- Laura Rogers
- Thursday, May 20, 2021
Beverly Cleary, award-winning author, leaves behind a legacy of meaningful books for children.
I remember the first time I read Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary. As the oldest of three children, I could relate to Beezus, Ramona's older sister, but it was Ramona who captured my heart. Her playful antics and sincere confusion at the world of adults had me laughing and maybe even understanding my own younger siblings better. The desire to pull springy curls on her classmate's head, the feeling of being left out or getting a bad haircut - the experiences I read about in Beverly Cleary's books were the same kind of things that I was going through. I have shared these books with my own children, with my nieces and nephews, and with countless children in the library. Again and again, children love to read these stories and are charmed by the characters Beverly Cleary created.
Beverly Cleary passed away at the age of 104 on March 25, 2021. We remember her fondly and appreciate her amazing contribution to children's literature. Books are doorways into worlds. Thankfully, we will continue to visit the worlds Beverly Cleary created again and again through the beautiful collection of stories she leaves behind.
Check out these titles and visit the delightful world of Ramona, Ralph S. Mouse, Henry Huggins, and more.