“ If she can't spell, why is she a librarian? Librarians should know how to spell. “
Quotes by Ramona Quimby
Introducing Ramona Quimby
Beverly Cleary is author of Ramona Quimby. She was born Beverly Atlee Bunn on April 12, 1916, in McMinnville, Oregon, was an acclaimed American author best known for creating the beloved Ramona Quimby series. She spent her early years on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon, before her family moved to Portland when she was six. Cleary’s experiences growing up in Portland heavily influenced her writing, as she drew inspiration from her own childhood and the children she observed around her. Her early struggles with reading—she didn’t become a fluent reader until third grade—also shaped her desire to write engaging, relatable stories for young readers who might feel left out or uninspired by traditional literature.
Cleary’s path to becoming an author began with her education and career as a librarian. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in English in 1938, and later earned a degree in librarianship from the University of Washington in 1939. Working as a children’s librarian in Yakima, Washington, she noticed a lack of books that reflected the everyday lives and humorous struggles of ordinary kids. This observation planted the seeds for her writing career. In 1950, she published her first book, Henry Huggins, introducing a cast of characters from Klickitat Street—a fictionalized version of her own Portland neighborhood. This debut marked the beginning of her prolific career, during which she would create some of the most enduring characters in children’s literature.
The Ramona Quimby series, which solidified Cleary’s legacy, began with Beezus and Ramona in 1955. Ramona, initially a supporting character in the Henry Huggins books, quickly captured readers’ hearts with her spirited, mischievous personality. Cleary gave Ramona her own series, starting with Ramona the Pest in 1968, followed by seven more books, including Ramona and Her Father (1977) and Ramona Forever (1984). These stories chronicled Ramona’s life from kindergarten through fourth grade, tackling relatable challenges like family dynamics, school woes, and personal growth with humor and empathy. Cleary’s ability to capture the authentic voice of a child—Ramona’s tantrums, imagination, and resilience—earned her widespread praise and made the series a staple in children’s literature.
Charater in Ramona Quimby series