Beverly Cleary, Beloved Children’s Book Author, Dies At 104
Children’s book icon Beverly Cleary has died at the age of 104.
The bestselling author, who created the iconic characters Beezus and Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins, passed away on Thursday in her longtime home of Carmel, California, her publishing house, HarperCollins, announced in a press release.
Beverly was beloved by young bookworms through the decades for her realistic and heartfelt children’s fiction. She published more than forty books over her career, including “Runaway Ralph,” “The Mouse and the Motorcycle,” “Ramona the Pest,” and “Ramona Quimby, Age 8.”
In 2010, her Ramona series was adapted into the film “Ramona and Beezus,” starring Joey King and Selena Gomez, respectively.
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Beverly was celebrated for her work over her lifetime. Among her accolades, she received a Newbery honor in 1978 for “Ramona and Her Father” and again in 1982 “Ramona Quimby, Age 8.” In 1984, she won the Newbery Medal for “Dear Mr. Henshaw.”
In 2000, the Library of Congress named her as a “Living Legend” for her decades of creative contributions.
Many readers and stars took to social media to mourn her passing.
First Lady Jill Biden tweeted, “RIP Beverly Cleary. Millions of girls saw themselves in Ramona Quimby. Thank you from all the ‘pests’ out there.”
RIP Beverly Cleary. Millions of girls saw themselves in Ramona Quimby. Thank you from all the “pests” out there.
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) March 26, 2021
Hilarie Burton told fans she was “heartbroken,” and revealed that she’d named the main character in a TV series she was developing after Ramona Quimby.
What is happening today?!
First Larry McMurtry.
Now Beverly Cleary??
I am heartbroken.
Just so you know, I’ve created a fictionalized version of my book #theruraldiaries for TV and my female lead is named Ramona.
Sending love up to the literary greats. https://t.co/t8lQgYnbB0— Hilarie Burton Morgan (@HilarieBurton) March 26, 2021
Chelsea Clinton also paid tribute on Twitter, writing, “Holding Beverly Cleary’s family and loved ones in my heart. Ramona brought me so much joy as a child and inspired me to ask my Grandma Ginger to quit smoking for my 8th birthday (she did!).”
“Have loved sharing her books with my children. May her memory be a blessing,” she concluded.
Holding Beverly Cleary’s family and loved ones in my heart. Ramona brought me so much joy as a child and inspired me to ask my Grandma Ginger to quit smoking for my 8th birthday (she did!). Have loved sharing her books with my children.
May her memory be a blessing. https://t.co/SMWPubdPzg— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) March 26, 2021