When I had short hair as a child I liked to imagine it was a “pixie haircut” like Ramona Quimby. Did you love Ramona and her friends as a young reader? Do you remember that they lived in Portland, Oregon, which was also the home of her creator, Beverly Cleary?
I didn’t remember that until my sister moved to Portland a few years ago. The classic image of Ramona in rain boots makes sense given what I now know about Northwestern weather! I visited my sister last week and found several signs of Portland’s Beverly Cleary pride.
Elementary/middle school named after Portland's beloved author, Beverly Cleary.
Henry Huggins statue; this character actually came before Ramona, who was a minor character in the Henry Huggins books.
Statue of Henry Huggins' dog, Ribsy, in the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden, Grant Park.
The street Ramona lived on!
Ramona Quimby, age 8.
This is an awesome post! Do you know that I once wrote an essay on why Ramona Quimby was my hero?
Great way to start Friday!
I did not know that–when did you write that essay and do you still have a copy?
You already know my feelings on Ramona Quimby…my absolute favorite books as a kid! (Some of my copies of those books are taped together from me reading them so often.) They were the first chapter books I ever read…
Oh you can bet I was thinking of you when I was on my Beverly Cleary scavenger hunt!
I LOVED Beverly Cleary. I still use one of her tips to help with creative writing: read for 30 minutes beforehand. Great post!
Oh I never heard that tip. It’s a good one! Got any others? I want to try to do more creative writing, since I’ve been up to my waist in blog and news writing for the past few years.
I just got the Ramona collection for Leila’s birthday!!
I love little kid books, but I’m delighted she’s getting more into books like these now (she’s almost 7). One of the best things about being a parent is getting to indulge daily in awesome children’s literature… We’re halfway through Haroun and the Sea of Stories right now and it’s fantastic.
I read your copy of Haroun the first time I was in Miami–so good!! Great reminder to re-read it…
Also, definitely send me recommendations whenever you and Leila come across other favorites.