Beverly Cleary, who wrote multiple beloved children’s books, passes away at the age of 104

Beverly Cleary passed away at the age of 104 on Thursday.

The writer was well known for her much-beloved children’s books, including The Mouse And The Motorcycle, Henry Huggins, and numerous others.

The author passed away in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, where she had been a resident since the 1960s; no cause of death was given.

Cleary was predeceased by her husband Clarence and is survived by her children Malcolm and Marianne, as well as her three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Upon her death, Suzanne Collins, President and Publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books issued a statement to mourn the writer’s passing and celebrate her legacy.

The business figure said, ‘generations of children count themselves lucky-too lucky-to have the very real characters Beverly Cleary created… as true friends who helped shape their growing-up years.’

She continued, ‘Her timeless books are an affirmation of her everlasting connection to the pleasures, challenges, and triumphs that are part of every childhood.’

Cleary was born on April 12, 1916, in McMinnville, Oregon, and moved with her family to Portland when she was six.

In her early years, the writer had difficulty reading, which she eventually overcame when she started third grade.

After graduating high school, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Washington.

During her time as a librarian, Cleary began to sympathize with young children who were not able to find books with characters that they could relate to and sought to write stories that featured understandable protagonists.

Her first novel, entitled Henry Huggins, was published in 1950 and became the first in a series of books centered around the character.

A spinoff series focused on sisters Ramona and Beezus Quimby began with a 1955 novel that spawned several sequels.

A movie centered around the two was released in 2010 with actresses Selena Gomez and Joey King playing the titular characters.

The feature was helmed by Aquamarine director Elizabeth Allen and received mostly positive critical reception. 

A short-lived Canadian television series was also produced, which aired for a single season in 1988.

The final book in the Ramona series, entitled Ramona’s World, was published in 1999.

Cleary received several awards for her writing during her lifetime, most of which were given for her contributions to children’s literature.

In 1975, the author was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, now known as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award, by the American Library Association.

Nine years later, the writer won the John Newbery Medal for her novel Dear Mr. Henshaw, which was written to appeal to young adults. 

In 2000, she was named a Library of Congress Living Legend for her creative contributions to American life.

Three years later, Cleary received the National Medal of Arts alongside figures such as Ron Howard and Buddy Guy.