Ramona Quimby fans might be surprised to learn that the Ramona they love might not be the same Ramona other readers know. That’s because over 65 years, as new editions of Beverly Cleary’s books about the spunky Portland elementary schooler came into print, five different artists illustrated her.
A book out this month by Anna Katz honors the legacy of Cleary’s work through the illustrations that accompany her timeless stories of the ups and downs of being a kid.
“The Art of Ramona Quimby: Sixty-Five Years of Illustrations from Beverly Cleary’s Beloved Books” (Chronicle Books, 256 pages, $40) takes key moments from each book in the Ramona series and examines them by juxtaposing illustrations for the same events from different eras.
The hairstyles and the clothes may change, but the underlying message of the books — you don’t have to be perfect to be happy — stays the same.
Katz’s book will be loved by those who love Ramona, and is reminder to those who haven’t thought about her for a bit.
