Jean and Johnny (rack) (Cleary Reissue)

Johnny's asked
Jean to dance...

It should be the happiest moment of Jean's life, not the most embarrassing. Why couldn't Jean have been ready when the best-looking, most popular boy in the school asked her to dance? Instead, she's stepping all over his feet and is completely tongue-tied. Her head is filled with wishes that she knew how to dance, knew what to say, and didn't wear glasses. One thing is for sure: Jean will never forget this day -- or all that it leads to!

Beverly Cleary is one of America's most beloved authors. As a child, she struggled with reading and writing. But by third grade, after spending much time in her public library in Portland, Oregon, she found her skills had greatly improved. Before long, her school librarian was saying that she should write children's books when she grew up.

Instead she became a librarian. 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. She based her funny stories on her own neighborhood experiences and the sort of children she knew. And so, the Klickitat Street gang was born!

Mrs. 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. Dear Mr. Henshaw won the Newbery Medal, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. Her characters, including Beezus and Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph, the motorcycle-riding mouse, have delighted children for generations.