Did you know there really is a Klickitat Street in Portland? It’s not far from my local public library, and it is the neighbor hood in which Beverly Cleary set her Ramona books.
Beverly Clearly passed away on Wednesday, at the ripe old age of 104. In honor of her passing, I will share my favorite Ramona quotes, in no particular order
- “Why don’t you turn on the dawnzer?” – Ramona, thinking she was quite smart, thigh that dawnzer was a synonym for lamp. She learned it in the national anthem: “Oh say, can you see, by the dawnzer lee light.” Brilliant!
- “Sit here for the present.” Ramona’s teacher says this to her on the first day of school. Ramona follows her directions perfectly, expecting a present for doing so. I like to say this to kids and I snicker when I do. I think they think I am crazy.
- “Pieface!” Mrs Swink, an elderly neighbor, and Ramona call each other this in a good-natured way.
- “I am too a Merry Sunshine.” Ramon says this when she is accused of not being one. You can imagine the tone f voice she used when saying this.
To celebrate her life, I hope you turn on a dawnzer, do something for the present, and shout “Pieface!” at someone you love.
booksandbassets 
She was a wonderful author whose works have turned many into readers. I remember hiding under the covers with Ellen one summer….
This is a brilliant post. I just learned of her passing yesterday. It’s folks who appreciate brilliant talent like us who will keep them alive for generations. What a refreshing post in light of a sad passing.
This is a lovely tribute to an amazing author. I am so glad I was a child when she was writing books and because her novels are so timely, I am so glad I am a teacher to recommend her books to readers. Thanks for teaching me about Portland. I may need to reread some of her books and make my own collection of favorite lines. Thanks for the inspiration.
Adrienne, I just wrote about Beverly Cleary, too; now I find your terrific remembrance. I am so glad we have this in common. (And obviously others do, too.)Thanks.
I loved your collection of favorite lines. IT has been years since I have read any of her books, but I still recommend them to my students and love when they fall in love with them too. She was definitely a writer who wrote for real kids!
I’m reminded what a treasure the Ramona books were by reading the selected passages you featured. I loved them so much as a child–I can almost recall the wonderful feeling of reading them. I’ve been reading the Ralph books to my son, but I think he’s ready to love the Ramona stories also. Thanks for this!
I loved her books growing up!! Ramona is my favorite!! Didn’t she also talk about the girl with the “boing boing” curls that sat in front of Ramona. And her stuffed animal- I think it was a snake? named Chevrolet!
Thanks for the memories. Think I’ll be reading one of those books soon!
Yes. I remember the girl with the boing boing curls!
Oh, I didn’t know Beverly Cleary passed and so enjoyed these quotes. Now, I’m inspired to return to her classic stories and enjoy them all over again. What a treasure! It makes me realize, once again, that writing lives on even after the writer has left this life.
Her books have brought joy to many children over the years and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so.
We will have to keep recommending her oldie-but-goodie works so they don’t get lost in time. Your choosing favorite quotes is a perfect tribute. I suspect I have sometimes petulantly said some version of “I am too a Merry Sunshine!”
Awww… Ramona! We love you and always will. Thank you for tributizing her author. What a gift she was to everyone who was fortunate enough to grow up with her stories.
Love that you shared favorite quotes. 🙂
I love her books! My favourite Ramona moment is when she smashes an egg on her head thinking it’s hard boiled. One of the versions of her book has a picture of her on the cover with egg dripping down her head. Love it!
It makes my heart happy to know there are really (hopefully) kids growing up on Klikitat Street in Portland! I love how you captured your favorite Ramona moments!
I love the lines you pulled from Ramona. It’s funny– I remember Henry much more vividly, but your post makes me want to reread some Ramona stories.