Sieur de La Salle Discovered the Mississippi River in 1682

 Events
Apr 092026
 

Mississippi River Basin

Sieur de La Salle, a French explorer, found the Mississippi River in 1682 and claimed it and the waters draining into it for France. The Mississippi River, 2,348 miles long, is the longest river in the United States. It ranges in depth from nine feet to 100 feet, and its drainage basin includes over one million square miles. Idea: Trace a map of the United States. Color the states whose rivers empty into the Mississippi. Add tributaries, such as the Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas Rivers.

Civil War Ended in 1865

 Events
Apr 092026
 

McLean House

Civil War ended in 1865 when Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia. Over 600,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, more than all the wars in total the United States has ever fought. Because most of the war had been waged in the South, many of the southern states suffered severe damages. The war, however, ended slavery and reunited all the states. Idea: The Civil War changed ideas regarding battle. Children could research the new machinery and novel battle strategies were used.

First Astronauts (Mercury Seven) Were Named in 1959

 Events
Apr 092026
 

First United States astronauts (Mercury Seven) were appointed in 1959. All seven original astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton) were men, and they were all in the military. Children could investigate present astronaut requirements. Who are some of our present astronauts? How have astronaut requirements changed since the beginning of the program? Children could learn more at: Mercury Seven.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Apr 092026
 

Margaret Peterson Haddix (born Washington Court House, Ohio, 1964) has written at least 30 books for children. Her books include The Missing series and the Shadow Children series. Children could read more at: http://haddixbooks.com/.

Mary Jackson (born Hampton, Virginia, 1921; died Hampton, Virginia, February 11, 2005) was a mathematician and NASA’s first Black female aerospace engineer. She was featured in the movie Hidden Figures. Children can learn more at: Mary Jackson.

Onion John

Onion John

Joseph Krumgold (born Jersey City, New Jersey, 1908; died Hope Township, New Jersey, July 10, 1980) wrote books for children. He was the first author to receive two Newbery Medals. He received the 1954 Medal for …And Now Miguel, and his book Onion John earned the 1960 Medal. Children can learn more at: Joseph Krumgold.

Paul Bustill Robeson (born Princeton, New Jersey, 1898; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1976) was an African American singer and actor.

Leonard Wibberley (born Dublin, Ireland, 1915; died Santa Monica, California, November 22, 1983) wrote at least 100 books. His most famous book is The Mouse that Roared. Children can learn more at: Leonard Wibberley.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Apr 102026
 

David A. Adler (born New York, New York, 1947) is an award-winning children’s author. He has written over 265 books. One of his books is Lou Gehrig, the Luckiest Man. He also writes the Cam Jansen series. Children can visit his website at: David A. Adler.

Button Guinnett

Button Guinnett (born Gloustershire, England, 1735; died Savannah, Georgia, May 19, 1777) signed the Declaration of Independence. After he moved to Georgia in 1765, he prospered at farming. He became active in politics. However, he was killed in a duel. The British seized his plantation, and his wife and daughter died soon after. Children can learn more at: Button Guinnett.

Eric Oswald Mowbray Knight (born England, 1897; died in airplane crash while in the military during World War II, January 15, 1943) was an author. He and his wife moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he wrote Lassie Come-Home. Children can learn more at: Knight.

Clare Turlay Newberry (born Enterprise, Oregon, 1903; died San Diego, California, February 12, 1970) wrote and illustrated books for children. She earned four Caldecott Honor Awards: in 1939 for Barkis, in 1941 for April’s Kittens, in 1943 for Marshmallow. and in 1951 for T-Bone the Babysitter. Almost all her books were about cats. Children can learn more at: Cats. Children can also learn more at: Clare Turlay Newberry.

Richard Peck (born Decatur, Illinois, 1934; died New York, New York, May 23, 2018) wrote more than 30 books for children. A Long Way from Chicago was a 1999 Newbery Honor Book. A Year Down Under won the 2001 Newbery Medal.

Frances Perkins (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1880; died New York, New York, May 14, 1965) was the first woman cabinet member, serving as Secretary of Labor for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945. Children can learn more at: Frances Perkins.

Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry (born Newport, Rhode Island, 1794; died New York, New York, March 4, 1858) was the American officer who peacefully negotiated with the Japanese to open its harbors to world trade. He sailed into Tokyo Bay in July 1853. By combining diplomacy with a show of military power, he gained the trust of the Japanese. This agreement made Japan a world power by 1900.

Joseph Pulitzer (born Budapest, Hungary, 1847; died Charleston, South Carolina, October 29, 1911) was a journalist and newspaper owner. He came to the United States to fight in the Civil War. After the war he was a reporter for a Saint Louis newspaper. Later he became a part owner in the newspaper. For a while he served in the House of Representatives. He bought several newspapers and continued to be active in politics. His will provided money for the Pulitzer Prizes, including the areas of journalism, literature, drama, music, and public service. Idea: The Pulitzer Prizes have no special category for juvenile literature. Children could create their own prizes for their favorite books. Children could peruse an index of Pulitzer Prize winners at: Pulitzer Winners.

Martin Waddell (born Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1941) writes books for children. He received the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2004 for his body of works. His works include the Little Bear books and the Mimi Mouse books.

National Pet Day

 Events
Apr 112026
 

National Pet Day is today! Animal Welfare advocate Colleen Page created the day in 2005. Children could have a pet parade, or they could prepare special treats for their pets. Children could make a list of possible pets. They could also read What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss. That book would suggest some very unusual pets!

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