Beverly Cleary Turns 94

Librarian turned Newbery award-winning author Beverly Cleary turns 94 today, and her birthday is celebrated across the country on National D.E.A.R. Day, with activities related to the Drop Everything and Read Program. The inspiration for D.E.A.R. Day came from a scene in Newbery honor book, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, where Ramona gets to enjoy reading with her class. School Library Journal caught up with Cleary, who makes her home in coastal California—and collected some heartfelt birthday messages from some those in the world of children’s literature. How do you plan to celebrate your birthday? I’m sure my son and daughter-in-law will come see me and we’ll have a nice chat. I usually hear from friends by telephone. If I have a cake, it will be a complete surprise. When I started as a children’s librarian in 1939, I would been astonished to know that that my birthday would be remembered by School Library Journal in 2010. What are some of the highlights of your career? Oh, my goodness! (laughs) The lovely letters that I’ve received from children, parents, and teachers. My original readers have grown up. In the last few years, to my surprise, I have received letters from men saying they were grateful to me for writing books that they wanted to read when they were boys—and that’s why I started writing in the first place! I wrote Henry Huggins (HarperCollins, 1950) because when I was a children’s librarian, there was almost nothing contemporary for boys. A little boy changed my life when he said, “Where are the books about kids like us?” All my books are still in print. The awards I’ve won are the frosting on the cake. I’ve had an exceptionally happy career. It’s been happy all the way and it has lasted a long, long time. Have any of your books been controversial? Well, yes. Some schools would not include Otis Spofford in their libraries because Otis threw spitballs and didn’t repent. He had a single parent and some reviews mentioned that as unusual at the time. Actually, I received more enthusiastic letters from children about Otis than I did about Henry. Later, I wrote Dear Mr. Henshaw because two boys in different parts of the country wrote and asked me to write a book about a boy whose parents were divorced. So one day, I sat down and wrote it. It was a very easy book to write, it practically wrote itself. By that time divorce was not unusual. I received a few letters about Beezus’s nickname and kids saying Beezus Jeezus, but most people were calm about that. How do you feel about all the online discussion going on about the film adaptation of Beezus and Ramona, especially around the title being changed to Ramona and Beezus? I wanted the film to be called Ramona Quimby or Ramona Q, because it’s about a little girl, but the movie people were very concerned about their teenage audience and made Beezus older. They included Henry, which I did not want and even had them kiss. I asked to have that scene removed and at this point I don’t know if they did. I expect to get letters saying, “It wasn’t like that in the books.” The little girl who plays Ramona is excellent. She likes my books and was eager to play the part. I’m very pleased with the cinematic Ramona. What’s your legacy to children's literature? I’ve done what I started to do—to write books that children would want to read, books that would let them enjoy reading. I want them to discover that reading is more than something they have to do in school. Ramona and the others are just the sort of kids who lived in my neighborhood in Portland, OR. Everything in the Ramona and Henry books could have happened in Portland and probably did.
 

Birthday Greetings to Cleary:

Robin Adelson, executive director, Children's Book Council Wishing all the very best to one of the stars of the magical world of children’s books. The ups and downs and general antics of Beezus and Ramona remain a joy to read and have been most instructive for my own daughters for whom life with sisters is a beautiful and terrifying adventure. Happy, happy birthday! Laurie Halse Anderson, author, 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement Dear Ms. Cleary, (Wait - before I actually start this birthday greeting, I have to tell you that I just shook with goosebumps from head to toe, all from simply writing your name! Gasp!) (OK, I'll try to be proper and polite now. I promise.) Dear Ms. Cleary, (I thought it best to start over. Hope you don't mind.) Do you remember me? You must have heard me laughing in 1969, even though I was in Syracuse NY and you were all the way on the other side of the country. My reading support teachers had finally helped me break through "the code" and reading was beginning to make sense. But the books they gave me were SO BORING I wasn't sure that this reading thing was worth the time or trouble. Then I met Henry Huggins and his dog. Their stories made me giggle and chuckle and laugh out loud (which sometimes got me in trouble, but I didn't care). The dynamic duo of Beverly Cleary and Henry Huggins turned me into a reader. You opened up the world for me, Ms. Cleary. I thank you, thank you, thank you for that. Wishing you blessings and joy and a giant cake for your birthday! In humble gratitude and appreciation, Cassandra Barnett, president, American Association of School Librarians Dear Ms. Cleary, On behalf of the American Association of School Librarians, I send enthusiastic birthday greetings.  Millions of children have read your books, talked about your books, recommended your books to others and asked for more of your books.  Thank you for the joy that you have brought to children and your contribution to their becoming life-long readers. Thom Barthelmess, president, Association for Library Service to Children Dearest Ms. Cleary: On this, the occasion of your 94th birthday, please accept the best, heartfelt wishes of thousands of Children’s Librarians across the country, and the millions of young people we represent, in thanks for the enduring, indelible legacy you have given to us all. With its candid humor, imaginative consistency, and emotional honesty your work has sustained generations of children, and will continue to do so, in perpetuity. As librarians, teachers, parents, and grown children ourselves, we are in your debt, and ever grateful. With respect, and honor, and sincere appreciation, we wish you a most Happy Birthday. Judy Blume, author You made me fall off the sofa, laughing. You delighted my daughter. My grandson memorized your books. When I began to write you were my inspiration.  You will always be my inspiration. Happy Birthday, dear Beverly! Linda Braun, president of the Young Adult Library Services Association As President as Young Adult Library Services Association, I send Beverly Cleary birthday greetings. I wish her a very happy day and send thanks for all of the days of happy reading she has given to others. Eliza T. Dresang, Beverly Cleary Professor for Children and Youth Services, University of Washington Information School. Yesterday a Dean at the University of Washington stopped me to say, "I grew up on Ramona and Beezus and Henry Huggins. They played a major role in my learning English quickly when I came to the US as a native Spanish speaker," while a 5 year old spontaneously shouted 'I'm just like Henry Huggins." Daily I have the privilege of hearing stories of this continuing joy you bring into the lives of so many readers of all ages, each of whom would like to say with me "Happy Birthday and Thank You, Beverly Cleary! Jeff Kinney, author Happy birthday, Beverly! You've created so many wonderful characters that have stood the test of time. I can't wait to see Ramona on the big screen this year! Lauren Myracle, author Happy birthday, Mrs. Cleary! If not for your stories, I probably wouldn't be a writer. Ramona squirmed her way into my heart when I was seven years old, and she lives there still, blowing her harmonica and clanking away on her tin can stilts. I love that spunky kid. I want to be just like her! xoxo, Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Dear Beverly: Happy birthday! It has been a joy to have been your friend as well as devoted reader of your books through all these years. I loved reading your books to my children, and recently, when I asked my grandchildren for a list of their favorite books, I was thrilled to see that they read and love you, too. With gratitude for all you have meant to three generations of Patersons and with much love, Jon Scieszka, First National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Happy Birthday Beverly! Thanks for giving us all the gift of Ramona, and Henry, and Beezus, and especially Ralph.  Ralph and his motorcycle worked his magic to inspire my kids to want to be readers every second grade year. And they inspired me every year too.
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