Children’s Author Tells More Of Her Stroy

All right, all you ex-Ramona Quimby, ex-Henry Huggins and ex-Ralph S. Mouse fans. I have an announcement: Beverly Cleary’s back!

In 1988, Cleary wrote the first half of her autobiography, “A Girl from Yamhill,” which told of her adventures with an obsessive, overbearing mother and a silent, hard-working father. That book left off with Beverly going to college.

Well, now she’s written the second half, entitled “My Own Two Feet.” Here, she tells how she finally dumped her neurotic boyfriend Gerhart, married Clarence, worked in a bookstore and a library, and of her experiences with some of the soldiers during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

She also, of course, describes the beginning of her writing career with details about her first book, “Henry Higgins.” Did you know Henry’s dog Rigsy was originally a circus dog? Cleary’s publisher didn’t like that idea, so she had to change it.

Sadly, Cleary doesn’t talk about the beginning of Ramona or even of Ralph S. Mouse. She does mention “Ellen Tebbits,” but only in passing. Perhaps she’ll thrill us with another book, maybe titled “How I Got My Ideas” or “Some Brilliant Person in An ‘Our Generation’ Book Review Came Up With This Title.”

Cleary is still the same type of writer as in her other books. In a world of change, it’s nice to know I can always engage in a battle of wits with my middle school art teacher and that Beverly Cleary’s writing style will never change. It’s like coming home to an old friend.

One last note, for ex-Great Brain fans: A whole bunch of chapters were found recently in the late author John D. Fitzgerald’s desk and were pieced together to make a new Great Brain book. See if you can get your hands on it.