Beverly Cleary did something no children's author had done before her. She wrote about ordinary kids living ordinary lives -- and made it fascinating. Born on April 12, 1916, in McMinnville, Oregon, Cleary grew up on a farm before moving to Portland. She struggled with reading as a young child and found most books boring. The stories she was given featured perfect children in fancy settings. She wanted stories about kids like her. Kids who made mistakes, got frustrated, and sometimes did things they were not supposed to do. After becoming a librarian, Cleary decided to write the books she had wished for as a child. Her first novel, Henry Huggins, was published in 1950. It was set on Klickitat Street in Portland and featured a regular boy dealing with regular problems. The book was an instant success. But it was the character of Ramona Quimby who became her most beloved creation. Ramona first appeared as a pest -- Henry's annoying little neighbor -- in the early books. Readers liked her so much that Cleary gave her a series of her own. Across eight Ramona books, Cleary captured the inner world of a child growing up. The embarrassment of being misunderstood, the frustration of having a perfect older sister, and the joy of small victories. Cleary published over 40 books and sold more than 91 million copies. She won the Newbery Medal and the National Medal of Arts. She lived to be 104 years old.