Beverly Cleary Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“I haven't been very enthusiastic about the commercialization of children's literature. Kids should borrow books from the library and not necessarily be buying them.”

“I particularly enjoy cello music because our daughter plays the cello. I have listened to her practice for so many hours that I am familiar with the music written for that instrument. I am also fond of the popular music of the 1930s because my future husband and I danced to it so many Saturday nights when we were in college.”

“Ramona was originally an accidental character I added to the Henry Huggins books because I noticed that none of the characters had siblings. I added Ramona as Beazus' pestering little sister.”

“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.”

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

“I think the best teachers had a real interest in the subject they were teaching and a love for children.”

“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 had a very wise mother. She always kept books that were my grade level in our house.”

“I wanted to be a ballerina. I changed my mind.”