Monthly Theme: Love to Beverly Cleary

by
Stephanie J. Blake

I still have several paperback books from my elementary school days. At book order time, my parents would give me $2.00, and I would spend days flipping through the flyer deciding on a book. It killed me to have to pick only one. Because of book club, I have nearly every one of Beverly Cleary's books.

This is my copy of Ellen Tebbits, an eighth printing in 1981. It cost only $1.75!

 
I have read this book at least 10 times. The story never gets old. The pages are yellow and the binding is breaking, but I love this book!
 
Here's my copy of Beezus and Ramona. It was only 60 cents.
 
 
See how naughty Ramona looks!
 
 
This copy of Henry and the Paper Route printed in 1972 is so fragile I can barely touch it for fear it will fall apart.
 
Whenever I would get a new book I would carefully install a bookplate.
My 3rd grade penmanship is so cute.
 
 
Buying books was so fun! (And still is!)
 
It's no wonder that reviewers of my book, The Marble Queen, have mentioned Ramona or Beverly Cleary.
 
Mrs. Cleary has probably been the biggest influence on my writing, and I love her for it.
 

Comments

  1. One of my goals is to get a set of early edition Beverly Cleary with the Louis Darling illustrations. They are my FAVORITES!

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  2. Oh, that bookplate is ADORABLE. Yay for your connection with Beverly Clearly... can definitely see that in THE MARBLE QUEEN.

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  3. I love this post Stephanie! I wish I had saved all my old books from school days. I am collecting them all over again at yard sales and library give-aways.

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  4. Beverly Cleary is the author that made the biggest impact on me, too. I loved HENRY HUGGINS, and one my my most prized possessions is an autographed copy of it! Some day I want a dog just like Ribsy!

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  5. Ramona was a favorite of mine, too. For our book fair we would dress up, and I was Ramona one year, with the yellow paper bunny ears. An older boy ripped them, which made me cry, until I realized it was actually perfect.

    Have you read her autobiography? Not surprisingly it is utterly charming.

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