The Book Community Reacts to the Passing of Beverly Cleary

We are saddened to share that cherished children's book author Beverly Cleary passed away yesterday, March 25, at 104 years old. https://t.co/Ifqu3Hfuxg pic.twitter.com/BXywlKTSac

— HarperCollins (@HarperCollins) March 26, 2021

RIP Beverly Cleary. The New York Times obituary https://t.co/9Tj3VzqVVD

— Pamela Paul (@PamelaPaulNYT) March 26, 2021

RIP Beverly Cleary. Millions of girls saw themselves in Ramona Quimby. Thank you from all the “pests” out there.

— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) March 26, 2021

RIP the wonderful #BeverlyCleary pic.twitter.com/IRSXQalDuC

— Lisa Brown (@lisabrowndraws) March 26, 2021

What a life lived. Thank you, Beverly Cleary. https://t.co/y0bvAMclB5

— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) March 26, 2021

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. pic.twitter.com/8uh0YyNIiS

— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) March 26, 2021

She wrote so many great books, but the Ralph S Mouse series was my favorite. Just seeing these 1980s paperbacks brings me back… RIP, Beverly Cleary pic.twitter.com/cvsLTRlfzE

— Matt Tavares (@tavaresbooks) March 26, 2021

I loved them all, but this one a little bit more…

My Ramona years were my divorce years. I missed my dad, & everyone seemed scared and/or agitated.

How I needed the particular love and honesty of this book…

104, and she’ll live on for so many of us. RIP #BeverlyCleary pic.twitter.com/sCycXxH3Ar

— laurelsnyder (@LaurelSnyder) March 27, 2021

Her books gave me permission to write about Portland, to name the streets, the stores, the parks & libraries that raised me, to tell stories about joyful, thoughtful, rambunctious girls.
Thank you, #BeverlyCleary. https://t.co/MFu7HdXTdc

— Renée Watson (@reneewauthor) March 27, 2021

I like that Beverly Cleary used to write while baking bread https://t.co/oJDiBx6nSF pic.twitter.com/kS51pdeXDg

— Austin Kleon (@austinkleon) March 26, 2021

In 1938, Beverly Cleary (née Bunn) moved to Seattle to begin her studies at UW's School of Librarianship. She graduated a year later and took a position as a children's librarian in Yakima. Today we pulled her original 1939 librarian's certificate filed with the WA State Library. pic.twitter.com/IsSJpFaFlx

— Washington State Archives (@WAStateArchives) March 26, 2021

Sit here for the present. Jumping through the hole in the house. Brick Factory. Squeezing out all the toothpaste. The (not) hardboiled egg. Nosmo King. The pile of jiggly chicken skins. Picky-picky. Thank you, Beverly Cleary, for these and so much more.

— Celeste Ng (@pronounced_ing) March 26, 2021

An absolute icon. Rest in peace, Beverly Cleary.

May we always remember to hard boil our eggs before packing our lunch. ? pic.twitter.com/J0sVXLfua5

— Mabel Hsu (@helloomabel) March 26, 2021

Kate DiCamillo shared this on her Facebook page the day before Beverly Cleary passed away: https://t.co/Vce5Ilr7eT https://t.co/U7X0cP3OKM pic.twitter.com/uZK23zNkD8

— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) March 26, 2021

Everyone is coming up with ways to honor Beverly Cleary and I think I'm gonna squeeze out a whole tube of toothpaste. May her memory be for a blessing.

— Kyle Lukoff (@KyleLukoff) March 27, 2021

AND SHE WAS RIGHT IT DOES ALWAYS TASTE BEST AND YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT BUT ONLY AS A CHILD ARE YOU COMPLETELY HONEST ABOUT IT https://t.co/ySqXw88osj

— Angie Manfredi (@misskubelik) March 26, 2021

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. https://t.co/SMWPubdPzg

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) March 26, 2021

Beverly Cleary was a literary treasure whose lively characters brought so much joy to this world. I have the fondest memories reading the Ramona series. May she Rest In Peace ?? pic.twitter.com/DLBK4XLLsS

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) March 27, 2021

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.

— katemessner (@KateMessner) March 26, 2021

After 104 trips around the sun, Beverly Cleary has left this world. Rest easy, Ms. Cleary. Your words and work have left an indelible mark on me and countless readers. My beat-up childhood copy of The Mouse and the Motorcycle will forever live on my bookshelf and my psyche. pic.twitter.com/gxP1C3qK6S

— Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK) March 26, 2021

"If you don't see the book you want on the shelves, write it."

-Beverly Cleary, launching the journey of a million authors who suddenly felt seen? pic.twitter.com/OYKAWldxN4

— Jess Keating (@Jess_Keating) March 26, 2021

Oof, this one hurts.

Dear Mr. Henshaw is a huge reason I became a writer. It was the first book I read as a kid that seemed to see me and the things I was going through and didn’t tell me I was lesser than adults and their problems.

Rest in power, Ms. Cleary. https://t.co/EK59MaYAxI

— Justina Ireland (@justinaireland) March 26, 2021

Beverly Cleary, you inspired generations, including this kid. Your mantra of "Where are the books about kids like us?" is more relevant now than ever. Godspeed. pic.twitter.com/ozvSnITCc1

— Tony DiTerlizzi (@TonyDiTerlizzi) March 26, 2021

“She was not a slowpoke grown-up. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next.”
-Ramona The Pest

Thank you, Beverly Cleary, for the stories, example, and inspiration.

— Juana Medina (@juanamedina) March 26, 2021

DEAR MR. HENSHAW was a major inspiration for P.S. I MISS YOU. Ramona and her love of sproingy curls is one of my favorite scenes in all of literature.

Beverly Cleary’s legacy will never be measured.

— Jen Petro-Roy (@jpetroroy) March 26, 2021

???? Rest In Peace to a writing legend #BeverlyCleary https://t.co/1nSxpRHvGB

— Dan “DANley Tucci” Santat? (@dsantat) March 27, 2021