Frank Robinson in 1974 became the first African American to be hired as a major league baseball team manager. He was the only player to be selected most valuable player by both the National League and the American League. He was hired to manage the Cleveland Indians. Children could learn more at: Frank Robinson.
Captain Kangaroo premiered on television on CBS in 1955. The show ended in 1984.
Mickey Mouse Club began its first season on ABC also in 1955. The original series ended in 1960, but it was revamped in 1977 to 1979 and again in 1989 to 1996.
Natalie Savage Carlson (born Kernstown, Virginia, 1906; died Middletown, Rhode Island, September 23, 1997) wrote at least eighteen books for children. She received a 1959 Newbery Honor Award for The Family Under the Bridge. Children can learn more at: Natalie Savage Carlson.
Molly Cone (born Tacoma, Washington, 1918; died March 26, 2016) wrote over 45 books for children. Her works include the Mishmash series. and Come Back, Salmon.
James Alfred Wight Herriot (born Glasgow, Scotland, 1916; died Yorkshire, England, February 23, 1995) was a writer and veterinarian. He wrote among other works All Creatures Great and Small.
John Himmelman (born Kittery, Maine, 1959) has written and illustrated over 80 children’s books. His works include Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny and Duck to the Rescue.
Harvey Kurtzman (born Brooklyn, New York, 1924; died Mount Vernon, New York, February 21, 1993) founded Mad magazine in 1952. Idea: Children could poll parents and teachers as to their attitudes toward Mad magazine.
Thomas Clayton Wolfe (born Asheville, North Carolina, 1900; died Baltimore, Maryland, September 15, 1938) was an author. One of his most well known works is You Can’t Go Home Again.
Mother and Child Chimpanzees
World Animal Day is today! First celebrated in 1925, the day aligns with the feast day of Saint Francis of Assissi, patron saint of animals. This year’s theme is Great or small, love them all. The day reminds us of the importance of animals and that we should care for them. The day also reminds us of the importance of saving endangered animal species. Idea: Children could list all the animals they can think of and then group them say into farm animals, forest animals, jungle animals. Then children could eat animal crackers.
World Space Week, sponsored by the United Nations, is from October 4 through October 10. Created in 1999, the week commemorates events in space. This year’s theme is “Space Entrepeneurship.” Two events sparked the choice of these days:
Other events related to space and air travel on this date are:
SpaceShipOne
Flag of Lesotho
Lesotho celebrates Independence Day. It became free from British rule in 1966. The country, about the size of Maryland, is entirely surrounded by South Africa. Almost two million people live in Lesotho, and Maseru is the capital. Tourism is a major industry.
Gregorian calendar adjustment was made in 1582. Earlier that year Pope Gregory XIII had announced that the day following October 4 would be October 15. The adjustment took place in most Catholic countries. Great Britain and the colonies did not change until 1752.
Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run in 2022. His team, the Yankees, were playing the Texas Rangers in Texas. Jesús Tinoco was the pitcher. This last home run broke Roger Maris’s record of 61 home runs, set in 1961.
Julia Cunningham (born Spokane, Washington, 1916; died Santa Barbara, California, February 27, 2008) wrote books for children. Her books include Dorp Dead and The Treasure Is the Rose. Children can learn more at: Julia Cunningham.
Karen Cushman (born Chicago, Illinois, 1941) is a children’s author. Catherine, Called Birdie was a 1995 Newbery Honor book. The Midwife’s Apprentice was the 1996 Newbery Award winner. Children can visit her website at: Karen Cushman.
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes (born Delaware, Ohio, 1822; died Fremont, Ohio, January 17, 1893) was the nineteenth president (1877-1881) of the United States. He attended Harvard Law School. During the Civil War he was wounded five times. At the end of the war, he found himself with the rank of general. He returned to Ohio and eventually became its governor. He ran for president. He lost the popular vote, but he won the Electoral College vote. He concerned himself with improving civil service, and he ended a major railroad strike. He chose to run for only one term. Children can learn more at: Rutherford B. Hayes.
Robert Lawson (born New York, New York, 1862; died Rabbit Hill, Westport, Connecticut, May 26, 1957) wrote and/or illustrated at least 45 books for children. He is the only person to earn both a Newbery Medal (in 1945 for Rabbit Hill) and a Caldecott Medal (in 1941 for They Were Strong and Good). He also received a 1958 Newbery Honor Award for The Great Wheel. Children can learn more at: Robert Lawson.
Eliza McCardle Johnson
Eliza McCardle Johnson (born Leesburg, Tennessee, 1810; died Carter’s Station, Tennessee, January 15, 1876) was America’s First Lady from April 15, 1865 to March 4, 1869. She was the wife of Andrew Johnson, seventeenth president of the United States. She was frail and did not always serve as hostess in the White House. Her daughter, Martha Johnson Patterson, took over the role for her when she was ill.
Frederic Remington (born Canton, New York, 1861; died Ridgefield, Connecticut, December 26, 1909) was an artist. He was particularly interested in the Old West. His paintings are filled with action and adventure. He is also famous for his bronze works. Children could view many of his works at: Frederic Remington.
Damon Runyon (born Manhattan, Kansas, 1884; died New York, New York, December 10, 1946) was an author and a reporter. He is famous for his witty stories, including Guys and Dolls and Butch Minds the Baby.
Donald Sobol (born New York, New York, 1924; died Miami, Florida, July 11, 2012) wrote more than 65 books for children. He was best known for his Encyclopedia Brown series. Children can learn more at: Donald Sobol.
Edward Stratemeyer (born Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1862; died Newark, New Jersey, May 10, 1930) developed the Stratemeyer Syndicate that published more than 800 books for children and young adults. His Stratemeyer Syndicate produced such series as The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, The Bobbsey Twins, and Tom Swift. Idea: The Tom Swift series generated puns called Tom Swifties. Children could visit a website at: Tom Swifties. Students could enjoy the puns and then create some of their own.
United Nations Flag
World Habitat Day is today! Sponsored by the United Nations, the day occurs on the first Monday in October. The day reminds us of the right to adequate shelter. It also celebrates towns and cities. This year’s theme is Urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery. The first celebration began in 1986 with a conference in Nairobi, Kenya.