Beverly Cleary (born April 12, 1916) is an American writer of fiction for children and young adults. One of America's most successful writers of children's literature,[1] she has sold 91 million copies of her books worldwide.[2] Some of her best-known characters are Henry Huggins, Ribsy, Beatrice ("Beezus") Quimby, her sister Ramona Quimby, and Ralph S. Mouse. She won the 1981 National Book Award for Ramona and Her Mother[3][a] and the 1984 Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw.