Ramona Quimby Age 8

Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) is a time set apart in school classrooms where students can read independently without distractions. Teachers give students the freedom to choose age-appropriate books and read without the pressure of a follow-up assignment. The daily practice of free reading time has been shown to improve students’ overall academic performance and, in some cases, produce higher standardized test scores. Students who engage in SSR show improved reading comprehension, increased vocabulary, advancement in writing skills, and improved concentration. However, like Ramona, the most valuable benefit students reap from SSR is that their enjoyment of reading increases.

For Beverly Cleary, literacy and the love of reading are essential components of life. She adds her own spin by having Mrs. Whaley call it “D.E.A.R” time or “Drop Everything and Read time”. Now, on April 12 of each year, Cleary’s birthday, students across the world celebrate “D.E.A.R. Day” in honor of Cleary’s contribution to the American literary canon and her devotion to promoting literacy in children. However, readers of all ages can benefit from a simple daily practice of reading for pleasure, and adding just 20 minutes a day of quiet reading can lower stress levels and increase focus and concentration skills.

As a child, Cleary struggled with reading and finding books that interested her. Cleary later became a librarian and found most children’s literature inaccessible for kids. She felt the children’s books available were “boring,” and set out to write realistic children’s books that would appeal to all types of children. Since her first publication in 1950, Cleary has aimed to create relatable protagonists and has given the world over 40 books. (NFK Editors. “A Day for Beverly Cleary, D.E.A.R., and Libraries.” News For Kids, 12 May 2019).

Cleary’s books deal with real-life issues, such as problems at school, making friends, and dealing with family drama. In 2000, the Library of Congress named Cleary a Living Legend, and in 2003, she was awarded the National Medal of Art from the National Endowment of the Arts in recognition of her contribution to children’s literature. Cleary passed away in March of 2021 at the age of 104. Just as Ramona treasures the freedom of her D.E.A.R. time, readers of all ages celebrate the endearing legacy of Beverly Cleary each April and her commitment to inspiring readers and fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning.