I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys in my neighborhood growing up. Beverly Cleary basebookboy Change image and share on social
I had a bad time in school in the first grade. Because I had been a rather lonely child on a farm, but I was free and wild and to be shut up in a classroom - there were 40 children on those days in the classroom, and it was quite a shock. Beverly Cleary badchildclassroom share on social
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. Beverly Cleary authorbehavebook Change image and share on social
I was a great reader of fairy tales. I tried to read the entire fairy tale section of the library. Beverly Cleary entirefairygreat Change image and share on social
I read my books aloud before they were published. Beverly Cleary aloudbookpublish Change image and share on social
I'm just lucky. I do have very clear memories of childhood. I find that many people don't, but I'm just very fortunate that I have that kind of memory. Beverly Cleary childhoodclearfind Change image and share on social
I don't necessarily start with the beginning of the book. I just start with the part of the story that's most vivid in my imagination and work forward and backward from there. Beverly Cleary backwardbeginbook Change image and share on social
Writers are good at plucking out what they need here and there. Beverly Cleary goodpluckwriter Change image and share on social
I don't think children's inner feelings have changed. They still want a mother and father in the very same house; they want places to play. Beverly Cleary changechildfather Change image and share on social
