Logo

Beverly Cleary — whose 30-plus books about troublemaking pests and motorcycle-riding mice have captured the imaginations of countless children — turns 100 this month, and Symphony Space is throwing a party.

Sunday’s “A Celebration of Beverly Cleary” will pay tribute to the beloved writer’s tales of rebels, dreamers and troublemakers whose antics were celebrated rather than chastised.

“I never reform anybody,” Cleary told The Post in 2006. “Because when I was growing up, I didn’t like to read about boys and girls who learned to be better boys and girls.”

The event will feature a look at a new Cleary doc, a show of Louis Darling’s original illustrations and readings by Jeff Kinney (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”), Jarrett J. Krosoczka (the “Lunch Lady” series) and actress Rebecca Naomi Jones.

“The first Beverly Cleary book I read was ‘Ramona the Pest,’ ” Kinney says. “Cleary showed me that there’s nothing funnier than everyday life.”

Cleary won’t be there, but you can sign a card and sing for the camera in a tribute she’ll receive on her April 12 birthday. Ticket proceeds benefit Team First Book NYC, which provides new books to children in need.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy