“Where are the books about kids like us?” Little boy’s question to then librarian Beverly Clearly

Like many original writers, Beverly Cleary seems to have been inspired to write stories that she — and, in her case, a young library patron — were unable to find on the bookshelves.  Among our country’s most successful living authors, Clearly had her first book published in 1950; since then,  91 million have sold worldwide and appear in over twenty countries in fourteen languages.

Her characters include Henry Huggins, Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, and Beezus, Ribsy, Socks, Ralph S. Mouse and, of course, Ramona Geraldine Quimbley (whose favorite things include playing in the dark).  While times have clearly changed over Cleary’s long career, some things may not have changed for young people who still want stories about kids like themselves.  (What better way to know we’re not alone?)

At The World of Beverly Cleary, you and students can meet characters, find a Teacher’s Guide and activities, and more.