Like many children, I grew up reading the works of Beverly Cleary. Beezus, Ramona, Henry Huggins and Ribsy were like members of my family. It was something of a thrill after moving to Portland to realize that I was now living in their ‘home town’.

If you also have a soft spot for the works of this legendary children’s author, there are several places in Portland to celebrate Beverly Cleary’s contributions to literature. First and foremost, you can visit the Beverly Cleary Children’s Library at the Central Branch of the Multnomah County Library, downtown. You can also see a map of Beverly Cleary’s/Ramona’s neighborhood, including Klickitat street, on the east wall of the Hollywood branch of the Multnomah County library. Of course, no trip to Ramona’s old neighborhood would be complete without visiting the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden in Grant Park, featuring life-sized bronze statues of Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Henry’s dog Ribsy. There are fountains installed under the statues of Ramona and Ribsy to help kids keep cool in hot weather.

But if you really want to celebrate the life of Beverly Cleary, and learn a little more about Portland history at the same time, I strongly recommend reading the memoirs “A Girl From Yamill” and “My Own Two Feet”. The first volume in particular provides a glimpse of what life was like in Portland during the Depression. Both books are quick reads, and very entertaining.