. After graduating with a
BAA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English in 1938 from the University of California at Berkeley, she studied at the School of Librarianship at the
University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle, where she earned a degree in
library scienceLibrary science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
in 1939.
Because attending college during the Great Depression was expensive, Cleary worked through the university's cooperative education program to earn money. One afternoon, during a break from her chores at work, she found herself having a sandwich with a young gentleman named Clarence Cleary, her future husband.
The library science degree allowed her to work with young children and develop relationships with them at all socioeconomic levels. Her first full-time job as a librarian was in
Yakima, WashingtonYakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
, where she met many children who were searching for the same books that she had always hoped to find as a child herself. Cleary sympathized with children who felt that there were no books written about children like themselves. Their pleas convinced her to help provide children with stories to which they could relate.
In response to this experience, she later wrote her first book,
Henry Huggins, which was published in 1950. It was about a boy, his dog and their friends, all of who lived on
Klickitat StreetKlickitat Street is a city street located in northeast Portland, Oregon, United States. The main stem of the street is long, and runs east-west parallel to—and one block south of—northeast Fremont Street, from its westernmost intersections with North Vancouver Avenue and North Williams Avenue to...
in Portland (a street only a few blocks from where Cleary grew up as a child). According to Cleary, Henry Huggins and his friends represented all the children she grew up with, and the ones who sat in front of her during library story hours.
As she crafted her first book, she recalled advice from her mother and incorporated her beliefs that the best writing was simple and filled with humor. She also remembered advice from a college professor who emphasized writing about universal human experience.
Beezus and RamonaBeezus and Ramona is a 1955 children's novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is the first of Cleary's books that focus on Ramona Quimby and her sister Beatrice . Beezus and Ramona is told from Beezus' point of view...
, Cleary's first book to center a story around the Quimby sisters, was published in 1955, although Beezus and Ramona made frequent appearances in the Henry Huggins series as supporting characters.
Working with children as a librarian opened new doors for Cleary. She wanted to write books for children but was unsure if she had the experiences needed to write what she wanted. A publisher wanted her to write a book about a kindergarten student. Cleary felt that she could not write about this because she had not attended kindergarten. She later changed her mind after the birth of her twins. She learned to add a little wit and charm to her writing for children, with the hope that it would spark an interest in reading among her students and encourage them to read more books like it. She is now an international favorite among children’s authors.
Personal life
In 1940 she married Clarence T. Cleary, and they moved to
Oakland, CaliforniaOakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. They eloped because her parents, who were Presbyterians, did not approve of the union with the Roman Catholic Cleary, even after it occurred. The Clearys had two children, Marrienne Elizabeth and Malcolm James, twins. Clarence Cleary died in 2004. Beverly Cleary now lives in Carmel, California, and is still writing.
She has also written two autobiographies,
A Girl from Yamhill and
My Own Two Feet.
Honors and legacies
Cleary’s books have been published in 20 different languages and have earned many awards. A few examples of awards she has won include a
Newbery MedalThe John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
for
Dear Mr. HenshawDear Mr. Henshaw is a juvenile epistolary novel by Beverly Cleary which was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1984.-Plot summary:Dear Mr. Henshaw begins with the book's main character, Leigh Botts, writing a letter, as part of a second grade classroom assignment, to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Mr...
(1984); a Newbery Honor for
Ramona and Her FatherRamona and Her Father is a 1977 juvenile novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is part of Cleary's Ramona Quimby series. The first edition of the book was illustrated by Alan Tiegreen...
(1978 ); a Newbery Honor for
Ramona Quimby, Age 8Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is a juvenile fiction novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is the sixth installment in the Ramona Quimby series. It was illustrated by Alan Tiegreen and was first published in 1981. The current edition was illustrated by Tracy Dockray. It is a 1982 Newbery Honor award winner...
(1982); a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from the Association for Library Services to Children of the
American Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
(1975); the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal (1980); and the Children's Book Council's Every Child Award (1985). Cleary’s books have been read on PBS and ABC-TV. She received the
Library of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
Living LegendsA Library of Congress Living Legend is someone recognized by the Library of Congress for his or her creative contributions to American life. Those honored include artists, writers, activists, film makers, physicians, entertainers, sports figures, and public servants.-Partial list of honorees:*...
award in the Writers and Artists category in April 2000 for her significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the United States. She received the
National Medal of ArtsThe National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts. It is the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the people. Honorees are selected by the National Endowment for the...
in 2003.
Her birthday, April 12, is recognized as National Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day, in promotion of
sustained silent readingSustained silent reading is a form of school-based recreational reading, or free voluntary reading, where students read silently in a designated time period every day in school. An underlying assumption of SSR is that students learn to read by reading constantly...
.
In
Portland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, the Hollywood branch of the
Multnomah County LibraryMultnomah County Library is a public library system serving Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. Started in 1864, the system has 19 library locations with books, magazines, DVDs, and computers. It is the largest library system in Oregon serving a population of 724,680, with more than 425,000...
, near where she lived as a child, commissioned a map of
Henry HugginsHenry Huggins ' is a character appearing in a series of children's literature novels by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Louis Darling, and first appearing in Henry Huggins. Henry is a young boy living on Klickitat Street in Portland, Oregon. The novels take place in the 1950s, which is when Cleary...
's
Klickitat StreetKlickitat Street is a city street located in northeast Portland, Oregon, United States. The main stem of the street is long, and runs east-west parallel to—and one block south of—northeast Fremont Street, from its westernmost intersections with North Vancouver Avenue and North Williams Avenue to...
neighborhood that resides on its lobby wall. Statues of her beloved characters Henry Huggins; the Huggins's dog, Ribsy; and Ramona Quimby can be found in Portland's
Grant ParkGrant Park is a neighborhood and park in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon. The neighborhood is bordered by Alameda and Beaumont-Wilshire to the north, Rose City Park to the east, Hollywood District, Laurelhurst, and Sullivan's Gulch to the south, and Irvington to the west, and best known...
. In June 2008, the two-campus K–8 school of the same neighborhood, Hollyrood-Fernwood, was officially renamed
Beverly Cleary SchoolThe Beverly Cleary School is a public school in Portland, Oregon, United States. The school educates children in kindergarten through eighth-grade and is part of the Portland Public School District . Formed in 2007 as Hollyrood-Fernwood School, it was renamed for children's author and Fernwood...
. As a child, Cleary attended the former Fernwood Grammar School, one of the two buildings that makes up the school that now bears her name.
In 2004, the
University of Washington Information SchoolThe Information School at the University of Washington is an undergraduate and graduate school that offers BS, MLIS, MSIM, and PhD degrees...
completed fund-raising for the Beverly Cleary Endowed Chair for Children and Youth Services to honor her work and commitment to
librarianA librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
ship. In 2008, the school announced that she had been selected as the next recipient of the University's Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award, the highest honor the University of Washington can bestow on a graduate.
Cleary has a 220-student residential hall at the
University of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
named after her.
Cleary has been mentioned as a major influence by other authors, including
Laurie Halse AndersonLaurie Halse Anderson is an American author who writes for children and young adults.-Career:...
,
Judy BlumeJudy Blume is an American author. She has written many novels for children and young adults which have exceeded sales of 80 million and been translated into 31 languages...
,
Lauren MyracleLauren Myracle is an American author of young adult books. She is the oldest of three sisters and has three older brothers. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where she attended Trinity School and The Westminster Schools...
and
Jon ScieszkaJon Scieszka was born September 8, 1954 in Flint, Michigan is an American author of children's literature, best known for his collaborations with illustrator Lane Smith. He is also a nationally recognized reading advocate, and in early 2008 was named the National Ambassador for Young People's...
.
External links