21 Timelessly Entertaining Beverly Cleary Books for the Classroom

Ramona Quimby. Henry Huggins. Ralph S. Mouse. Beverly Cleary created unforgettable characters who have continued to find new fans long after their books first hit shelves. Cleary died in 2021 at age 104, having sold more than 91 million copies of her books—and counting. In addition to winning several prestigious writing awards, Cleary also was named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. When children asked Cleary how she got her ideas, she told them they were “from my own experience and the world around me.” There’s no question she knew exactly how to reach young readers on the page. The selection of her books here will no doubt find their way into your students’ hearts.

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Beverly Cleary Books

1. Henry Huggins

While Cleary’s first novel may not feature smartphones or Roblox, it remains eminently readable. The title character Henry Huggins befriends a dog, Ribsy, and the two become an inseparable pair, threatened only when Ribsy’s original owner resurfaces. The first of a six-book series, this one is perfect for readers moving up from shorter chapter books.

Buy it: Henry Huggins at Amazon | Henry Huggins at Bookshop

2. Henry and Beezus

Many of Cleary’s books take place in the same universe, and in this second Henry Huggins novel, characters Beezus and Ramona are introduced. Beezus appears as Henry’s best friend, helping him to get a bike when all his plans keep failing, and Ramona is—of course—the pesky little sister foiling their plans. Readers who’ve already breezed through the Ramona Quimby novels will love picking this one up.

Buy it: Henry and Beezus at Amazon | Henry and Beezus at Bookshop

3. Henry and Ribsy

From the start, Ribsy the dog has been Henry’s best friend, and a bit of a troublemaker. When Henry wants to go on a fishing trip, he’s told he can’t unless Ribsy can stay out of mischief. Cleary’s specialty is bighearted comedy, and this is no exception.

Buy it: Henry and Ribsy at Amazon | Henry and Ribsy at Bookshop

4. Socks

Leave it to Cleary to consider all perspectives. In this novel, she considers how Socks—a doted-on cat—handles the arrival of a new baby.

Buy it: Socks at Amazon | Socks at Bookshop

5. Beezus and Ramona

The first book in Cleary’s eight-book Ramona Quimby series hones in on Ramona and her older sister, Beezus. Featuring a four-year-old Ramona, she just can’t stop being a pain to her big sister. The novel remains a perfect read for anyone who’s ever had a sibling.

Buy it: Beezus and Ramona at Amazon | Beezus and Ramona at Bookshop

6. Ramona the Pest

Ramona is a singular character, and wherever she goes, she brings her full self with her. In the second volume of Cleary’s series, she’s off to kindergarten. Young readers will get a kick out of her hijinks and see plenty of themselves in Ramona’s energetic perspective.

Buy it: Ramona the Pest at Amazon | Ramona the Pest at Bookshop

7. Ramona the Brave

Childhood isn’t always easy, and Cleary was an author who understood that better than anyone. In the third Ramona volume, the titular heroine tackles first grade—complete with a teacher who doesn’t understand her and a walk to school that includes encounters with a scary dog.

Buy it: Ramona the Brave at Amazon | Ramona the Brave at Bookshop

8. Ramona and Her Father

A Newbery Honor winner, the fourth Ramona book tackles the real choices many middle-class families must face. When Ramona’s father loses his job and her mom starts working full-time, Ramona’s life seems turned upside down. She deals with it all in an age-appropriate way—by fantasizing about how she can become a TV commercial star and earn enough money to fix everything.

Buy it: Ramona and Her Father at Amazon | Ramona and Her Father at Bookshop

9. Ramona Quimby, Age 8

The paperback edition of this Newbery Honor book includes a foreword by Amy Poehler and an interview with Beverly Cleary. As Ramona turns eight in this book, she has to find the balance between new privileges and new responsibilities (in her unique Ramona way, naturally).

Buy it: Ramona Quimby, Age 8 at Amazon | Ramona Quimby, Age 8 at Bookshop

10. The Complete Ramona Collection

For kids hooked on all things Ramona (and what kid isn’t?), this boxed set collects all eight volumes of Cleary’s Ramona Quimby books. Any kid who lives a life guided by enthusiastic curiosity is sure to identify with this lively heroine, so why not stock up on the whole set?

Buy it: The Complete Ramona Collection at Amazon | The Complete Ramona Collection at Bookshop

11. Fifteen

For tweens too young for YA romances but who may be having their first “like like” feelings, Cleary delivers with the opening book of her First Love series (spanning four books). While dating has changed, even the texting generation will connect to the angst of a girl navigating her first date.

Buy it: Fifteen at Amazon | Fifteen at Bookshop

12. Jean and Johnny

The third book in the First Love series, this novel tackles the all-too-relatable feeling of worrying you like your date more than he or she likes you.

Buy it: Jean and Johnny at Amazon | Jean and Johnny at Bookshop

13. Sister of the Bride

Cleary reminds young readers that they needn’t rush to find the love of their lives. Barbara’s sister is getting married and, while the event and idea of eternal love seem exciting, they also seem like a lot of hard work to Barbara.

Buy it: Sister of the Bride at Amazon | Sister of the Bride at Bookshop

14. The Luckiest Girl

Though somewhat dated, this novel about a teen girl who moves from Oregon to California incorporates details of a coastal California town that may mirror some of Cleary’s own life (as she resided on the coast for most of her life).

Buy it: The Luckiest Girl at Amazon | The Luckiest Girl at Bookshop

15. Dear Mr. Henshaw

Winner of the Newbery Medal and a slew of other honors, Dear Mr. Henshaw continues to appear on lists of must-read children’s literature for a reason. It’s told in letters sent between Leigh Botts and his favorite author—whom he writes to in order to deal with his frustration at an absentee father and his own trials as a sixth-grader. As usual, Cleary’s work navigates the difficulties of growing up head-on.

Buy it: Dear Mr. Henshaw at Amazon | Dear Mr. Henshaw at Bookshop

16. The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Cleary’s adventurous friendship tale is a great book for shared reading or to give to a grade-schooler who’s advancing to chapter books. Funny and clever, this fast-paced story of Ralph S. Mouse and his quest to ride a boy’s toy motorcycle is an enduring kids’ classic.

Buy it: The Mouse and the Motorcycle at Amazon | The Mouse and the Motorcycle at Bookshop

17. Runaway Ralph

The second book of the Ralph S. Mouse trilogy finds Ralph eager to run away from his overprotective family. But he may get more than he bargained for when he winds up at a campground populated by all manner of mouse-threatening obstacles.

Buy it: Runaway Ralph at Amazon | Runaway Ralph at Bookshop

18. Ellen Tebbits

Cleary’s second-ever novel is a funny and real story of forging new friendships—and seeking forgiveness when one friend screws up. Ellen and her pal Austine connect perfectly with newly independent grade school readers.

Buy it: Ellen Tebbits at Amazon | Ellen Tebbits at Bookshop

19. Henry and the Paper Route

While today’s kids may not have any idea what a paper route is, they will relate to can-do hero Henry Huggins as he executes many plans to convince his would-be boss that eleven is plenty mature to handle the job.

Buy it: Henry and the Paper Route at Amazon | Henry and the Paper Route at Bookshop

20. Ralph S. Mouse

In the third book of his saga, Ralph S. Mouse has grown bored of his life at the Mountain View Inn and finds the solution in accompanying his human friend Ryan to school—with unforgettable results!

Buy it: Ralph S. Mouse at Amazon | Ralph S. Mouse at Bookshop

21. A Girl From Yamhill

The first of two memoirs (the second volume being My Own Two Feet), Cleary offers insights into her upbringing during the Great Depression and a candid look at the trials and tribulations she faced as she grew up in Oregon. This first volume carries readers to Cleary selling her first book, Henry Huggins, to a publisher.

Buy it: A Girl From Yamhill from Amazon | A Girl From Yamhill at Bookshop

Looking for more book recommendations? Check out our list of the best Judy Blume books for the classroom.

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