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She was not a slowpoke grownup. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next.

Beverly Cleary

I had a bad time in school in the first grade. Because I had been a rather lonely child on a farm, but I was free and wild and to be shut up in a classroom – there were 40 children on those days in the classroom, and it was quite a shock.
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Children Classroom Grade Lonely School
I grew up before there were strict leash laws.
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Before Grew Law Strict
Nothing in the whole world felt as good as being able to make something from a sudden idea.
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Able Ideas World
I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys in my neighborhood growing up.
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Book Children Grow Up
She means well, but she always manages to do the wrong thing. She has a real talent for it.
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Mean Real Talent
In seventh grade…I found a place on the [library]shelf where my book would be if I ever wrote a book, which I doubted.
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Book Library Seventh
With twins, reading aloud to them was the only chance I could get to sit down. I read them picture books until they were reading on their own.
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Book Chance Reading
Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only answer I can give is, In childhood.
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Book Giving Years
The key to writing successful YA is to keep the adults out of the story as much as possible.
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Keys Successful Writing
I read my books aloud before they were published.
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Books Publisher Read
As a child, I disliked books in which children learned to be ‘better’ children.
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Book Child Children
If you don’t see the book you want on the shelves, write it.
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Book Want Writing
Otis was inspired by a boy who sat across the aisle from me in sixth grade. He was a lively person. My best friend appears in assorted books in various disguises.
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Book Boys Friendship
Ramona stepped back into her closet, slid the door shut, pressed an imaginary button, and when her imaginary elevator had made its imaginary descent, stepped out onto the real first floor and raced a real problem. Her mother and father were leaving for Parents’ Night.
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Burton Father Imagination Mother Real Step
I had a very wise mother. She always kept books that were my grade level in our house.
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Book Mother Wise
Children want to do what grownups do.
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Children Want Grownups

She was not a slowpoke grownup. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next.

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She was not a slowpoke grownup. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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