


Cleary’s books have earned her many prestigious awards, including the American Library Association’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, presented to her in recognition of her lasting contribution to children’s literature. And so, the Klickitat Street gang was born!Mrs. She based her funny stories on her own neighborhood experiences and the sort of children she knew. When a young boy asked her, “Where are the books about kids like us?” she remembered her teacher’s encouragement and was inspired to write the books she’d longed to read but couldn’t find when she was younger. Before long, her school librarian was saying that she should write children’s books when she grew up.Instead she became a librarian. But by third grade, after spending much time in her public library in Portland, Oregon, she found her skills had greatly improved. As a child, she struggled with reading and writing. Beverly Cleary is one of America’s most beloved authors.
