When I was thirty-four years old, I was working at a bookstore and my car broke down. There wasn’t enough money to fix it, and so I got a second job working at a concession stand in a county park.
Happily, it was not a particularly busy concession stand, and I spent most of my days sitting on a stool and reading.
What did I read?
I read Ramona the Pest.
I read Beezus and Ramona.
I read Ramona Quimby, Age 8.
Here I was, a thirty-four year old person with a broken car and two jobs reading about a six year old’s first day at kindergarten, and I was absolutely engaged. I was entirely transported.
That’s the power of Beverly Cleary.
I was lucky enough to get to write an introduction for an edition of The Mouse and The Motorcycle that celebrates Beverly Cleary’s 100th birthday.

http://www.ew.com/…/01/21/beverly-cleary-100th-birthday

Happy Birthday, Beverly Cleary.
We love you.

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