Editing Beverly Cleary (section)

==Critical significance==
Cleary's books have been historically noted for their attention to the daily minutiae of childhood, specifically the experience of children growing up in [[middle-class]] families.<ref name=schwarz/> [[Leonard S. Marcus]], a children's literature historian, said of Cleary's work: "When you're the right age to read Cleary's books you're likely at your most impressionable time in life as a reader. [Her books] both entertain children and give them courage and insight into what to expect from their lives."<ref name=paul/> Cleary's employment of humor has also been noted by critics; [[William Grimes (journalist)|William Grimes]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that Cleary used a "humorous, lively style" while "ma[king] compelling drama out of the everyday problems, small injustices and perplexing mysteries – adults chief among them – that define middle-class American childhood<!-- as per mos:lq as source did not include ',' -->",{{r|obit.nytimes.grimes}} while Roger Sutton of ''[[The Horn Book Magazine]]'' noted that "Cleary is funny in a very sophisticated way. She gets very close to [[satire]], which I think is why adults like her, but she's still deeply respectful of her characters—nobody gets a laugh at the expense of another. I think kids appreciate that they're on a level playing field with adults."<ref name=paul/>

Pat Pflieger, professor of children's literature at [[West Chester University]], commented: "Cleary's books have lasted because she understands her audience. She knows they're sometimes confused or frightened by the world around them, and that they feel deeply about things that adults can dismiss."<ref name="thedailybeast.com">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2006/04/02/beverly-cleary-age-90.html |title=Beverly Cleary, Age 90 |magazine=Newsweek |date=April 2, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816104119/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2006/04/02/beverly-cleary-age-90.html |archive-date=August 16, 2011 |access-date=April 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Eliza T. Dresang|Eliza Dresang]], professor in children and youth services at the University of Washington Information School, Cleary's [[alma mater]], said, "Those books don't seem so radical now, but they were when she was writing them<!-- as per mos:lq as source did not include '.' -->".{{r|washington.columns}}{{efn|Dresang was the incoming inaugural Beverly Cleary Professor for Children and Youth Services at the time.{{r|washington.columns|obit.uw}}}} Dresang added that Cleary's writing, "in terms of the topics [covered], the honesty, the accuracy, [and] the ability to portray real-life children<!-- as per mos:lq as source did not include ',' -->", was decades ahead of her time.{{r|washington.columns}} ''Twentieth-Century Children's Writers'' said, "Beverly Cleary's impact as a children's writer cannot be overestimated... her extraordinary talent in creating memorable young characters whose exuberant spirit and zest for life attract young and old readers alike."<ref name=20C>Chevalier, Tracy (editor), ''Twentieth-Century Children's Writers'', St. James Press, 1989;</ref>{{rp|210}}