Beverly Cleary

I hope children will be happy with the books I've written, and go on to be readers all of their lives.

I don't think children themselves have changed that much. It's the world that has changed.

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.

I know that when I was a children's librarian, that was about 1940, boys particularly asked where were the books about kids like us, and there weren't any at that time.

I didn't start out writing to give children hope, but I'm glad some of them found it.

Over the years, I have been approached about making Ramona into a cartoon or movie, but I was afraid that no one could really capture the spunky character of Ramona.

I think the best teachers had a real interest in the subject they were teaching and a love for children. Some of the teachers were just doing their job, but others had that little extra. They really cared about children and they wore pretty dresses.

My mother always kept library books in the house, and one rainy Sunday afternoon - this was before television, and we didn't even have a radio - I picked up a book to look at the pictures and discovered I was reading and enjoying what I read.

When I was in the first grade I was afraid of the teacher and had a miserable time in the reading circle, a difficulty that was overcome by the loving patience of my second grade teacher. Even though I could read, I refused to do so.

With twins, reading aloud to them was the only chance I could get to sit down. I read them picture books until they were reading on their own.

One rainy Sunday when I was in the third grade, I picked up a book to look at the pictures and discovered that even though I did not want to, I was reading. I have been a reader ever since.

She was not a slowpoke grownup. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next.

Neither the mouse nor the boy was the least bit surprised that each could understand the other. Two creatures who shared a love for motorcycles naturally spoke the same language.