The key to writing successful YA is to keep the adults out of the story as much as possible. Beverly Cleary More Quotes by Beverly Cleary More Quotes From Beverly Cleary I hope children will be happy with the books I've written, and go on to be readers all of their lives. Beverly Cleary hope happy children My favorite books are a constantly changing list, but one favorite has remained constant: the dictionary. Is the word I want to use spelled practice or practise? The dictionary knows. The dictionary also slows down my writing because it is such interesting reading that I am distracted. Beverly Cleary reading writing book If you don't see the book you want on the shelves, write it. Beverly Cleary want writing book Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only answer I can give is, In childhood. Beverly Cleary giving book years Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school. Beverly Cleary reading teacher children 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. Beverly Cleary sunday reading book Nothing in the whole world felt as good as being able to make something from a sudden idea. Beverly Cleary able world ideas I didn't start out writing to give children hope, but I'm glad some of them found it. Beverly Cleary writing giving children 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. Beverly Cleary girl waiting interesting As a child, I disliked books in which children learned to be 'better' children. Beverly Cleary children-book book children 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 imagination stories book 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. Beverly Cleary motorcycle boys two If we finished our work, the teacher would say, 'Now don't read ahead.' But sometimes I hid the book I was reading behind my geography book and did read ahead. You can hide a lot behind a geography book. Beverly Cleary reading teacher book Don't stop now. Go ahead! Be readers all of your lives. And don't forget, librarians and teachers can help you find the right books to read. Beverly Cleary helping teacher book 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. Beverly Cleary reading patience teacher I grew up before there were strict leash laws. Beverly Cleary strict grew-up law In seventh grade...I found a place on the [library]shelf where my book would be if I ever wrote a book, which I doubted. Beverly Cleary library would-be book She means well, but she always manages to do the wrong thing. She has a real talent for it. Beverly Cleary talent real mean If she can't spell, why is she a librarian? Librarians should know how to spell. Beverly Cleary librarian know-how should I had a very wise mother. She always kept books that were my grade level in our house. Beverly Cleary wise mother book
