Celebrate and Learn

William Blount (Born Bertie, County, North Carolina, 1749; died Knoxville, Tennessee, March 21, 1800) represented North Carolina at the Constitutional Convention. Children can learn more at: William Blount.

George Clymer (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1739; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1813) was an American patriot. He was one of six men to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Later he served as a representative from Pennsylvania during the first term of the House of Representatives. Children can learn more at: George Clymer.

Sid Fleischman (born Brooklyn, New York, 1920; died Santa Monica, California, March 17, 2010) wrote at least 35 books for children. He received the 1987 Newbery Medal for The Whipping Boy. Another one of his excellent books is By the Great Horn Spoon! His son is writer Paul Fleischman. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Sid Fleischman. In 2003 the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators honored Fleischman by creating the Sid Fleischman Humor Award, rewarding authors who incorporate laughter into their books. Fleischman received the first award in 2003. Children can learn more about the award and the recipients at: Sid Fleischman Award. Children could read a biography of Fleischman and learn more about the Sid Fleischman Award by reading Children’s Book Award Handbook, by Diana F. Marks.

Caroline Lucretia Herschel (born Hanover, Germany, 1750; died Hanover, Germany, January 9. 1848) was an astronomer. Sister of famous astronomer William Herschel, she became a well-regarded astronomer in her own right. She was the first woman to discover a comet (comet 35-P/Herschel-Rigollet). She also produced Catalogue of Stars, an index of all stars that had been observed and cataloged. Children could learn more at: Caroline Lucretia Herschel. They could also read Caroline’s Comets by Emily Arnold McCully.

Eric P. Kelly (born Amesbury, Massachusetts, 1884; died January 3, 1960) was a journalist and writer of children’s books. He wrote at least fifteen books, and his book The Trumpeter of Krakow received the 1929 Newbery Medal.

James Madison

James Madison (born Port Conway, Virginia, 1751; died Montpelier, Virginia, June 28, 1836) was the fourth president (1809-1817) of the United States. He is known as the “Father of the Constitution” because he continually pushed and pulled the delegates into meeting and resolving differences. He also wrote the first draft of the Bill of Rights. He was a Congressperson for four terms. While he was president, he had to contend with the War of 1812. Children could visit a website at: James Madison. They could read Jean Fritz’s The Great Little Madison.

Patricia Nixon

Thelma Catherine Patricia Ryan Nixon (born Ely, Nevada, 1912; died Park Ridge, New Jersey, June 22, 1993) was America’s First Lady from January 20, 1969 to August 9, 1974. She was the wife of Richard M. Nixon, thirty-seventh president of the United States. She met Nixon when she was teaching in Whittier, California. During World War II, she worked as a government economist. Children could visit a website at: Pat Nixon.

Georg Simon Ohm (born Erlangen, Germany, 1787; died Munich, Germany, July 6, 1854) was a physicist. He originated Ohm’s Law. The ohm, a measure of electrical resistance, honors him. Children could find out more about Ohm’s Law and electrical resistance. They could learn more at: Georg Simon Ohm.