Cleary, Beverly (1916–)

American children's writer. Born 1916 in McMinnville, Oregon; dau. of Chester Lloyd (farmer) and Mable (Atlee) Bunn (teacher); Chaffee Junior College, AA, 1936; University of California, Berkeley, BA, 1938; University of Washington, BA in Librarianship, 1939; married Clarence T. Cleary (accountant), Oct 1940; children: Marianne Elisabeth; (twins) Malcolm and James.

Served as children's librarian, Public Library, Yakima, WA (1939–40) and post librarian at US Army Hospital, Oakland, CA (1943–45); writings include Henry Huggins (1950), Henry and Beezus (1952), Henry and Ribsy (1954), Beezus and Ramona (1955), Henry and the Paper Route (1957), Jean and Johnny (1959), The Real Hole (1960), Two Dog Biscuits (1961), Emily's Runaway Imagination (1961), Henry and the Clubhouse (1962), Ribsy (1964), The Mouse and the Motorcycle (1965), Ramona the Pest (1968), Runaway Ralph (1970), Socks (1973), Ramona the Brave (1975), Ralph S. Mouse (1982), and Ramona Forever (1984). Received Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from American Library Association (1975), for substantial and lasting contributions to children's literature; received Newbery Honor Book Award from American Library Association for Ramona and Her Father (1978) and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (1982); received Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association (1980) and Silver Medallion from University of Southern Mississippi (1982); received Newbery Medal, Christopher Award (1984), for Dear Mr. Henshaw.

See also memoir A Girl from Yamhill (Morrow, 1988).