Clear, clean and easy to read as her books, Beverly Cleary’s signature is straight forward and legible. If she hadn’t become an author, she has what it takes to be a school teacher (like her mother). An only child growing up on a farm in Oregon, Ms. Cleary struggled learning to read. Once she did, the library became her favorite place to be. One of the jobs that affected her career path was being a librarian. She watched as students struggled to find characters and stories they could relate to, this inspired her to write. Her books are so relate-able they have stood the tests of time, remember Ramona? Born Beverly Bunn, she married her husband, Clarence Cleary in 1940 and published under that name. They were married up to his death in 2004. She had boy/girl twins, Malcom and Marianne, who inspired some of her characters and their adventures. Many of her characters were inspired with the boys and girls she grew up with.
Beverly Cleary’s handwriting has the perfect slant, what some call the teacher slant. This is indicative of a person who can get along with just about anyone; those super shy and those exuberant extroverts. There are a few different signs that she works well alone and can adapt whether she’s a wall flower or center stage. (Although, she genuinely loves people.) Her signature shows she forgives and forgets. This may have caused her to be taken advantage of over the years by those that prey on forgiving souls. I was able to find several samples of her writing as well as her signature. They are all consistent and haven’t changed much over the decades. She may be stuck in her glory days and comfortable the way things were. Deep thinking and analytical, Beverly’s writing shows she’s also ‘a lover not a fighter’. The only confrontation indications in her writing are a desire for an intellectual debate. What you see is what you get with Ms. Cleary, there is no BS or flamboyance, like her writing style.
Currently she’s living in a retirement home in California where she’s been a long-time resident. Happy 101st Birthday to this literary legend! (April 12, 1916)
Beverly Clearly quotes
If you don’t see the book on the shelf you want to read, write it.
I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up. I changed my mind.
Problem solving, and I don’t mean algebra, seems to be my life’s work. Maybe it’s everyone’s life work.