Quote

As a child, I disliked books in which children learned to be 'better' children.

Beverly Cleary

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Beverly Cleary
Age: 104 †
Born: 1916
Born: April 12
Died: 2021
Died: March 25
Author
Autobiographer
Librarian
Writer
McMinnville
Oregon
Beverly Atlee Cleary
Children
Disliked
Learned
Books
Child
Better
Book

More quotes by Beverly Cleary

Image
My mother would read aloud to my father and me in the evening. She read mainly travel books.
Beverly Cleary
Image
One rainy Sunday when I was in the third grade, I picked up a book to look at the pictures and discovered that even though I did not want to, I was reading. I have been a reader ever since.
Beverly Cleary
Image
Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.
Beverly Cleary
Image
The 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 Cleary
Image
I wanted to be a ballerina. I changed my mind.
Beverly Cleary
Image
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.
Beverly Cleary
Image
I was an only child I didn't have a sister, or sisters.
Beverly Cleary
Image
People are usually surprised to hear this, but I don't really read children's books.
Beverly Cleary
Image
Writers are good at plucking out what they need here and there.
Beverly Cleary
Image
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.
Beverly Cleary
Image
I hope children will be happy with the books I've written, and go on to be readers all of their lives.
Beverly Cleary
Image
If you don't see the book you want on the shelves, write it.
Beverly Cleary
Image
The key to writing successful YA is to keep the adults out of the story as much as possible.
Beverly Cleary
Image
Children want to do what grownups do.
Beverly Cleary
Image
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.
Beverly Cleary
Image
Don't stop now. Go ahead! Be readers all of your lives. And don't forget, librarians and teachers can help you find the right books to read.
Beverly Cleary
Image
I read my books aloud before they were published.
Beverly Cleary
Image
I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys in my neighborhood growing up.
Beverly Cleary
Image
I have lovely memories of Los Angeles in the 1930s. I came down to live with my mother's cousin and they invited me to come and go to junior college for a year.
Beverly Cleary
Image
If we finished our work, the teacher would say, 'Now don't read ahead.' But sometimes I hid the book I was reading behind my geography book and did read ahead. You can hide a lot behind a geography book.
Beverly Cleary