Beverly Cleary is one of America's most popular authors. Born in McMinnville, Oregon, she lived on a farm
in Yamhill until she was six and then moved
to Portland. After college, as the children's
librarian in Yakima, Washington, she was
challenged to find stories for non-readers.
She wrote her first book, Henry Huggins, in
response to a boy's question, "Where are the books about kids like us?"
Mrs. Cleary's books have earned her many
prestigious awards, including the Amercan Library Association's Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, presented in recognition of her lasting contribution to children's literature.
Her Dear Mr. Henshaw was awarded the
1984 John Newbery Medal, and both Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. In addition, her books have won more than thirty-five statewide awards based on the votes of her
young readers. Her characters, including Henry Huggins, Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, and Beezus and Ramona Quimby, as well as Ribsy, Socks, and Ralph S. Mouse, have delighted
children for generations. Mrs. Cleary lives in coastal California.