Beverly Cleary, children's book author, dead at 104

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Beverly Cleary, Bestselling Author of ‘Ramona the Pest,’ Dies at 104

Beverly Cleary, bestselling author of "Ramona the Pest" and "Henry and Beezus," died Thursday. She was 104.

variety.com

Beverly Cleary, who contemporized children’s literature with books like “Ramona the Pest” and “Henry and Beezus” and become one of the best-selling children’s authors of all time, died Thursday. She was 104.

Cleary sold more than 90 million books, putting her in the wildly popular ranks of authors like J.K. Rowling. Her more than 40 books included “The Mouse and the Motorcycle,” “Ralph S. Mouse” and “Henry and Ribsy,” which was among the many she wrote based on the children she knew growing up in her Portland, Ore. neighborhood.

“The Mouse and the Motorcyle,” about a mouse who can speak to children and lives in a rundown hotel, was made into a 1986 movie with Mimi Kennedy and Ray Walston. The massive bestseller was part of a trilogy of three Mouse books.

Her Young Love books for teenage girls, including “Fifteen,” “Sister of the Bride” and “The Luckiest Girl” were more more firmly rooted in the mid-century world of prom queens and sock hops, but were equally popular among the generation growing up in the 1950s and ’60s.

I was a big fan of hers.

 

[Beebo Brink]

My childhood just flashed before my eyes. I read all her books avidly.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

I'm sad, but at the same time, that is a very respectable score - considering she was less that a month from making it to 105.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

I grew up on her books. I remember Ramona and Beezus Quimby very well, as they helped define my childhood.

I'm sad to hear of Beverly's passing, but, goodness - 104? She's had a really good run. Here's to hoping more generations of children grow up with her books.

 

[Noodles]

I really loved her books as a child, especially Ramon and the Ralph S Mouse books.

That's a pretty impressive age though.