You're Invited to the Beverly Cleary Birthday Bash

How many birthdays for 100-year-olds can you attend?

Step off, Beyoncé—Beverly Cleary turns 100 on April 12. It's time to raise the roof for the long-reigning queen of children's literature.

Believe it or not, Portland has an event to celebrate Cleary's birthday, so you don't have to go to Grant Park to keep the Ramona statue company alone.

On April 2, OPB will host a birthday celebration for Cleary at both the Hollywood Theatre and the Hollywood Library, which will include walking tours and giveaways of Walking With Ramona, which is a self-guided tour through the Northeast Portland neighborhood featured in the books. You can also sign a birthday card for Cleary, and there will be a Ramona to take photos with.

The events will also include a screening of OPB's newest ArtBeat documentary special Discovering Beverly Cleary, which is somehow, unconscionably, the first Cleary-focused documentary, and includes interviews with Cleary about growing up in Northeast Portland, as well as with her longtime editor and other authors. The half-hour special will premiere on OPB TV and online April 7 at 8 pm.

The Multnomah County Library is also hosting a Beverly Cleary birthday celebration, which will take place from 1 to 4 pm on Saturday, April 9, in the U.S. Bank Room at the Central Library. The party is family-geared, with readings, crafts and a costume contest.

In not-Northwest news, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Henry Huggins and The Mouse and the Motorcycle will be republished in honor of Cleary's birthday, with new forewords by Judy Blume, Amy Poehler and Kate DiCamillo.

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