How a struggling young reader became one of America's most beloved children's authors

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Beverly Cleary was once placed in a remedial reading group, feeling disgraced and unable to connect with the books of her youth. Yet, she went on to sell 91 million copies worldwide, revolutionizing children's literature by writing about ordinary kids with humor, emotional realism, and deep respect for their experiences.

Born in 1916 in McMinnville, Oregon, Beverly Atlee Bunn grew up on a farm before moving to Portland at age six. Her early school years were marked by academic struggle; she was labeled a 'Blackbird' in a tiered reading system, a designation she found humiliating. She eventually found reading boring, complaining that stories were often simple and lacked the humor or relatability she craved. It was not until she discovered Lucy Fitch Perkins's The Dutch Twins in third grade that she found a narrative about ordinary children that resonated with her, sparking a lifelong love of libraries.

After graduating from the University of Washington in 1939 with a degree in library science, Cleary worked as a children's librarian in Yakima, Washington. There, she empathized with young patrons who struggled to find books featuring characters they could identify with. Drawing on her own childhood memories and the children she met at the library, she began writing. Her first book, Henry Huggins, was published in 1950, launching a career that would span decades and include iconic characters like Ramona and Beezus Quimby.

Cleary’s work was considered radical for its time, as she treated the daily minutiae and small injustices of middle-class childhood with genuine seriousness. Critics noted that she avoided talking down to her audience, instead portraying children on a level playing field with adults. This approach earned her numerous accolades, including the 1984 Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw and the National Medal of Arts in 2003. By the time she passed away in 2021 at the age of 104, her influence on children's literature was firmly established, with her birthday celebrated as National Drop Everything and Read Day.

Her legacy persists through the many authors who cite her as a major influence, including Judy Blume and Laurie Halse Anderson. Beyond the page, her impact is cemented in the physical landscape of Portland, where statues of her characters stand in Grant Park and a school bears her name. Cleary’s ability to capture the exuberant spirit of childhood ensured that her stories remained relevant, entertaining, and deeply insightful for generations of readers.

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