Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill met in 2016 in Cuba. This meeting marked the first time in a thousand years that the Pope and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church had met. The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox split in the Great Schism in 1054. The two leaders met for three hours.
Louisa Adams
Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams (born London, England, 1775; died Washington, DC, May 14, 1852) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1825 to March 4, 1829. She was the wife of John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States. She was the first First Lady not born in the United States. A few years after Adams’s presidency, he was elected to the House of Representatives. They lived in Washington, DC for another seventeen years. Older children could visit a website at: Louisa Adams.
Judy Blume (born Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1938) is a children’s author. She wrote, among other works, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great in 1972, Blubber in 1974, and Fudge-a-Mania in 1990. In 1996 she received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contributions to young adult literature. Children could visit her website at: Judy Blume.
Charles Darwin (born Shrewsberry, England, 1809; died Down, Kent, England, April 19, 1882) was a writer and a naturalist. He proposed the theory of natural selection after visiting the Galapagos Islands. One of his most famous works is The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. Young adults could read his works at: Project Gutenberg.
Christian McKay Heidicker (born 1982) writes books for middle schoolers and young adults. His book Scary Stories for Young Foxes received a 2020 Newbery Honor Award. His other works include Cure for the Common Universe. Middle schoolers and young adults can learn more at: Christian McKay Heidicker.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (born Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1809; died Washington, DC, April 15, 1865) was the sixteenth president (1861-1865) of the United States. He was born in a log cabin, and his formal schooling added up to one year. He taught himself law and fought in the Black Hawk War of 1832. He served in the state legislature and became a Congressman in 1846. His debates with Stephen A. Douglas made him a more well-known figure. The Civil War brought him terrible sorrows. He was shot five days after the end of the Civil War. Children could visit a website at: Abraham Lincoln. Children could read Russell Freedman’s book, Lincoln: A Photobiography. Russell Freedman received the 1988 Newbery Medal for the book.
Anna Pavlova (born St. Petersburg, Russia, 1881; died The Hague, The Netherlands, January 23, 1931) was a ballerina. She toured worldwide and made ballet more popular. She also studied dance of different countries. Even when she was famous, she practiced fifteen hours a day.
David Small (born Detroit, Michigan, 1945) is a writer and illustrator. His illustrations in The Gardener earned him a Caldecott Honor Award in 1998. His illustrations in So You Want to Be President? won the 2001 Caldecott Award. He received another Caldecott Honor Award in 2013 for One Cool Friend. Children can visit his fascinating website at: David Small.
Jacqueline Woodson (born Columbus, Ohio, 1963) is an AMAZING author of children’s books. She has won many awards. Miracle’s Boys received the Coretta Scott King Medal. Locomotion earned a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. Coming on Home Soon earned E. B. Lewis, the illustrator, a Caldecott Honor Award. Both Show Way and Feathers obtained Newbery Honor Awards. In 2006 Jacqueline received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. She earned a 2015 Newbery Honor Award for Brown Girl Dreaming. Children can visit her text-rich and visually appealing website at: Jacqueline Woodson.
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow! Today would be a good day to finish those valentines, bake those special cookies, or make simple gifts for those we love. Children could read The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing. Children could play some great Valentine’s Day games at: Valentine Activities.
American Magazine, the first magazine to print in the United States, was published for the first time in 1741 by Andrew Bradford.
Moving picture projector was patented in 1895. Auguste and Louis Lumiere created the cinematograph, and the first film they recorded was of workers leaving their factory.
Madrid Codices, created by Leonardo da Vinci, were discovered in 1964 in the National Library of Spain by American researchers. Da Vinci died in 1608, and these works found their way to Spain by about 1623. They got lost in the library around 1712. The books contain information about science, geometry, and fortification. Children could learn more at: Madrid Codices.
Mary GrandPré (born Aberdeen, South Dakota, 1954) illustrates books for children. Her illustrations in The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art earned her a 2015 Caldecott Honor Award. She also illustrated the US editions of the Harry Potter books.
Janet Taylor Lisle (born Englewood, New Jersey, 1947; died Boston, Massachusetts, October 5, 2023) wrote books for young adults. Her work Afternoon of the Elves received a 1990 Newbery Honor Award. Her book The Art of Keeping Cool received the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2001. Children can visit her website at: Janet Taylor Lisle.
William Sleator (born Havre de Grace, Maryland, 1945; died Bua Chet, Thailand, August 3, 2011) wrote science fiction books for young adults. His works include Interstellar Pig and The Green Futures of Tycho.
Simms Taback (born New York, New York, 1932; died Ventura, California, December 25, 2011) was an author and illustrator. He illustrated more than 40 books. His book There Was an Old Lady that Swallowed a Fly was a 1998 Caldecott Honor Book. Another of his books, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, won the 2000 Caldecott Medal. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Simms Taback.
Bess Truman
Elizabeth (Bess) Virginia Wallace Truman (born Independence, Missouri, 1885; died Independence, Missouri, October 18, 1982) was America’s First Lady from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953. She was the wife of Harry S Truman, thirty-third president of the United States. She did not like being First Lady because she found so little privacy. Also, many people compared her to Eleanor Roosevelt, the previous First Lady. She lived the longest of all First Ladies. Older children could visit a website at: Bess Truman.
Grant Wood (born near Anamosa, Iowa, 1892; died Iowa City, Iowa, February 12, 1942) was an artist and a teacher. He is most known for his paintings about the Midwest. One of his most famous works is American Gothic. Idea: American Gothic is often parodied. Students could update American Gothic. Children can read more about him and see some of his works at: Grant Wood.
Charles “Chuck” Yeager (born Myra, West Virginia, 1923; died Los Angeles, California, December 7, 2020) was a test pilot who broke the sound barrier in 1947.
Created by Sandie Obrin
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world. Three factors may contribute to the creation of Valentine’s Day. The holiday may have roots in an ancient Roman festival, Lupercalia. One saint named Valentine secretly married couples against a Roman emperor’s wishes. Another saint named Valentine refused to worship Roman gods and was arrested. Children tossed him notes, and thus the idea of exchanging valentines began. Other people believe birds choose their mates on Valentine’s Day. Idea: Instead of buying valentines, children could make cards. They could also learn more at: Valentine’s Day.
Anna’s Hummingbird in Big Bend
Great Backyard Bird Count occurs between February 14 and February 17! Children can spend as little as fifteen minutes in the backyard, identifying, counting, and photographing birds. They can submit their findings to add to the world’s knowledge of birds. Children can visit Great Backyard Bird Count. There they can find a printable bird checklist, data regarding past bird counts, and free apps to identify birds. What a fun, free, and engaging activity!
Oregon State Flag
Reverse Oregon State Flag
Oregon became the thirty-third state of the United States in 1859. The state’s nickname is the Beaver State. Salem is the state capital, but Portland is the largest city. It is the leading state in the production of Christmas trees. It is also one of the strongest states in regard to the environment. The state is the ninth largest state, and it is 43rd in population. The square dance is the state’s official dance.