Beverly Cleary Books In Order

Publication Order of Henry Huggins Books

Publication Order of Ellen & Otis Books

Publication Order of Ramona Quimby Books

Publication Order of Ramona Quimby Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of First Love Books

Publication Order of Ralph S. Mouse Books

Publication Order of Leigh Botts Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Picture Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Avon Camelot Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Beverly Cleary was one of the mostwell known American authors of the children and young adult fiction books. She was considered to be one of the most successful writers of America as she had sold around 91 million printed copies of her novels, all over the world, since the publication of her debut novel in the year 1950.

Beverly Cleary sadly passed on March 25th, 2021. She was 104 years old.

Some of the best known characters developed by Cleary include Beezus and Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, Ralph S. Mouse, and Henry’s dog Ribsy. She has won the National Book Award in the year 1981 for one of her books titled ‘Ramona and Her Mother’. Her winning list of prestigious awards also includes the Newberry Medal for one of her successful novels titled Dear Mr. Henshaw. For her enormous contribution to the American literature throughout her lifetime, author Cleary was awarded with the National Medal of Arts as well as the Laura Wilde Medal. Throughout her writing career, she has been associated with a number of literary associations, including the Library Service for Children Association, Congress Living Legend Library, etc.

Beverly had written over 30 books in her writing career for the children and young adults. Most of the characters developed by her in her books are normal children who face different challenges in their lives, which many people face while growing up. The stories written by her are liberally full of humor. Author Cleary was born on April 12, 1916, as Beverly Atlee Bunn in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. She has reached 100 years of age, which is a rare achievement in itself. Cleary was the only child of her parents and used to live with them on a farm. Her father used to work as a farmer, while her mother was a school teacher. When author Cleary was 6 years old, her family shifted to Portland, Oregon, where she completed her studies of elementary education and high school. During her first grade in school, she was made to join the struggling readers’ group because of her inability to read properly. She says that her class was divided into 3 groups, namely Bluebirds, Blackbirds, and Redbirds. She was in the Blackbirds group and considered it disgraceful. Later, she was helped by her school librarian and she began enjoying reading books. By her third grade, she picked up speed and started spending more time in her school library. She was suggested by a teacher in her 6th grade to become a children’s writer, after reading the essays that she had written for her class assignments. After the completion of her high school studies, author Cleary joined the Chaffney Junior College. At that time, she aspired to become a children’s librarian. But, after completing 2 years of her junior college, Cleary enrolled herself at the California University in Berkeley, from where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in the subject of English in 1938.

While studying at the university, she also came across her husband named Clearance Cleary. In the year 1939, author Cleary completed her graduation from the Library and Information Science School at the Washington University. After that, she worked as a children’s librarian in Washington for one year. Due to the disapproval of her relationship with Clearance, author Cleary ran away and got married to him in the year 1940. At the end of the Second World War, the couple moved to Carmel, California, and settled there. Being a children’s librarian, author Cleary used to help the young patrons to get over with the difficulty of finding books with interesting characters. After some time, she began struggling to find enough books that she would suggest to the children. After several years of performing her role as a children’s librarian, author Cleary decided to write her own children’s books related to the characters that she thought could relate to the children’s interests. She believed that she had a missionary spirit in her as a children’s librarian, like all others. Cleary even believed that the children deserve good quality books to read, and it is the duty of the librarians to encourage them to select and read the appropriate books. Eventually, author Cleary wrote her first novel titled Henry Higgins in 1950, which was followed by other books and series, featuring her popular characters.

One of the successful novel series written by author Beverly Cleary is titled as ‘Ramona Quimby’. This series follows the Henry Higgins series ad features Ramona Quimby and his sister Beezus Quimby, living in the neighborhood of Henry Higgins. The first book of the series is titled as ‘Beezus and Ramona’. It was published by the Oxford University Press in 1955. At the start of this novel, Beezus Quimby is depicted as having his hands full with her younger sister named Ramona. Beezus thinks that there might not be any other 4 year old sister like Romana as she keeps creating troubles for her. Ramona always one bite from each and every apple in the basket and sometimes, secretly invite 15 other children of her age in the house party. Because of her troubles and mischiefs, she would often get the attention of everyone. Beezus endures the trials and tribulations that is felt by every elder sister. Being the big sister of Ramona, she is expected to take her responsibility, but she seems to be too young herself to take embarrassing plights caused by Ramona. Beezus seems to struggle with mixed feelings about her little sister.

The next novel of the Ramona Quimby series written by author Beverly Cleary was released under the title ‘Ramona the Pest’. This novel was also published by the Oxford University Press in the year 1968 and features the lead characters in the form of Ramona an Beezus Quimby, and Henry Higgins. At the start of this novel, it is shown that Ramona does not think of herself as a pest, as opposed to the thinking of everyone else about her. She seems worried about Davy, who runs away from her every time she goes near him. During her kindergarten class, Ramona always disrupts the proceedings during the rest time. In spite of all her mischievous activities, she still wonders how she gets into trouble every time. The success of this book proved that author Cleary is indeed the most popular American novelist in the children’s books genre.

2 Responses to “Beverly Cleary”

1. Jacilyn / Jc: 3 years ago

   Your books are amazing Beverly Cleary. p.s I love them

   Reply
2. MIKE KEMPENICH: 3 years ago

   What books would be best for an 11-year-old girl just completing an IE course in English? I was thinking about Beverly Cleary books…

   Can you send me a list that would help us pick the right books?

   Mike and Charlotte classroom teachers QSI of Benin

   Reply