Tiny Treasury

There’s no doubt that books that trend close to Harry Potter are doing well these days.

A few weeks ago, I posted about The Marvelous Effect, which has been referred to as “the black Harry Potter.”

And now, previously unknown Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams hope to generate that same kind of magic with their book, Tunnels. What is so amazing about Tunnels is that, like The Marvelous Effect, it was initially self-published.

Tunnels has something more important in common with Harry Potter, though: the eye of Chicken House publisher Barry Cunningham. Cunningham heard about the authors and signed them up for a series of fantasy tales (see guys, I didn’t say sci-fi, I’m learning) about fourteen year-old Will Burrows. The two have already received six figure advances.

Cunningham was the agent who signed J.K. Rowling for her Harry Potter series. Rowling has now sold more than 325 million copies of the series worldwide and became a billionaire - and that’s before the last book of the series has been released.

The question is, really, can Cunningham do it again?

Harry Potter, Barry Cunningham, J.K. Rowling, Chicken House, Tunnels, Brian Williams, Roderick Gordon

One of the cool things about writing this blog is being *forced* to review books (and genres) that I would normally not even take off of the shelf. This is one of those books.

Barry Yourgrau’s Yet Another Nasty Book is almost indescribable. It’s weird. It’s oddly written. It has no sense of order. The cover isn’t attractive. The chapters aren’t organized. Some of the pages can’t be read because they’re printed backwards or because there are odd fonts.

And I will say this: if I were a 10 (or so) year old kid, I’d totally be into this book.

With entire chapters that read like this:

If this sentence contains exactly nineteen words, your very least favorite person will turn into a turtle wearing purple earmuffs!

And others with shrinking text, stories about swallowed cell phones and creepy fairy tales, how can you not love it?

The book changes direction every few pages, which is annoying if you’re trying to read a novel, but it’s cool if your attention is short to begin with… The book is clearly written by someone who has a handle on what it’s like to be a kid. A weird kid, maybe, but a kid.

No wonder Lemony Snicket wrote about it: “Barry Yourgrau’s work makes me shudder…”

To find out more about the craziness, you can visit the nasty book web site or Barry’s own site.

Yet Another Nasty Book, Barry Yourgrau

You knew it had to happen… The Gossip Girls book series about growing up in a private school in Manhattan is going even more glam as a TV series. The series, penned by author Cecily von Ziegesar, will be debut on the fall schedule for the CW.

The show stars Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Taylor Momsen, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford and Blake Lively (of Traveling Pants fame) as the heroine, Serena. For a sneak peek, click here.

Gossip Girls, CW, Cecily von Ziegesar, Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Taylor Momsen, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford, Blake Lively

It’s the Friday Fifteen!

Photo credit: (c) Danielle Levitt, New York magazine

Today’s guest is our first ever cover photographer. Meet Ali Smith, who has photographed covers for a number of teen books - as well as collections for her own books.

On a personal note, the first book cover that I saw that Ali had done was Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars:

Now, onto the Fifteen!

1. Where are you now?
Same place I always seem to be…in front of my computer

2. What were your favorite books as a kid?
I loved the Little House series and the Laura Ingalls Wilder biography where they showed photos of her and her family. It was mind blowing for me at the time that the person who’d written that series was an actual person who you could see in photographs. She seemed like an epic hero, not a young girl. Good lesson that the two things could be one in the same.

3. What are you reading now?
I’m reading lots of books related to motherhood. a) because I’m working on my next book of photography that centers around the subject and b) because I labor under the delusion that if I read enough, I will somehow be prepared for my own role as mother when the time comes.

4. Do you have kids?
For six years, I was a devoted stepmother. But the relationship with her father has ended and, sadly, it seems my relationship with her may have ended as a result. Atl east for now. I am planning on having a child soon.

5. What projects are you working on now?
Besides shooting book covers pretty consistently, which I love doing, I’m working on the aforementioned book of portraiture. My first book, “Laws of the Bandit Queens”, was portraits of and life laws from 35 amazing women like Alice Walker, Janeane Garofalo, Sandra Bernhard, Geraldine Ferraro… This one centers on what motherhood and family really are and how a woman can parent well and still maintain a sense of self. I guess I’ve always looked for role models and guidance through my photography.

6. What is your biggest writing or illustrating luxury?
That I get to work in my pj’s. (I work from a home office) except for at the shoots, naturally. Although I have had to do an underwater shoot (for “MIX”) in a bathing suit. It’s fun that each day of work is going to be a bit different.

7. Coffee or tea?
Coffee! Although I’m really trying to switch to tea. If for no other reason, because my coffee habit is costing me a small fortune.

8. Name five artists on your ipod (or mp3 player).

Myself (My latest album came out about six months ago. It’s called “You Showed Me” and is under the artists’ names “Steve Almaas and Ali Smith”. Steve is my ex. The album came out right after the breakup. Fun fun fun.)

9. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I danced at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, with Rudolph Nuryev.

10. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
NYU. Started out for Visual Arts in general but really found myself in photography. Big bonus was I went for free because my mom was a nurse at NYU!!

11. If you weren’t working with kids’ books, what would your dream job be?
Photography is my dream job. If I couldn’t shoot kids’ books, as long as I was shooting, I’d still be in my dream job.

12. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
Hmmm… That really depends. Am I trying to turn my brain off, or really enjoy what I’m watching. I don’t watch much at all anymore because it’s usually awful.
Channels 1 through 36 may as well not exist. To turn my brain off, I love to veg to Bravo’s intensely ridiculous lineup of Project Runway, Shear Genius, Top Chef, etc. But the shows i really love are “Campus Ladies” on Oxygen and “The Sarah Silverman Show”. I wish wish wish they’d put “Little Britain” on the air here!

13. How did you get your “big break” into the field?
Years ago, an amazing woman named Alison Donalty, Art Director extraordinaire at HarperCollins Children’s Books, asked me to fill in for her when she went on maternity leave. I didn’t have any experience in publishing, just as a music and editorial photographer who sometimes did random advertising work. Her faith in me, that I could handle it, was so touching and opened the door to this whole world of photography for publishing which I just love! Sometimes you really need just one person to have faith in you and give you a break. Then when my agent, Shannon Associates, showed faith in me, it really all came together!

14. Which celeb would you want most to meet?
I’ve honestly met all the ones I’ve wanted to. Which is good because it calms you down about that stuff and makes everything seem more attainable to you when you see everyone’s just a person doing their best.

15. Who is the best book character ever?
Wow! That’s just impossible for me to answer. I tend to associate myself with some of the darker characters… Not anyone in fun teen novels. I got a lot from characters like the main character in Camus’ “The Stranger”, for instance, but he’s not the best character ever. I swing towards brooders. Sorry. That was a lame way to end the interview. i guess i could just say “the pig from Charlotte’s Web” and be done with it.

I would like to add something else since you’ve been talking about “MIX”. This mix program within the Aladdin imprint at Simon & Schuster has been a really great experience. There’s an amazing creative team headed up by art director Karin Paprocki and involving designer Jessica Sonkin, who I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with on a few covers. It’s exciting to be involved in the development of something like this. It’s pure fun!

I’ve also had the chance to shoot several covers for the Simon Pulse (teen pb books) imprint headed by Russell Gordon.

-

Here are some more cool covers from Ali’s portfolio (click on the thumbnail to expand):

You can check out some more of Ali’s work on her web site. Ali’s agents can be found at Shannon Associates - you can visit the kids’ book section here.

Thanks, Ali, for sharing!

Last night, as I was watching American Idol, I thought to myself, “Jordin Sparks, you’re no Kelly Clarkson.” And then it hit me. I don’t like change. I like for things to stay the same. And that’s not possible.

It feels like life should be as it is in books. Books are, after all, static. Once they’re printed, they are what they are. There’s no flux. No matter how many times I read Gone With the Wind, Bonnie is always going to die, Daisy will always be reckless in The Great Gatsby and Isabel’s marriage will always end badly in The Portrait of a Lady.

I guess this is why I have been so viscerally opposed to the upcoming Nancy Drew movie. It was too different. There was too much change. Nancy Drew - updated - in Hollywood? Say it isn’t so.

But as Jordin belted out her final song last night, I realized that she, like those that followed her, will do just fine. Carrie Underwood did just walk away with a number of CMAs in her pocket. And I have a couple of her songs on my iPod. Sometimes, change isn’t bad. Sometimes, it’s just change.

So, I’ve decided to embrace the new Nancy Drew books and movie. After all, it has the potential to convert thousands of little girls into magnifying glass carrying, book reading, clue sniffing detectives - who absolutely love to read.

And as a result, somewhere, there will be some little girl curled up in her bed pretending to be sleeping reading Nancy Drew by flashlight while her mom admonishes her to go to sleep. Only she won’t because she’s dying to know what happens next. Because some things never change.

Nancy Drew

It’s the Friday Fifteen!

Today’s guest is author Tricia Rayburn. Let’s get to the Fifteen…

1. Where are you now?
Near the beach on the South Fork of Long Island.

2. What were your favorite books as a kid?
Anything with two covers and lots of pages in-between! I especially loved The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and was seriously addicted to the Baby-Sitters Club, Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High series.

3. What are you reading now?
King Dork by Frank Portman

4. Do you have kids?
Not yet! But I do have one very mischievous shih tzu.

5. What projects are you working on now?
The sequel to The Melting of Maggie Bean, which should be out next spring.

6. What is your biggest writing or illustrating luxury?
The big, beautiful desk I bought when my book deal was official!

7. Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Lots of it, preferably iced.

8. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Counting Crows, U2, Dixie Chicks, Pete Yorn, Gwen Stefani

9. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I was the worst skipper in my childhood Polish dancing group.

10. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
Middlebury College in Vermont, majored in American Literature.

11. If you weren’t working with kids’ books, what would your dream job be?
Professional singer, ballroom dancer or surfer. Not that I’m qualified — at all — for any of those positions.

12. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
It WAS Gilmore Girls, but now it’s Planet Earth, Grey’s Anatomy and LOST.

13. How did you get your “big break” into the field?
The Melting of Maggie Bean was my MFA thesis, and I sent her into the publishing world as an afterthought, and with no expectations. She’s an actual book now thanks to my amazing agent, Rebecca Sherman of Writers House, and my incredible editor, Jen Klonsky at Simon & Schuster.

14. Which celeb would you want most to meet?
Is it wrong to say Oprah? Cause I really would, even without the whole book club thing. If it IS wrong to say Oprah, then Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon or Adam Brody.

15. Who is the best book character EVER?
I’ve started to answer this question ten times, only to delete each attempt. Any character that a reader relates to, cares for and is inspired by, is a character worth knowing.

–

Thanks, Tricia! Tricia’s new book, The Melting of Maggie Bean,is in stores now. And for more info, you can check out her MySpace profile.

Meg Cabot’s new book, Pants on Fire, is helping HarperTeen blaze its way to summer. To celebrate, you can enter on HarperTeen to win a signed copy of Meg Cabot’s Pants on Fire and a $100 gift certificate to Sephora for you and a friend.

Meg Cabot, Pants on Fire, HarperTeen

The Sight, authored by Erin Hunter, is billed as “a dazzling feline twist on classic epic fantasy” and is the first book of an arc of the national bestselling series Warriors: The Power of Three.

Fantasy is not my thing, but I was willing to give it a whirl. After all, the praise for the series was positive. “Action-packed. Certain to please any young reader who has ever wondered what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat” claimed Publishers Weekly. And “A suspenseful adventure story that urges readers onward” touted ALA Booklist. Even the reviews on amazon.com were overall positive, though there was some grumbling about the original series being much better - isn’t it always?

And I like cats. I like fiction. I was ready to embrace the book.

The beginning of the book is a just over four page summary of the characters, the “allegiances” - literally a laundry list of who’s who. And the who’s who was lengthy. There are more than forty cats classified as leader, deputy, medicine cat, warriors, apprentices, queens and elders for each of four clans. This was my first inkling that I wasn’t going to love the book. As a rule, I don’t like books that require flow charts.

The book spends a lot of time setting up story lines that never seem to take off. I assume that many of the questions raised in the book will be resolved in the remaining two books of the series - and that the purpose of this book was to whet your appetite for those that follow. And herein is my second gripe: I’m not a big fan of series that purposefully set you up to buy more books. Now wait, don’t get me wrong. I like series. As a kid, I was a big fan of Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, you name it. I like stories that build on each other. But I am not crazy about those that just feel like they’re written in order to sell another book. And that’s what this feels like to me, pretty much from top to bottom.

The basic story line of the book is that three kittens from the ThunderClan (Hollykit, Jaykit and Lionkit) are set to more or less take over the next generation. Each of the the three has a special power or talent that will allow them to take their rightful place in the Clan. About halfway through, the kittens become warriors and thus change their names to Hollypaw, Jaypaw and Lionpaw. With the number of characters in the book, I’m not crazy about the switch - I’m surprised that children aged 10 (which is the recommending reading level) and up can keep them all straight…

The one aspect of the book that I did find compelling was the determination of Jaypaw to become a “medicine cat” despite his disability (I’ll let you read it to find out what it is). The underlying principles that you can do anything if you work hard enough, and the admonition to Hollypaw (Jaypaw’s sister) to follow your heart and do what it is that you love and not what you feel is simply your lot in life are good lessons for children to learn.

But all of the good principles and plot twists couldn’t make this an enjoyable read for me. I couldn’t find that moment in the book where it all clicked for me and made me want to read more. Instead, I found myself flipping the pages backwards trying to recall which cat was which, and wondering when it was going to end…

Fans of the books (and there are a number of them despite my take on the book) can visit the web site to find out more information about the series, the characters and the authors. That’s right, authors plural. Despite the name “Erin Hunter” on the book, the series is actually penned by a group of three children’s authors, Victoria Holmes, Kate Cary and Cherith Baldry. You can read their bios on the site.

Warrior Cats, Power of Three, Warriors: The Sight, Erin Hunter, Victoria Holmes, Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry

A sequel to the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is set to begin production in June 2007 in Greece. Director Sanaa Hamri (Something New, as well as episodes of ABC’s Men In Trees and Desperate Housewives) will be at the reins. The original four actresses from the first film (America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel) are all in talks to return for the second film.

The movie is a follow-up to the original book based on the wildly popular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series penned by Ann Brashares.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Sanaa Hamri, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, Ann Brashares

The author of The Marvelous Effect contacted me with the following clarification:

I am so sorry that I did not clarify this. If I did say Marvelous World was Science Fiction I am sorry. I DO NOT CLASSIFY IT AS SCIENCE FICTION! It is fantasy to me. I had no idea anyone would think it was Science Fiction. I just wrote a fantasy story with Science Fiction elements that I did not even know would be thought to me Science Fiction. Marvelous World is fantasy with a few Science Fiction elements that are not the focus of the story at all.

So there! All of you who were offended about the sci-fi thing can put your knives away. But then, I’m still waiting to hear what the difference is…

And thanks, Troy, for keeping me on track!

Troy CLE, Marvelous Effect, Marvelous world, science fiction, fantasy

That’s the question that author Troy CLE initially tried to answer when he created his character, Louis Proof.

But it would be simplistic to paint Louis as simply a black version of the beloved Harry. Louis is a very different character. The brainchild of Troy, Louis loves listening to hip-hop, racing radio-controlled cars, and hanging out with his best friend, Brandon. If he sounds a little normal, maybe it’s because he is meant to be.

Of his character, Troy says, “I couldn’t find any action hero kids who looked like me in popular literature. That’s what sparked me to write this book.” And where is comes from is pretty amazing. The 29 year old New Jersey native grew up and still lives (according to his myspace page) in the urban, gang-infested city of East Orange, NJ. However, Troy didn’t fall victim to the stereotypes. He studied classical piano and acting, and went on to succeed at New York University, including earning degrees in American literature and English, and a masters in digital design.

Despite his successes, Troy couldn’t shake the desire to create something that reflected his roots. The Marvelous World series was inspired by his own vow to create a movie where kids looked and lived like he did. While a big fan of Spielberg’s “The Goonies”, Troy realized that the kids in that movie didn’t look like him. In the Marvelous World series, the 13 year-old kid from New Jersey sounds a little like Troy might have been like as a child.

But that’s where the similarities appear to end. While Louis’ fictional world takes off in a whirlwind of fantasy, science fiction, hip-hop, gaming, race cars and Anime. Troy’s real life world has taken off in a manner that’s a little more mainstream (no comas, no magic portals) but no less fantastic.

Troy’s continuing rise to fame isn’t completely a solo effort. He had a little help from some pretty impressive friends. For starters, the cover art for the first book of the series was created by Daryl Mandryk, formerly of EA Sports and now the lead artist for Disney’s video game company, Propaganda Games. And the book’s back cover was created by Joe DiVelario, who was the visual effects designer for the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie now infamous’ flick, “Mr. And Mrs. Smith.”

But Troy still couldn’t find a publisher. He didn’t stop trying. David Finn, owner of the public relations firm Ruder Finn, saw potential in Troy’s book and offered a hand. David lent his resources to help Troy self-publish his book and become his own publicist. And the hype began, resulting in deals with Simon and Schuster and Random House.

Since then, the buzz around Troy’s book has exploded. It is, quite likely, the second most anticipated new release of the summer. And oh yeah, Harry Potter isn’t the only book that you can pre-order. Pre-order The Marvelous Effect before its May 22 release date.

To hear a snippet as read by Malcolm Jamal-Warner, click here.

Troy CLE, The Marvelous Effect, Marvelous World, Harry Potter, sci-fi, gaming, Daryl Mandryk, Ruder Finn, Joe DiVelario

I am not a 12 year old boy. But I kind of felt like it while reading Sharon Creech’s novel, Replay. From a 30 something year old mother of three, that’s a compliment.

Replay is a novel about a 12 year old boy, Leo, who nicknamed “Sardine” by his family. As you may surmise from his nickname, he often feels overshadowed by the more gregarious members of his Italian-American family. He writes about himself:

I was always in the middle or on the edge. Watching.

As a middle child, I get it. And the family dynamic is key to the story.

Despite feeling a little lost at home, Leo loves to be artistic, and has dreams of being a famous Broadway actor. He can’t imagine that anyone in his family understands how he feels - that is, of course, until he finds an journal belonging to his father. He also discovers that his father has a secret - a sister that he never talks about.

When the school holds auditions for its play, Leo is disappointed not to get the lead role, instead landing the role of the “old crone” who is… a woman! At first, he isn’t sure how he could possibly make the character his own. Through reading his father’s journal and delving further into his own family and his own life, he begins to breathe life into the character. Ultimately, he learns that sharing your story through writing, acting, performing or simply talking with your family is what brings us together. He also learns that being a standout doesn’t have to be about being the oldest, the loudest or the brightest star. Sometimes, just embracing who you are is really what sets you apart from the crowd.

Sharon Creech, Replay, adolescence

It’s the Friday Fifteen! Today’s guest is children’s author Amy Timberlake who wrote one of my girls’ favorite books, The Dirty Cowboy, illustrated by Adam Rex. Her newest book, That Girl Lucy Moon, is winning awards left and right:

1. Where are you now?
In my office staring at my laptop. There are a bunch of maps of southeastern Wisconsin to my right, a photo of an old cowboy named Bill Graham (not the preacher) in front of me. Piles of drafts of the book I’m working on now are all over my desk.

2. What were your favorite books as a kid?
Thurber’s Many Moons, The Nancy Drew Books, Agatha Christie Mysteries (Hercules Pie-rot only — that’s how I said his name). I also loved fairy tales (read those over and over again) and the King Arthur stories. Growing up, I was always at my local library — my library card was my prized possession. If you had a library card you were allowed to read ANYTHING. That’s how I saw it. I did get questioned now and again by my choices. (I couldn’t see over the edge of the check-out desk when I was reading Agatha Christie mysteries for instance — a few of the librarians thought I was a little young to be reading about murder.)

3. What are you reading now?
Some books for the book I’m writing. Also Katharine Weber, Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear and Anne Lamott’s Grace (Eventually), and some books on playwriting.

4. Do you have kids?
Haven’t seen any around lately.

5. What projects are you working on now?
A middle grade novel for Hyperion Books for Children. I just published a middle grade novel with them this fall called That Girl Lucy Moon.

6. What is your biggest writing or illustrating luxury?
My macintosh laptop. I love macs. They’re more expensive, but I believe everything is more enjoyable on a Mac. It’s kind of an emotional thing.

7. Coffee or tea?
Coffee if my husband makes it. Tea (with milk and sugar) if I make it.

8. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Keith Jarrett, Zap Mama, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mistsuko Uchida, and Woody Allen.

9. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I’m addicted to technology blogs.

10. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
Mount Holyoke College — graduated with a B.A. in American History

11. If you weren’t working with kids’ books, what would your dream job be?
A historian — I love the research and the writing, but I’m not crazy about academia, so I’m not sure how that would work out. Maybe I’d be one of those local historians who keeps records in their basement.

12. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
Old Westerns — anything Clint Eastwood. Sergio Leone is particularly great. By the way, I want Clint Eastwood’s poncho from those movies. If anyone has a knitting pattern, please pass it along — you can reach me through my website: www.amytimberlake.com.

13. How did you get your “big break” into the field?
I read 5 minutes of The Dirty Cowboy at an open mic during an SCBWI-Illinois Conference and an editor there came up to me and told me he wanted to see it. It was an amazing moment. This was in 2000.

14. Which celeb would you want most to meet?
Seriously? Seeing someone like Mother Theresa in action would change my life. For fun? Patricia Routledge seems like a hoot. Or maybe Emma Thompson — I love that she does her own adaptations, had her own show, and continues to be an amazing actor. I’d actually like to be like her. I don’t want to be an actor, I’d just like to be that good at what I do. For writers, I’d have to say I love Toni Morrison’s writing, though I don’t want to meet her. I mean what would I say? “You’re the best author ever!” Ugh. I just want her to write more and more and more books please.

15. Who is the best book character EVER?
Pippi Longstocking! Hey, that just came out. Funny how when you said “EVER” my favorite character as a child came out. I see I forgot to mention Pippi above. Read Pippi Longstocking everybody! Ha!

Ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell is adding a new title to her resume: children’s book author. The former Ginger Spice has announced that she a six-book publishing deal with Macmillan. The series revolves around 9-year-old Ugenia Lavender, who solves mysteries while dealing with everyday school life. Halliwell refers to the book as a little like “Alice in Wonderland meets Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

The first book in the series will be released next May, with one release each month to follow. Halliwell is also recording a theme song for the book which will be included on CD. Her new career gives her time at home to spend with new daughter, Bluebell Madonna.

Geri Halliwell, Spice Girls, MacMillan, Ginger Spice

It’s Beverly Cleary’s birthday!

The beloved children’s book author was born in 1916 in Oregon. Before she became a writer, she worked as a librarian, which inspired her to write her first book, Henry Huggins, in 1950. Since then she has gone out to have an amazing career, creating some of the most remarkable children’s book characters of our time including Ellen Tebbits and the infamous Ramona and Beezus.

Cleary won a number of awards, including the 1984 John Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8, were named 1978 and 1982 Newbery Honor Books, respectively. Cleary also won the American Library Association’s 1975 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the Catholic Library Association’s 1980 Regina Medal, and the University of Southern Mississippi’s 1982 Silver Medallion. Cleary was also the 1984 United States author nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, a prestigious international award.

Cleary now resides in California and has recently written her memoirs.

Books by Beverly Cleary include:

* Henry Huggins (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1950)
* Ellen Tebbits (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1951)
* Henry and Beezus (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1952)
* Otis Spofford (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1953)
* Henry and Ribsy (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1954)
* Beezus and Ramona (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1955)
* Fifteen (illus. by Joe and Beth Krush) - (1956)
* Henry and the Paper Route (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1957)
* The Luckiest Girl - (1958)
* Jean and Johnny (illus. by Joe and Beth Krush) - (1959)
* The Hullabaloo ABC (illus. by Earl Thollander) - (1960)
* Two Dog Biscuits (illus. by ? ?) - (1961) (companion to The Real Hole)
* Henry and the Clubhouse (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1962)
* Sister of the Bride (illus. by Joe and Beth Krush) - (1963)
* Ribsy (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1964)
* The Mouse and the Motorcycle (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1965)
* Mitch and Amy (illus. by Bob Marstall) - (1967)
* Ramona the Pest (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1968)
* Runaway Ralph (illus. by Louis Darling) - (1970)
* Socks (illus. by Beatrice Darwin) - (1973)
* Ramona the Brave (illus. by Alan Tiegreen) - (1975)
* Ramona and Her Father (illus. by Alan Tiegreen) - (1977)
* Ramona and Her Mother (illus. by Alan Tiegreen) - (1979)
* Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (illus. by Alan Tiegreen) - (1981)
* Ralph S. Mouse (illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky) - (1982)
* Dear Mr. Henshaw (illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky) - (1983)
* Ramona Forever (illus. by Alan Tiegreen) - (1984)
* Lucky Chuck (illus. by J. Winslow Higginbottom) - (1984)
* Two Dog Biscuits (illus. by DyAnne Disalvo-Ryan) - (1986) (companion to The Real Ho)
* A Girl from Yamhill: A Memoir - (1988)
* Muggie Maggie (illus. by Kay Life) - (1990)
* Strider (illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky) - (1991)
* Petey’s Bedtime Story (illus. by David Small) - (1993)
* My Own Two Feet - (1995)
* The Hullabaloo ABC (illus. by Ted Rand) - (1998)
* Ramona’s World (illus. by Alan Tiegreen) - (1999)

Beverly Cleary, Ramona