In an article in the New York Times, April 10, 2016, about Beverly Cleary on her reaching 100 years of age, there is a mention of a study by Common Sense Media, a great website for evaluating new movies for children, about how children today do not read because they are entrenched in their smart phones, IPads and media of all kinds. The study is lengthy and can be found here.
Nicholas Kristoff, in the Times opinion piece, “Happy Birthday, Beverly Cleary,” reports on the results that “American children ages 8 to 12 consume almost six hours of entertainment, such as television, video games and social media and, “[a]side from schoolwork, 57 percent of those kids typically don’t read at all.”
He states that “to honor Cleary’s birthday, school organizations are calling on kids and parents to “drop everything and read.” Mr. Kristoff is an accomplished writer himself. His bio is very interesting.
This Grandma has an additional idea.
Beverly Cleary is quoted as having been a slow reader as a child because there were no books she wanted to read. She ultimately became a librarian and began to write children’s books because she found other children who could not find books to read that interested them. Our grandchildren love Beverly Cleary books. Even those too young to read the stories themselves can be read to and will laugh out loud at the entertaining stories, even today. If your grandchildren have not been introduced to Beverly Cleary books, buy a set for a visit or holiday present. The complete collection is less than thirty dollars at Amazon.
In honor of Beverly Cleary’s birthday, ask the parents of your grandchildren to (or suggest the idea to their teachers) or you help your grandchildren write her a birthday note about ideas they have for the next series she should write that will appeal to this generation of media engrossed children. Send the note or letter or card off to the New York Times author, Nicholas Kristoff, to forward to Beverly Cleary. You can find his contact information at the site above about him or the article site.
Or you can send them to Beverly Cleary at her fan mail address:
Beverly Cleary
HarperCollins Publishers
c/o Author mail
195 Broadway
Floor 22
New York, NY 10007
USA
After all, many of our grandchildren have living great grandparents in their nineties. They know how vibrant, active, and fun these great grandparents are. 100 years old does not mean creativity diminishes. Beverly Cleary may now spend her days in a retirement community away from the children, their parents and the grandparents who have purchased 85 million copies of her books, but she would surely enjoy letters and ideas, birthday congratulations, and to know she is thought of with fondness and appreciation. She might even get some great ideas for a new series or two.
Joy,
Mema
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