When I was in the first grade I was afraid of the teacher and had a miserable time in the reading circle, a difficulty that was overcome by the loving patience of my second grade teacher. Even though I could read, I refused to do so.
BEVERLY CLEARYWhen I was in the first grade I was afraid of the teacher and had a miserable time in the reading circle, a difficulty that was overcome by the loving patience of my second grade teacher. Even though I could read, I refused to do so.
BEVERLY CLEARYI wanted to be a ballerina. I changed my mind.
BEVERLY CLEARYI just wrote about childhood as I had known it.
BEVERLY CLEARYI am not a pest,” Ramona Quimby told her big sister Beezus.
BEVERLY CLEARYThe humiliation that Jane had felt turned to something else–grief perhaps, or regret. Regret that she had not known how to act with a boy, regret that she had not been wiser.
BEVERLY CLEARYI was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys in my neighborhood growing up.
BEVERLY CLEARYThe key to writing successful YA is to keep the adults out of the story as much as possible.
BEVERLY CLEARYIf you don’t see the book you want on the shelves, write it.
BEVERLY CLEARYIn seventh grade…I found a place on the [library]shelf where my book would be if I ever wrote a book, which I doubted.
BEVERLY CLEARYShe means well, but she always manages to do the wrong thing. She has a real talent for it.
BEVERLY CLEARYPeople are usually surprised to hear this, but I don’t really read children’s books.
BEVERLY CLEARYI hope children will be happy with the books I’ve written, and go on to be readers all of their lives.
BEVERLY CLEARYWhat interests me is what children go through while growing up.
BEVERLY CLEARYI grew up before there were strict leash laws.
BEVERLY CLEARYI was an only child; I didn’t have a sister, or sisters.
BEVERLY CLEARYI enjoy writing for third and fourth graders most of all.
BEVERLY CLEARY