Beverly Cleary Author Quotations

People are inclined to say that I am Ramona. I'm not sure that's true, but I did share some experiences with her.

I wrote books to entertain. I'm not trying to teach anything! If I suspected the author was trying to show me how to be a better behaved girl, I shut the book.

My books take place in a very specific neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. It must be the most stable neighborhood in the United States.

The exterior circumstances have certainly changed for many children. The world is not the safe place it was when I was growing up.

I'm very surprised at the high number of boys who have written to say that reading my books was hard work but worth it. I have many loyal boy readers.

Children want to do what the grownups do. Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.