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Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
July 18, 2007

While reading this blog yesterday, I found an entry about Beverly Cleary based on a 2006 Newsweek article that I'd read -- but I thought the salient detail was worth mentioning this week, when the last book in The Series That Must Not Be Named (hereafter to be referred to as TSTMNBN) will be released (and if you haven't already seen the spoilers proliferating on the 'Net, well, don't expect me to share them with you. That's what Gawker is for. I may be a curmudgeon, but I'm not a killjoy.)

Back to Beverly Cleary. Did you know that the Newbery-winning author has sold nearly 100 million copies f her books? 

Without peeking at that article from Newsweek, guess how many books have been sold in TSTMNBN?

As of March 2006 (when the Newsweek piece ran), 120 million (all bets are off as to what that number will be after midnight on Friday).

If that isn't food for thought, I don't know what is. Yes, yes, yes -- Cleary has been selling books for decades longer than J. K. Rowling. There's no disputing that TSTMNBN is a phenomenon.

But during a week in which it's being covered to death, I appreciated a gentle reminder that there are other children's book authors out there worth celebrating.

I love Beverly Cleary, but she had April 12, 2006, the HarperCollins "Drop Everything and Read" day. So if I had my druthers, I'd throw a big bash for Norton Juster. If you could make a huge fuss over an author (doesn't have to be a children's author) and create events around that author's latest release, who would it be?

Posted by Bethanne Patrick on July 18, 2007 | Comments (10)


July 18, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Julianne Daggett commented:

Actually my local library did a release party of Lemony Snicket's last book in the 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' series. But if I could choose an author for a release pary it would be either Eion Colfer (of Artemis Fowl fame)or D.J. MacHale (of the Pendragon series) which are both favorites in my family.




July 18, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Julianne Daggett commented:

I meant 'release party' not 'release pary'; God it sounds like I’m going to sword fight the author—thrust, pary, thrust!




July 18, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Roni G. commented:

Let's have Stephen King Day! You might think that Halloween would be the appropriate time for that ghoulish soiree...but no. It should be at a time of year unexpected...like the first day of Spring. You know a little dark to balance the light. We could all wear Cujo masks and practice our b-movie screams.




July 18, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Megan commented:

Please fix the headline! It's Ramona Quimby.




July 18, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Bethanne commented:

Megan, eeek! Thank you...




July 18, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Alana Abbott commented:

I've always been rather fond of the too-often uncelebrated Edward Eager. Also, Lloyd Alexander could use some media attention--now that Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising" series is going to be loosely adapted in film, shouldn't Prydain be next?




July 19, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
hamptonbarbie commented:

i think we should all celebrate me. i'm a bestselling author, single mother of 2 great kids, gorgeous and smart to boot. when exactly is christina arneson day?




July 19, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Jenn commented:

I'd be in for Haruki Murakami day. We could all dress up like sheep with stars upon thars!




July 19, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
angelle commented:

anne lindbergh. her books were always so fun and creative. i used to gobble up everything she wrote when i was younger. it's a shame that she's disappeared into the children's books black hole. travel far pay no fare was probably one of my favorite books as a kid. another author i loved as a kid was cynthia voigt. those were less fantastical and more about the characters, but i felt they were all books that didn't talk down to kids, and in fact, expected us to understand very grown-up situations and feelings.




July 23, 2007
In response to: Harry Potter Versus Ramona Quimby
Jenzerbenz commented:

I am a huge fan of the children's series by Michael Hoeye featuring a crime solving, adventure seeking, watch mending mouse named Hermux Tantamoq.





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