And who knows, maybe by the time they're born, a brand new book will be added to the list. She is in the third grade at a new school, and making some new friends, like 'Yard Ape', who rides her bus and sits behind her in class. Whether you grew up as she was writing them or you found them decades later, you know how special Beverly Cleary's writing to young readers.Īlthough I hope my own kids get to enjoy the marvel and wonder of Beverly Cleary's entire library, here are 10 books I really want them to read. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (1981) In this book Ramona Quimby is learning to take responsibility for herself. Although some of her books are over 60 years old, the tales they tell ring true for modern readers, and the characters that they're about remain timeless.

Her stories are full of excitement, imagination, and inspiration - in other words, the key elements that make kids love reading. A childhood without Beezus and Ramona doesn't sound like a childhood to me.īeloved children's author Beverly Cleary, who started out as a children's librarian frustrated with the lack of quality literature for kids, has dedicated her career to creating characters kids can identify with and, more importantly, care about. Ramona was a hero for her time, and there are some ways in which she could perhaps be a hero for ours. With the arrival of Beverly Cleary's 100th birthday on April 12, I can't help but think about the impact her writing has had on my generation and all of the essential Beverly Cleary books that we want our children to read. Henshaw novel totally understood how I felt about my parents' split. I still remember the first time I opened my library's copy of Beverly Cleary's The Mouse and the Motorcycle to find my first page-turning adventure, and I will never forget how the protagonist in her Dear Mr.

Ramona books age