A hole was left in the world of literature with the loss of legend Beverly Cleary. She died Thursday in California at the age of 104.
Cleary was a literary hero to me and millions of others. Her Ramona Quimby inspired readers for decades.
The sport of baseball inspired Cleary. Evidence comes in her successful book, Ramona Quimby: Age 8. In the opening chapter, Ramona meets a kid named Danny, described as ‘the type of kid whose dad took to ball games.’ This kid wore a baseball shirt, which read ‘Earthquakes.’ At first, Danny, who Ramona dubs ‘Yard Ape,’ isn’t very nice. But, eventually, Ramona forms a crush on him.
Years later, the independent art site, teepublic.com, created shirts in Ramona’s and Cleary’s honor.
RIP, Beverly Cleary. Thank you for inspiring so many readers and writers.
