Beverly Cleary Awarded National Medal of Arts

I was thrilled to learn that children's author Beverly Cleary is one of ten 2003 recipients of The National Medal of Arts. The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States Government and is awarded by the President of the United States to outstanding individuals and groups in the arts. Wow! That's quite an honor. Cleary is the second children's author to be recognized with a National Medal of Arts; author and illustrator Maurice Sendak was the first.

For fifty years, Beverly Cleary has delighted young readers, particularly 8-12 year olds, with her humorous, yet realistic, stories about the ordinary lives of children. She has won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal. Two of her books about Ramona Quimby were designated Newbery Honor Books.

Did you read Beverly Cleary books when you were growing up? Do your children read them? Who are your favorite characters? Let me know by posting your comments on the About Children's Books Forum.recall recall