Chelsea Clinton, Mia Farrow Mourn Beverly Cleary, Beloved Children’s Author Who Died at 104
Beverly Cleary #BeverlyCleary
Celebrities like Chelsea Clinton and Mia Farrow have shared messages of love and mourning following the death of beloved children’s author Beverly Cleary. Cleary was 104.
During her career, Cleary wrote over 40 books including nine books involving Ramona Quimby, an energetic and imaginative young girl who became one of Cleary’s most famous characters. Cleary’s books have sold over 85 million copies worldwide and been translated into at least 29 languages.
In 2000, the Library of Congress named Cleary a “Living Legend.” In 2003, former President George W. Bush gave her the National Medal of Art from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton, wrote, “Holding Beverly Cleary’s family and loved ones in my heart. Ramona brought me so much joy as a child and inspired me to ask my Grandma Ginger to quit smoking for my 8th birthday (she did!). Have loved sharing her books with my children. May her memory be a blessing.”
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Second lady Jill Biden said, “RIP Beverly Cleary. Millions of girls saw themselves in Ramona Quimby. Thank you from all the ‘pests’ out there.”
Actress Mia Farrow wrote, “Beverly Cleary has died at 104 years old. But she left Ramona, Henry Huggins, Beezus & Ralph the Mouse & so many more feisty characters & stories to entertain children for years to come. 91 million parents have bought her books- so far.”
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon wrote, “Aw, jeez. Two in one day. #TheMouseandtheMotorcycle and #RunawayRalph were key texts for firing my imagination, instilling the ordinary with the marvelous.”
The “two in one day” is likely a reference to Larry McMurtry, the screenwriter and author of Lonesome Dove as well as other books, who also died on Friday.
Comedian Paula Poundstone wrote, “Beverly Cleary wrote a Ramona book when she was 80. My dog Ramona was named after said Ramona. What joyous books. Making it to 104 was quite a run.”
Filmmaker Alice Wu wrote, “God, I read everything by her. In hindsight, she helped this lonely, quiet kid feel just a little less alone. R.I.P and thank you, Beverly Cleary.”
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wrote, “Grant Park here in NE Portland has many wonderful reminders of how Beverly Cleary drew from her childhood home to capture young readers’ hearts & minds. While we mourn this iconic Oregonian’s passing, we also are thankful for her timeless contribution to kids’ literature.”
Oregon Governor Kate Brown, “I’m incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Beverly Cleary—Oregon’s beloved children’s author. She wrote dozens of titles, received numerous prestigious awards, and sparked a love of reading for generations of children. She will be deeply missed.”
Children’s book author Kate Messner wrote, “My whole feed tonight is fellow authors whose life work was shaped by Beverly Cleary. She didn’t just give us Ramona and a way to feel less alone. She inspired us to share our own stories – our own versions of Ramona – to reach all kinds of kids. That, my friends, is a legacy.”
Comedian Rae Sanni wrote, “Ramona Quimby, Age 8 was my favorite book in the world for years. I loved the whole Beverly Cleary universe. What a gift she was. RIP Beverly Cleary.”
Author Jeff Chu wrote, “The young Beverly, ‘a rather odd, serious little girl’ who stayed with the adult Beverly Cleary, ‘prevents me from writing down to children.’ What a gift.”
Author Preeti Chhibber wrote, “So appreciative of Beverly Cleary who created characters and worlds so many of us could fall in love with! What a long and wonderful reader’s life she had and what a long and wonderful reader’s life she gave us.”
Screenwriter Brian Lynch wrote, “Beverly Cleary has passed at 104. From RAMONA to RUNAWAY RALPH to DEAR MR. HENSHAW, she created so many wonderful, lovely, funny, endearing characters. I read each book over and over again. just can’t imagine my childhood without her. May she Rest in Peace.”
Newsweek contacted Cleary’s publisher Harper Collins for comment.
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