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Beverly Cleary
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From: Lalicki, Barbara <barbara.lalicki>
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 09:11:36 -0400
Just want to clarify that the only Beverly Cleary book I had the pleasure of
"editing" was RAMONA'S WORLD. I put "editing" in quotes because Beverly turned in a virtually word perfect manuscript and we tinkered with some of the commas. Meeting and getting to know her has been one of the joys of the past two years. It's hard to describe her wry sense of humor, but talking with her is fun, and I feel quite lucky to be the one to call when, for example, Turkey or Germany buy the foreign rights to RAMONA'S WORLD or, as yesterday, we receive a giant birthday card from a school that has celebrated HENRY HUGGINS fiftieth year.
Before going to Morrow and flying out to meet Mrs. Cleary for the first time, I read EMILY'S RUNAWAY IMAGINATION and the fabulous Ralph S. Mouse books, and reread Ramona. It particularly struck me how transporting her writing is. In the midst of a lot of change for me, I'd lose myself in the lives of these engaging, sympathetic characters and emerge refreshed. THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE gets my vote as the perfect book for a 7-8 year old boy.
I don't know if I read HENRY HUGGINS as a child, but when I came to the heart-stopping ending as an adult, I felt strongly connected to my child self. It was a strange feeling and I was grateful for it. Working on the 50th anniversary edition of the book, I read through to that ending several times, each time wondering who Ribsy would choose. It's also an inspiring look at childhood democracy in action. We decided to put the Louis Darling artwork from the original book on the cover, but to have an artist hand-tint the line drawing to attract today's young readers. I hope people are liking the way the new cover goes with the classic inside art.
Beverly Cleary's fan mail is a good indication of her eternal appeal. She gets letters from three generations: grandparents, parents, and kids who are just discovering Ramona or Henry or Ralph or Leigh. And the range of children who identify with these characters is astonishing. I was at Lothrop when RAMONA QUIMBY, AGE 8 was published. To celebrate there was a Ramona-look-alike contest. To win you had to embody the "spirit of Ramona"--and boys and girls of all nationalities entered!
Received on Mon 21 Aug 2000 08:11:36 AM CDT
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 09:11:36 -0400
Just want to clarify that the only Beverly Cleary book I had the pleasure of
"editing" was RAMONA'S WORLD. I put "editing" in quotes because Beverly turned in a virtually word perfect manuscript and we tinkered with some of the commas. Meeting and getting to know her has been one of the joys of the past two years. It's hard to describe her wry sense of humor, but talking with her is fun, and I feel quite lucky to be the one to call when, for example, Turkey or Germany buy the foreign rights to RAMONA'S WORLD or, as yesterday, we receive a giant birthday card from a school that has celebrated HENRY HUGGINS fiftieth year.
Before going to Morrow and flying out to meet Mrs. Cleary for the first time, I read EMILY'S RUNAWAY IMAGINATION and the fabulous Ralph S. Mouse books, and reread Ramona. It particularly struck me how transporting her writing is. In the midst of a lot of change for me, I'd lose myself in the lives of these engaging, sympathetic characters and emerge refreshed. THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE gets my vote as the perfect book for a 7-8 year old boy.
I don't know if I read HENRY HUGGINS as a child, but when I came to the heart-stopping ending as an adult, I felt strongly connected to my child self. It was a strange feeling and I was grateful for it. Working on the 50th anniversary edition of the book, I read through to that ending several times, each time wondering who Ribsy would choose. It's also an inspiring look at childhood democracy in action. We decided to put the Louis Darling artwork from the original book on the cover, but to have an artist hand-tint the line drawing to attract today's young readers. I hope people are liking the way the new cover goes with the classic inside art.
Beverly Cleary's fan mail is a good indication of her eternal appeal. She gets letters from three generations: grandparents, parents, and kids who are just discovering Ramona or Henry or Ralph or Leigh. And the range of children who identify with these characters is astonishing. I was at Lothrop when RAMONA QUIMBY, AGE 8 was published. To celebrate there was a Ramona-look-alike contest. To win you had to embody the "spirit of Ramona"--and boys and girls of all nationalities entered!
Received on Mon 21 Aug 2000 08:11:36 AM CDT
