Award-winning children’s author Beverly Cleary dies at 104

The celebrated children’s author Beverly Cleary whose work has been read by young readers for more than 70 years, died at 104, her publisher, HarperCollins, said in a statement Friday.

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Shortly after news of her death came out on Friday, tributes poured in across the internet.

Florida State Representative Anna V. Eskamani affirmed that Cleary's books "are why I first fell in love with reading in second grade, and I’ve been a lifelong reader ever since!"

Moreover, Portland-based bookstore Powell's Books wrote that the beloved author was "a Portland hero,” asserting that they are deeply saddened by this loss and grateful for the beloved stories the writer gave to them.

Cleary began writing books in her early 30s when she wrote “Henry Huggins,” published in 1950. Children worldwide dearly loved the adventures of Huggins and neighbors Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, Beatrice “Beezus” Quimby and her younger sister, Ramona.

Among the “Henry” titles were “Henry and Ribsy,” “Henry and the Paper Route” and “Henry and Beezus.” Her best-known character, Ramona, made her debut in “Henry Huggins” with only a brief mention.

“All the children appeared to be only children so I tossed in a little sister and she didn’t go away. She kept appearing in every book,” she stated in a March 2016 telephone interview from her California home.

The author won the National Book Award for "Ramona and Her Mother," in 1981, and won the John Newbery Medal for “Dear Mr. Henshaw," in 1984.