They both carved out sterling reputations as military and political leaders over years of public service.

A state-backed program designed to help struggling elementary-school readers by delivering free books to their homes is set to start shipping books next month, and eligible families are being encouraged to sign up.

From left are: blues musician Buddy Guy; dancer and artistic director Suzanne Farrell; Bush; children's book author Beverly Cleary; and actor-director Ron Howard. Cleary’s publisher HarperCollins announced Friday that the author died Thursday in Carmel Valley, California, where she had lived since the 1960s. Trained as a librarian, Cleary didn’t start writing books until her early 30s when she wrote “Henry Huggins,” published in 1950. Among the “Henry” titles were “Henry and Ribsy,” “Henry and the Paper Route” and “Henry and Beezus.”AdRamona, perhaps her best-known character, made her debut in “Henry Huggins” with only a brief mention. Ad“Dear Mr. Henshaw,” the touching story of a lonely boy who corresponds with a children’s book author, won the 1984 John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Natalie Portman participates in the BUILD Speaker Series to discuss the film "Lucy in the Sky" in New York on Oct. 2, 2019, left, and the cover of "Natalie Portman's Fables," a book of popular children's fables with a friendlier, more gender inclusive twist. (AP Photo, left, Feiwel & Friends via AP)NEW YORK – Natalie Portman is putting her body through the paces to get into fighting shape for her next Marvel movie. Motherhood is what makes her latest project, “Natalie Portman’s Fables,” so close to her heart. “Children’s books have this very special place in our lives because we read them over and over and over again like no other books," the 39-year-old actress said. For her next writing project, Portman is hoping to tackle something in her son's comfort zone, perhaps a graphic novel.