celebrateandlearn

Jack Jouett’s Famous Ride 1781

 Events
Jun 042026
 
Silhouette of Jack Jouett - only known image

Silhouette of Jack Jouett – only known image

Jack Jouett became a hero on the night of June 3 into June 4, 1781. Jouett overheard British plans to capture Thomas Jefferson and others. Jouett understood how important the group was yet how vulnerable they were. He rode 45 miles through rough and tough Virginia countryside to warn Thomas Jefferson and members of the legislature that the British were coming. When the British arrived in Charlottesville, the Americans had escaped. Jouett has been called the “Paul Revere of the South.” Children could read Jack Jouett of Albemarle: The Paul Revere of the South by Jennie Thornley Grayson.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Jun 042026
 

Aesop (born perhaps this day 620 BC; died 564 BC) was a storyteller, best known for his fables. Little is really known about his life; some accounts state he was a slave who gained his freedom through his ability to entertain. Children can read a variety of his fables at: Project Gutenberg.

King George III

George III (born London, England, 1738; died Windsor Castle, England, January 29, 1820) was the King of England during the American Revolution. He realized he was not a good political leader. His actions probably contributed to the start of the war. At one point he almost abdicated. He experienced periods of dementia, and from 1811 until his death the country was actually run by his son, George IV. Children could read Jean Fritz’s Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?

Joyce Sidman (born Hartford, Connecticut, 1956) has written at least thirteen books of poetry for children. She received a 2011 Newbery Honor Award for Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night. Another of her books is Eureka! Poems about Inventors. Children can visit her website at: Joyce Sidman.

National Doughnut Day!

 Events
Jun 052026
 

DonutsNational Doughnut Day is today! Celebrated yearly on the first Friday in June, the day originally honored those volunteers who made and served doughnuts to servicemen and servicewomen since World War I. Today the day honors the delicious treat and its history as well. Over ten billion doughnuts are consumed yearly in the United States! Idea: Children could design a new type of doughnut.

Denmark Celebrates Constitution Day

 Events
Jun 052026
 

Flag of Denmark

Denmark celebrates Constitution Day. Its constitution was written in 1953, and the country is now a constitutional monarchy. According to the CIA World Factbook, Denmark is about twice the size of Massachusetts. The country is composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a number of islands. Because it is bordered by the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, winters are comparatively mild and summers are cool. About 5.6 million people live in Denmark. Copenhagen is the capital. Children can learn more at: Denmark.

Bananas to America in 1876

 Events
Jun 052026
 

Bananas were imported into the United States for the first time in 1876. Today Equador exports the most bananas, and over 2.7 billion bananas are imported into the United States each year. Children could learn more about bananas at: bananasBananas. Then they could make banana pudding and read Bananas Gorilla by Richard Scarry. Today is Richard Scarry’s birthday.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Jun 052026
 

John Couch Adams (born Laneast, Cornwall, England, 1819; died Cambridge, England, January 21, 1892) was a mathematician and astronomer. Using only mathematics, he predicted the location of the planet Neptune in 1845. Using Adams’s calculations, Johann Gottfried Galle, spied Neptune for the first time on September 23, 1846.

Allan Ahlberg (born England, 1938) has written at least 140 books for children. His wife Janet illustrated many of his books until she died in 1994. One of their collaborations is Each Peach Pear Plum. He also wrote The Jolly Postman.

Dr. Jill Biden

Jill Biden (born Hammonton, New Jersey, 1951) became America’s First Lady on January 20, 2021, concluding her role on January 20, 2025. She is the wife of former president Joe Biden. Dr. Jill Biden, Ed. D., is also a community college instructor. She was America’s Second Lady from January 20, 2009, to January 20, 2017 when Joe Biden was Vice President. Children can learn more at: Dr. Jill Biden.

. Books by Franklyn Bradley

Franklyn Branley (born New Rochelle, New York, 1915; died New Brunswick, Maine, May 5, 2002) wrote at least 115 books for children. Most of his books were about science, especially astronomy.

Kyle Lukoff (born Skokie, Illinois, 1984) has written at least eleven books for children. His book Too Bright to See received a 2022 Newbery Honor Award.

Rick Riordan (born San Antonio, Texas, 1964) writes books for young adults. His Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is extremely popular. Children can visit his website at: Rick Riordan.

Much Loved and Often Read Book by Richard Scarry

Richard Scarry (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1919; died Gstaad, Switzerland, April 30, 1994) was a children’s author and illustrator. He wrote more than 300 books, and over 100 million copies of his books were sold. His books include Busy, Busy Town and Bananas Gorilla. Children could learn more at: Richard Scarry.

Socrates (born Athens, 469 BC; died Athens, 399 BC) was a philosopher and a teacher. One of his most famous sayings is “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Idea: Children could find out more about the Socratic method of teaching at: Socrates.

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