A plaque by Ribsy's statue reads as follows: "People liked Ribsy, and Ribsy liked people. Ribsy was what you might call a well-adjusted dog."
From
Wikipedia:
"Henry Huggins is a character appearing in a series of children's literature novels by Beverly Cleary, first appearing in Henry Huggins. Henry is a young boy living on Klickitat Street in Portland, Oregon. The novels take place in the 1950s, which is when Cleary wrote most of the books. The books describe several different adventures that Henry experiences in his neighborhood, as well as Henry's interactions with other neighborhood children."
"Ribsy is Henry's dog; the dog was named "Ribsy" because when Henry found him, he was so thin, his ribs were showing."
In addition to the statue of Ribsy are statues of Henry Huggins (Ribsy's owner) and Ramona Quimby; these are three of the characters in Beverly Cleary's beloved books for young adults and children. They are located in Grant Park in Portland, Oregon, USA.
From the
Grant Park website:
"Grant Park was the setting for many scenes in children's books by Beverly Cleary. In 1991, a group of teachers, librarians, and business people formed the Friends of Henry & Ramona, and began to raise funds for the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden for Children. Portland artist Lee Hunt created life-sized bronze statues of three of Cleary's best-loved characters - Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Henry's dog Ribsy. Fountains were installed under Ramona's and Ribsy's feet for kids to splash in during warm weather. Scattered around the concrete fountain slab are granite plaques engraved with the titles of the Cleary books that take place in Portland - and a map of the neighborhood showing where events in the books "really happened." The Sculpture Garden was dedicated on October 13, 1995."
From the
Multnomah County Library website:
"Ramona Quimby is the beloved young heroine of Beverly Cleary's whimsical books about growing up in Northeast Portland. She has been immortalized in the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden for Children in Portland's Grant Park (which is four blocks from the real Klickitat Street)."
"Portland artist Lee Hunt sculpted the statues of the three Cleary characters in clay, and then had them cast in bronze. Fountains are under Ramona's and Ribsy's feet, perfect for kids to splash in during warm weather. Around the concrete fountain slab are granite plaques engraved with the titles of the Cleary books that take place in Portland. These include all the Henry Huggins books, Ribsy, Otis Spofford and all the books involving Ramona and her older sister Beezus."
"The dedication of the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden on October 13, 1995 was a great celebration! Over 1000 people came on a beautiful afternoon to see local actors in the roles of Henry, Ribsy and Ramona, unveil the three sculptures. Beverly Cleary spoke about growing up in the neighborhood and shared her memories of Grant Park and Grant High School in the 1930s."
"The sculpture garden is just south of the playground in Grant Park on N.E. 33rd Ave., between Knott Street and Broadway, adjacent to Grant High School. You can't see it from 33rd; you must actually come into the park to find the statues. The Portland Parks Department will turn on the water when weather and conditions permit."