Children's author Beverly Cleary and her beloved characters, including Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ribsy, have been enchanting children for more than 50 years. Her books have earned her such prestigious awards as 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. Among Mrs. Cleary's other honors is the American Library Association's 1975 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for her lasting contribution to literature for children. In addition, she was the United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1984 and was named a "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress in 2000. Equally important to Cleary are the more than 35 statewide awards her books have received based on the direct votes of her young readers. Mrs. Cleary's books appear in numerous foreign editions around the world.