Dear children’s author Beverly Klee died at 104 last Friday. Cleary’s work has left millions of fans – children and children alike – heartbroken.
In a 1999 interview with NPR, Beverly Klee stated that she wanted to write about real children. “I wanted to read about the boys and girls I knew in my neighborhood and in my school. And in my childhood, many years ago, children’s books seemed to be about English children or pioneer children. And that was not what I wanted to study. And I think children like to find themselves in books. ”
Beverly Klee was born in 1916 in Oregon and graduated college at UC Berkeley. After studying as a librarian in Washington, he found inspiration from children who would refuse to keep their library shelves in search of books like those. It is vividly remembered that she was a slow reader, as she did not see herself in the books she wanted to read, so she did, leading to some of the most convincing characters in children’s book history.
At the Newberry Awards and many other accolades (including the right to exchange fan mail with Judy Blue), Beverly Klee’s legacy will be her memorable character. Here are some of our favorites.
Henry Huggins
Henry Huggins was the first hero of Beverly Cleary. Klee worked as a children’s librarian in the 1940s and was inspired by children who asked him: “Where are the books about children like us?” So he created Henry Huggins, “a regular little boy on Kitken Street”.
Henry Huggins regained normalcy in the 1950s and regained himself by the day. In a book, Henry and Bezas (Yes, that beesus) Henry makes every effort to earn money for the bicycle he wants. He tries and fails in several different ventures until a dodgy chance wins and a sensible idea from his friend Beazus Quimby keeps him on track to earn his red bike.
Henry and Bezas Beverly Klee’s second was Henry Huggins The book – and it was the beginning of readers asking Cleary for more stories about Henry’s neighbors, Quimbis.
Ramona Quimby
Probably Beverly Clear’s most iconic character, Ramona Kwabi, is an avid, independent eight-year-old who has no time to slow down. However, thanks to his rudeness, he was often cried by older people as an “insect”, especially by his sister Beeus.
Ramona said, “I’m not acting like an insect, I’m singing and skipping.” Ramona did not think that she was an insect. No matter what others said, he never thought he was an insect. People who called him insect were always big, so they might be inappropriate. ”
Readers vividly remember Ramona’s struggles, even if it’s been a while since she picked up Ramona book. Ramona has to learn to write the letter cue, make a book report, and meet up with her sister and the pesky neighbor child – she gets creative with the latter by taking her “continuous silent reading” home!
In particular, Beverly Cleary’s historical series featured a working mother at a time when children’s books included most mothers living at home and baking cookies. Clear also did not shy away from issues such as cash straws. Memorably, Ramona has to eat “Yuki beef tongue” for dinner on a family’s tight budget. The scene was likely inspired by Beverly Klee’s own childhood when she grew up during the Great Depression.
Beezus
Some of us were Ramonas, but others were Beezues. Beezus is Ramona’s elder sister who always finds Ramona – Those of us who were “eldest siblings” know what it is about! By elaborating Beazuli Cleary’s books, Beasus has obtained his signature from Ramona that Ramona has a difficult time pronouncing her real name, Beatrice, when she is a child.
Ramona notes Beezus’ “nervousness” Ramona and her father When Mr. Quimby is unemployed and the family is on a budget. Throughout the books, Ramona inherits her sister’s hands-down-down, but also inherits the wisdom of her sensible sister – and sufficiently, the same dreams at night.
Ralph s mouse
Decile character from Ralph and motorcycle Trilogy, the second Ralph hears “PB-PB-BB-BB. PB-PB-B-B-B”, he becomes a small mouse with a big dream: the owner of his own motorcycle.
Ralph also lives in a hotel, where he sees families come and go, leaving crumbs for him only for breakfast. Then, Keith and his family, and Ralph move in Of course Keith’s motorcycle is Mouse and the boy forms an unlikely friendship as Keith (begrudgingly at first) teaches Ralph how to ride.
Mr. Henshaw
Beverly Klee created the character as an inspiration to the fanbase she received from young readers on a daily basis. “Dear Mr. Henshaw came about because two different boys from different parts of the country asked me to write a book about a boy whose parents were divorced. And so I wrote Dear Mr. Henshaw, and it won Newberry “, he explained.
In sixth grade, Leigh Bots completes a school assignment by doing what he does each year: writing to his favorite writer, Boyd Harshav. However, Henshaw lambasted Lambast for “never meeting his heroes” like the first author and for not doing enough research. After being told by her mother, Leah wrote back to Henshaw, going into detail about her parents’ divorce and being the new kid at school who competed with the lunch thief.
Mr. Henshaw encouraged Leah to write in a diary, which ignited a passion for writing in Leh, which helped her win the short story contest. In the end, Leah learns that even if things are rough, eventually everything will be alright.
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Who was your favorite Beverly Klee character? Tell us in the comments!
