Beverly Cleary (1916-2021) was born and raised in Oregon. Her mother took a keen interest in literature and worked as a librarian. In spite of Cleary’s love of books, which her mother encouraged, she struggled with her reading skills as a young child. Nevertheless, she became passionate about books and reading, and she studied library science at the University of Washington. She went on to work as a children’s librarian in Yakima, Washington, before taking a job as the post librarian in the US Army Hospital in Oakland, California.

Cleary then transitioned into her career as a writer, working as a full-time children’s novelist for over 50 years. Her first book, Henry Huggins, was published in 1950, and her final book, Ramona’s World, was published in 1999. Over the course of her writing career, Cleary created some of the most memorable and widely known characters in children’s literature, including Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph the mouse. Cleary has won numerous awards for her contributions to children’s literature. These include the Laura Ingalls Wilder award from the American Library Association and the Library of Congress’s recognition as a “Living Legend.” Cleary’s famous novel

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