Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1950. Her book of poetry, Annie Allen, described the life of an African American girl growing up during World War II. Older children could read a great article about Brooks and the Pulitzer at: Gwendolyn Brooks.
Alan Shepard aboard Freedom 7
Alan Shepard, aboard Freedom 7, became the first American and the second man to travel in space. The year was 1961. The astronaut traveled about 115 miles into space at 5,000 miles per hour. Children can learn more at: Alan Shepard.
Nellie Bly
Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1867; died New York, New York, January 22, 1922) was perhaps the leading female journalist of her time. She worked for the Pittsburgh Dispatch, reporting on working conditions, slum life and other topics. She moved to New York and worked on Pulitzer’s New York World. She pretended to be insane, and she was institutionalized. She then reported on the extreme conditions she found there. Perhaps her most exciting adventure came when she followed the route of Jules Verne’s imaginary Phileas Fogg and traveled around the world in 72 days. Children could read or listen to copies of her books at: Project Gutenberg. Children could also read Bonnie Christensen’s The Daring Nellie Bly: America’s Star Reporter.
J. Patrick Lewis (born Gary, Indiana, 1942) has written over 100 poetry and and fiction books for children. His books include the Tugg and Tiny series and What’s Looking at You, Kid?
Inch by Inch
Leo Lionni (born Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1910; died Chianti, Italy, October 11, 1999) was an author/illustrator of over 40 books. He earned four Caldecott Honor Awards: Inch by Inch in 1961, Swimmy in 1964, Frederick in 1968, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse in 1970.
Todd Strasser (born New York, New York, 1950) has written more than 140 books for middle-grade children. He also uses the pen names Morton Rhue and T. S. Rue. His books include The Wave and Thief of Dreams. Children can learn more at: Todd Strasser.
National Teacher Appreciation Day is today! The recognition goes back to 1944 when Mattye Whyte Woodbridge, an Arkansas teacher, wrote Eleanor 
Roosevelt. Woodbridge felt teachers needed a pat on the back, and Roosevelt agreed. She worked with Congress to create a Teacher Appreciation Day. Did you know there are 6.2 million teachers in the United States?
Hindenburg before last Flight
Hindenburg dirigible exploded in 1937 at 7:20 PM. Thirty-six of the 97 passengers and crew died. It was approaching its mooring mast at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Children could learn how modern-day airships work at: Airships.
Roger Bannister
Roger Bannister was the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes in 1954. In Oxford, England, about 3,000 spectators watched the young doctor complete the mile run in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. His record lasted only 46 days when John Landy ran the mile in 3 minutes 58 seconds.
The Channel Tunnel, also called the Chunnel, connecting the United Kingdom and France, opened in 1994. It is 31 miles long, 23 of those miles under water. Digging beneath the English Channel began in 1988. Today about 18 million people travel on trains through the Chunnel each year. Children could learn more at a very interesting site: http://www.eurotunnel.com/build/.
Judy Delton (born Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1931; died Saint Paul, Minnesota, December 31, 2001) wrote more than 100 books for children. Her books include the Pee Wee Scouts series, The Goose Who Wrote a Book and Angel in Charge. Children can learn more at: Judy Delton.
Sigmund Freud (born Freiberg, Moravia, 1856; died London, England, September 23, 1939) changed the field of psychiatry. He believed that most behavior was caused by unconscious parts of the brain.
Ted Lewin (born Buffalo, New York, 1935; died July 28, 2021) wrote and/or illustrated at least 200 books for children. He often worked with his wife Betsy. I Was Teenage Professional Wrestler was his autobiography. His illustrations in Peppe the Lamplighter earned him a 1994 Caldecott Honor Award. Children can learn more at: Ted Lewin.
Giulio Maestro (born New York, New York, 1942) has illustrated over 125 books for children. Many of those books were written by his wife Betsy. He has also written some riddle books.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays (born Westfield, Alabama, 1931; died Palo Alto, California, June 18, 2024) was a famous and influential baseball player. An outfielder, he hit 660 homeruns during his career. He is remembered for making a spectacular catch during the 1954 World Series. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Robert E. Peary (born Cresson, Pennsylvania, 1856; died Washington, DC, February 20, 1920) was an explorer. He led eight expeditions to the Arctic. He claimed he found the North Pole on April 6, 1909. Children could learn more at: Peary.
John Penn (born Caroline County, Virginia, 1740; died Williamsburg, North Carolina, September 14, 1788) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented North Carolina. A lawyer, he also signed the Articles of Confederation. Idea: Children could read about a duel he almost fought. They could also learn more at: John Penn.
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania sank in 1915. It was torpedoed by Germany, and 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, died. The ship was traveling from New York to Liverpool, England. The United States protested the action, but Germany countered that the ship held munitions for England and was fair game. The sinking created anti-German feelings in the United States, and America declared war on Germany on April 4, 1917.
A pearl weighing fourteen pounds was removed from a Philippine clam (yes, a clam) in 1934. Known as the Pearl of Allah or the Pearl of Lao Tzu, the pearl measures almost ten inches in diameter and weighs about 14.1 pounds. The pearl’s ownership is now in dispute.