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.

Quote by Beverly Cleary

Topics: Beverly Cleary Quotes

With twins, reading aloud to them was the only chance I could get to sit...

With twins, reading aloud to them was the only chance I could get to sit...

Otis was inspired by a boy who sat across the aisle from me in sixth...

Otis was inspired by a boy who sat across the aisle from me in sixth...

I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys...

I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys...

Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only...

Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only...

One rainy Sunday when I was in the third grade, I picked up a book...

One rainy Sunday when I was in the third grade, I picked up a book...

I don't think children's inner feelings have changed. They still want a mother and father...

I don't think children's inner feelings have changed. They still want a mother and father...

I read my books aloud before they were published.

I read my books aloud before they were published.

I grew up before there were strict leash laws.

I grew up before there were strict leash laws.

My mother would read aloud to my father and me in the evening. She read...

My mother would read aloud to my father and me in the evening. She read...

Writers are good at plucking out what they need here and there.

Writers are good at plucking out what they need here and there.

I was a great reader of fairy tales. I tried to read the entire fairy...

I was a great reader of fairy tales. I tried to read the entire fairy...

Children want to do what grownups do.

Children want to do what grownups do.

People are usually surprised to hear this, but I don't really read children's books.

People are usually surprised to hear this, but I don't really read children's books.

We didn't have television in those days, and many people didn't even have radios. My...

We didn't have television in those days, and many people didn't even have radios. My...

I was a librarian.

I was a librarian.

I enjoy writing for third and fourth graders most of all.

I enjoy writing for third and fourth graders most of all.

People are inclined to say that I am Ramona. I'm not sure that's true, but...

People are inclined to say that I am Ramona. I'm not sure that's true, but...

I was an only child; I didn't have a sister, or sisters.

I was an only child; I didn't have a sister, or sisters.

What interests me is what children go through while growing up.

What interests me is what children go through while growing up.

I feel sometimes that in children's books there are more and more grim problems, but...

I feel sometimes that in children's books there are more and more grim problems, but...