Beverly Cleary fun...

Recently, The Busy Homeschool Mom posted a funny picture on Facebook of children's book character Ramona Quimby.  Ramona and friends are beloved childhood friends to many, but how many have actual ties to the neighborhood of Ramona and friends?  I do!  My dad grew up just a few blocks over from Ramona's Klickitat Street neighborhood in Portland, Oregon!

When my son was about seven or eight years old, we went to visit family near Portland, and decided to visit Ramona's neighborhood.  We had already read many of Beverly Cleary's children's books - our favorite is Henry and Ribsy!  As we drove down Klickitat Street, JP pointed out which house he thought belonged to which character.  Unfortunately......I no longer have any of those pictures!  I don't know what happened to them.  :(

But, here are some fun resources for you, if you also love Beverly Cleary, Ramona, and gang.

First and foremost, you MUST visit the Beverly Cleary website!  This site has interactive games and background information on each character, and a fictionalized map of the real neighborhood. Click HERE.

If you ever have the chance to visit Portland, and Ramona's neighborhood, be sure to check out the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden at Grant Park in Portland.  The park is located at NE 33rd Avenue, between Knott and Broadway.  You have to actually go into the park to find the sculpture garden.  It is south of the playground.  The park is huge, and beautiful.  If you are lucky enough to be there during the summer months, look to see if the water fountain is working...it will look like Ribsy is playing in the water!  And, the kids can have fun playing in the water too! 

Scholastic's web page for Beverly Cleary HERE.

Interview with Beverly Cleary HERE.

And, here is another wonderful interview with Beverly Cleary:

And, a story from NPR on the making of the movie Ramona and Beezus - HERE. 

A FREE unit study to go with Beverly Cleary's Mouse and the Motorcycle  - HERE.

Resources for a unit study on Beezus and Ramona - HERE.

...and, if you know of any other Beverly Cleary links that you think are absolute musts, please let me know so I can include them here!