Stop what you're doing right now, drop everything and read! April 12 marks the birthday of beloved Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary. Drop Everything and Read, or D.E.A.R., is a nationwide celebration that serves as a reminder to folks of all ages to make reading a priority. In fact, the author was inspired to write about D.E.A.R. in her book Ramona Quimby, Age 8 after readers wrote to her expressing their wonderful experiences with D.E.A.R. programs in their own schools. After she decided to give the same experiences to Ramona and her classmates, D.E.A.R. became even more popular and the author’s name continues to be associated with the program today.
Of course, at the library we encourage reading all year long! For a little inspiration, why not check out these beloved books by Beverly Cleary? Or browse our catalog to discover your next great read.