Breinthewild

Last week marked the death of children’s book titan Beverly Cleary. I, like many, grew up reading her stories. Several of my books were handed down from my grandparents to my parents to me (which you can probably judge by the well-worn spines) marking three generations of enjoyment. It’s a pretty incredible legacy if you think about it. A lot of authors tend to big deals during their time but don’t necessarily continue on to future generations. Cleary bridged the gap without even trying, a feat many have attributed to her spot-on authentic characters. For the most part, they were just kids being kids, with timeless shenanigans ensuing.

While I did read quite a few of the ‘Ramona’ books, my personal favorites will always be ‘The Mouse and the Motorcycle’ series. There’s just something so fun about envisioning a rodent in a tiny helmet zooming around at top speed on a miniature motorcycle. For the more whimsical child, the series was a solid hit. I distinctly recall rereading these books specifically, many times over.

Another fun fact about Cleary is many of her books are set in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. Ramona and her family lived on Klickitat Street and many of the adventures took place around that area. There’s a school and a garden and even an Oregon children’s book award named after her. As news of her death spread, many Portlanders flocked to leave flowers and notes at the Ramona statue at Grant park.

I’m so glad I got to read her books growing up and plan to continue the tradition of handing them down to the next generation. Rest in peace, Beverly Cleary. You will be missed.