Beverly Cleary – A Literary Icon

“If you don’t see the book you want on the shelves, write it.”

That’s legit something a little school-going girl thought, after being bored of reading the usual thoroughfare of early 1900s children’s literature. She wanted more out of the stories she read, common ordinary people living their simple mundane lives, relatable human emotions, and humor. She didn’t seek it in the books she read, and thus decades later she took matters into her own hands and set out to write the kinds of books her childhood self wanted to read.

Born on 12th April, 1916; Beverly Atlee Cleary, a celebrated American writer of children’s literature is a name to reckon with for her immensely precious contribution to children’s and young adult literature.

Prior to her writing journey, Cleary worked as a librarian, which played an instrumental role in the choices she eventually made. ‘Henry Huggins’, Cleary’s first book was born out of a sweet innocent question raised by one of the kids through a letter – “Where are the books about kids like us?” – a deja vu of sorts, mirroring her own little version of a different era. The protagonist Henry, manifests a pet for himself, lazing around in his slow quaint neighborhood. Ribsy, his destined companion mate, crosses his paths, and a series of adventures set in. Thus Cleary began writing, and there was no looking back then. ‘Henry Huggins’ turned into a series of books retaining the same vibrant characters.

‘Beezus and Ramona’, her other acclaimed novel, revolved around 2 little sisters by the same names, and their journeys of co-existing and making peace with each other as kids. ‘Henry Huggins’ characters, setting, and scenarios intertwine and overlap with that of this book and vice versa. Ramona’s character returned back later through a series of books centered around her named ‘Ramona the Pest’, ‘Ramona and the Mother’, ‘Ramona and the Father’, ‘Ramona Quimby, age 8’ etc.

Cleary penned two heartfelt memoirs—My Own Two Feet and A Girl from Yamhill—offering a window into her childhood and journey as a writer.

Cleary has been referred to as someone who was way ahead of her time, almost to the point where her writings back then were perceived as boundary-pushing from an emotional realism perspective. The dignity with which she treated her little readers made them feel understood, made them feel respected. They were able to relate with fictionalized characters who weren’t far apart from their own lived experiences as common people brought up in common neighborhoods living common lives. And to top it off with humor was like an icing on the cake. All her characters and situations engaged with humor and left behind a lighter, sweeter aftertaste.

“Quite often somebody will say, ‘What year do your books take place?’ and the only answer I can give is, ‘in childhood.’”

Miss Cleary’s legacy lives on. Her stories continue to teach us to be in touch with our emotional selves. And of course, to smile and cherish life as it comes.