celebrateandlearn

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Mar 102025
 

Mary Buff (born Cincinnati, Ohio, 1890; died 1970) wrote and illustrated fourteen books with her husband, Conrad Buff II. Theiy received a Caldecott Honor Award in 1943 for Dash and Dart. They received three Newbery Honor Awards: in 1947 for The Big Tree, in 1952 for The Apple and the Arrow, and in 1954 for Magic Maize.

Clare Boothe Luce (born New York, New York, 1903; died Washington, DC, October 9, 1987) was a writer and politician. She edited two magazines and wrote a number of plays. She was elected to the House of Representatives and was the first woman to be named ambassador to an important country. She was the US ambassador to Italy from 1953 to 1956.

Lillian D. Wald (born Cincinnati, Ohio, 1867; died Westport, Connecticut, September 1, 1940) was a nurse and social worker. She founded the Henry Street Settlement. It became an important public health nursing center. She campaigned actively to make Congress create the United States Children’s Bureau. Children can learn more at: Lillian Wald. The Henry Street Settlement continues to operate.

Johnny Appleseed Day

 Events
Mar 112025
 

Johnny Appleseed Day is celebrated today! John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, died in Allen County, Indiana, in 1845. Stories say he helped plant fruit orchards all along the frontier. He was a friend to both the Native Americans and the settlers. Children could plant some apple seeds in small containers. They could also dry apple rings. They could learn more at: Johnny Appleseed.

Samuel Mulliken Received Four Patents in 1791

 Events
Mar 112025
 

Samuel Mulliken received four patents in 1791. The Philadelphian was granted patents for:

  • a machine to thresh grain and corn – Patent X7
  • a device to break hemp – Patent X8
  • a strategy to cut and polish marble – Patent X9
  • a device to raise a nap on cloth – Patent X10

These patents were the last of the first ten patents issued in the United States. Unfortunately, a fire in the temporary building housing early patents destroyed all the early patents, so Mulliken’s documentation has been lost.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Mar 112025
 

Ralph Abernathy (born Linden, Alabama, 1926; died Atlanta, Georgia, April 17, 1990) was a civil rights leader. He helped organize the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, and he worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr. He assumed some of King’s responsibilities after King was assassinated. Children could learn more at: Ralph Abernathy.

Libba Bray (born Montgomery, Alabama, 1964) writes books for young adults. Her books include Going Bovine, which received the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award, and Beauty Queens. Young adults can visit her site at: Libba Bray.

Wanda Gág (born New Ulm, Minnesota, 1893; died New York, New York, June 27, 1946) wrote and illustrated books for children. Her book Millions of Cats received a1929 Newbery Honor Award. The ABC Bunny earned Gág a1934 Newbery Honor Award. Nothing at All received a 1942 Caldecott Honor Award. Notice that she earned both a Caldecott and Newbery Awards. Children could read Deborah Kogan Ray’s book, Wanda Gág: The Girl Who Loved to Draw. They can also learn more at: Wanda Gag.

Ezra Jack Keats (born Brooklyn, New York, 1916; died New York, New York, May 6, 1983) was a children’s author and illustrator. He wrote, among other works, The Snowy Day which received the 1963 Caldecott Medal. In addition, Goggles received a 1970 Caldecott Honor Award. In 1985 the Ezra Jack Keats Book Awards were created. Every year the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation honors the best new authors and illustrators. Children can learn more at: Ezra Jack Keats. Children could also learn more about Ezra Jack Keats and the Ezra Jack Keats Book Awards from Children’s Book Award Handbook, by Diana F. Marks.

Robert Treat Paine (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1731; died Boston, Massachusetts, May 11, 1814) signed the Declaration of Independence. He was also elected to the Constitutional Convention. From 1777 to 1790 he was our country’s first attorney general. He also served on the Massachusetts State Supreme Court from 1790 to 1804. Children could learn more at: Robert Treat Paine.

Mauritius Celebrates Independence Day

 Events
Mar 122025
 
Mauritius

Flag of Mauritius

Mauritius celebrates Independence Day. It became a free nation in 1968, but it is still part of the British Commonwealth. About 2/3 the size of Rhode Island, this island country is located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. The island had been colonized by various countries and often served as a way station for navies. About 1.3 million people live on the island, and sugar cane is the predominant crop. Port Louis is the capital.

“Fireside Chats” Were Held for the First Time by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933

 Events
Mar 122025
 

“Fireside Chats” were held for the first time by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. These radio broadcasts from the White House were his way of communicating his concerns and triumphs to America. He delivered 30 Fireside Chats over eleven years. He started a trend that other presidents followed. For example, President Obama delivered an online weekly address. Older children could see the list of Fireside Chats at: Fireside Chats. Then they can click on each one to see the text.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Mar 122025
 

Daniel Cohen (born Chicago, Illinois, 1936; died Cape May, New Jersey, May 6, 2018) wrote over 100 nonfiction books for children. His books include Allosaurus and other Jurassic Meat-Eaters and Civil War Ghosts.

Charles Cunningham Boycott (born Norfolk, England, 1832; died Suffolk, England, June 19, 1897) is famous because his last name is so much a part of our language. He owned a number of properties. He charged high rents, and he evicted those who could not pay the money. The tenants refused to rent from him, and thus the word boycott came into being. Idea: Brainstorm a list of words that have come from someone’s name.

Virginia Hamilton (born Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1936; died Yellow Springs, Ohio, February 19, 2002) wrote at least 41 books for children. She received many, many honors and awards, including the 1992 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the 1995 Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, and several Coretta Scott King Awards. Her book M. C. Higgins the Great received the 1975 Newbery Medal. She also wrote In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World which received a 1989 Newbery Honor Award.  Children could visit a website devoted to her at: Virginia Hamilton.

Carl Hiaasen (born Plantation, Florida, 1953) writes books for children and young adults. His book Hoot received a 2003 Newbery Honor Award. Children can visit his website at: Carl Hiaasen.

Naomi Shihab Nye (born Saint Louis, Missouri, 1952) writes poetry and novels. Her book Sitti’s Secrets received the 1998 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award.

Jane Pierce

Jane Means Appleton Pierce (born Hampton, New Hampshire, 1806; died Andover, Massachusetts, December 2, 1863) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1853 to March 4, 1857. She was the wife of Franklin Pierce, fourteenth president of the United States. She did not want her husband to run for the office. Mourning the death of one of their sons, she was not a very active First Lady. Children could visit a website at: Jane Pierce.

Wally Schirra (born Hackensack, New Jersey, 1923; died La Jolla, California, May 3, 2007) was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts. He was the first person to travel into space three times. In 1962 he piloted Mercury-Atlas 8 and orbited the earth six times. Then he was part of the crew of Gemini 6A. He was commander of Apollo 7. He and his crew spent eleven days in space, carrying out experiments. He received an Emmy for his transmissions from space to earth. After his NASA years, he became a television commentator regarding the space program. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Wally Schirra.

Andrew Young (born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1932) is a civil rights leader. He was a Congressperson from Georgia 1973 to 1977, United States ambassador to the United Nations in the Carter administration from 1977 to 1979, and mayor of Atlanta from 1982 to 1990, . Children could learn more at: Andrew Young.

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