Birthdays

May 022025

Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great (born Stettin, now Szczecin, Poland, 1729; died St. Petersburg, Russia, November 17, 1796) was Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. She is credited with making Russia into a modern state.

Elijah McCoy

Elijah McCoy (born Colchester, Ontario, Canada, 1844; died Eloise, Michigan, October 10, 1929) was an inventor. The son of runaway slaves, he patented over 50 inventions. His most famous invention was a way to lubricate train engines as they worked. His inventions were so reliable that people did not want to buy imitations. Thus, his name is honored with the phrase, “the Real McCoy.” Children can learn more at: Elijah McCoy.

Mary Quattlebaum (born Bryan, Texas, 1958) has written at least 23 books for children. Her books include the Jackson Jones series and A Year on My Street.

Susan Richards Shreve (born Toledo, Ohio, 1939) writes books for children and adults. Her books include the Joshua T. Bates series and The Lovely Shoes. Her book Lucy Forever and Miss Rosetree, Shrinks received the Edgar Award in 1988. Children could visit her website at: Susan Shreve.

Birthdays

May 032025

Mavis Jukes (born Nyack, New York, 1947) writes books for children. Her books include No One Is Going to Nashville and Blackberries in the Dark. She received a 1985 Newbery Honor Award for Like Jake and Me.

Golda Meir

Golda Meir (born Golda Mabovitz in Kiev, Ukraine, 1898; died Jerusalem, Israel, December 8, 1978) moved to the United States in 1906. She left the United States for Palestine in 1921. It was divided into Israel and an Arab state in 1948. She served in various government capacities in Israel and was its Prime Minister from 1969 to 1974.

One Photo by Jacob Riis

Jacob August Riis (born Ribe, Denmark, 1849; died Barre, Massachusetts, May 26, 1914) was a journalist and a photographer. He came to the United States in 1870 and found employment as a carpenter. He became a reporter and concentrated on the plight of the poor and on child labor. His works brought about changes in city housing, parks, and schools. He was one of the first photographers to use flash bulbs. Children can view some of his works at: Project Gutenberg. Children could read the excellent book Immigrant Kids by Lewis Hine, Jacob Riis, and Russell Freedman.

Birthdays

May 042025

Doug Cushman (born Springfield, Ohio, 1953) has written and/or illustrated at least 125 books for children. His books include the Aunt Eater series and the Dirk Bones series. Children can learn more at: Doug Cushman.

Horace Mann (born Franklin, Massachusetts, 1796; died Yellow Springs, Ohio, August 2, 1859) is known as “the father of public education in the United States.” He was the editor of the Common School Journal. Idea: Children could find out more about Mann and his ideas about education.

Julia Gardiner Tyler

Julia Gardiner Tyler (born Gardiner’s Island, New York, 1820; died Richmond, Virginia, July 10, 1889) was America’s First Lady from June 26, 1844 to March 4, 1845. She was the second wife of John Tyler, tenth president of the United States. They were married while he was president. Siding toward the Confederacy, John Tyler died before the beginning of the Civil War. Later, Congress voted to give her a pension. Children could visit a website at: Julia Gardiner Tyler.

Birthdays

May 052025

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.

Birthdays

May 062025

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.

Birthdays

May 072025

Johannes Brahms (born Hamburg, Germany, 1833; died Vienna, Austria, April 3, 1897) was a great classical composer of concertos, symphonies and chamber music. Experts believe his strength was his ability to produce a theme and then to modify it as the music went on.

Nonny Hogrogian (born New York, New York, 1932) is an author and illustrator. She has won two Caldecott Medals, for Always Room for One More in 1966 and for One Fine Day in 1972. Her book The Contest received a 1977 Caldecott Honor Award.

Edwin H. Land

Edwin Herbert Land (born Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1909; died Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 1, 1991) was an inventor and a scientist. He created the Polaroid Land camera, and he held more than 500 patents. Children can learn more at: Edwin Herbert Land.

Peter Tchaikovsky (born Votinsk, Russia, 1840; died Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 6, 1893) was a composer. He created six symphonies, three ballets, and eleven operas. Two of his ballets were Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

Deborah Wiles (born Mobile, Alabama, 1953) writes books for children. Her books include the Aurora County Trilogy and The Sixties Project. Children can learn more at: Deborah Wiles.

Birthdays

May 082025

Ellen Howard (born New Bern, South Carolina, 1943) writes books for children. Her books include the Log Cabin series and The Crimson Cap.

Milton Meltzer (born Worcester, Massachusetts, 1915; died New York, New York, September 19, 2009) wrote about 100 books for children. He received the 2001 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his lifelong contribution to children’s literature. His books include Piracy and Plunder and Bound for America.

Journey Outside

Mary Q. Steele (born Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1922; died Chapel Hill, North Carolina, July 6, 1992) wrote over twenty books for children and adults. Married to author William O. Steele, she stated that she was born an author. Her book Journey Outside received a 1970 Newbery Honor Award.

Harry Truman

Harry Truman (born Lamar, Missouri, 1884; died Kansas City, Missouri, December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third president (1945-1953) of the United States. During World War I he served as an artilleryman He was a senator before he was elected vice-president. When Roosevelt died, Truman became president. Some of his actions were to join the United Nations, to accept Germany’s surrender during World War II, and to drop the atomic bombs on Japan. Children could visit a website at: Harry Truman. Truman made an interesting statement. He said, “The buck stops here.”

Birthdays

May 092025

Richard George Adams (born United Kingdom, 1920; died United Kingdom, December 24, 2016) was a writer. He is most famous for his fantasy book, Watership Down.

J. M. Barrie (born Kirriemuir, Scotland, 1860; died London, England, June 19, 1937) was an author. One of his works was Peter Pan. Children can read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg. They can also learn more at: J. M. Barrie.

Belle Boyd (born Martinsburg, Virginia, 1843; died Kilbourne, Wisconsin, June 11, 1900) was a Confederate spy. After the Civil War, she was an actress and speaker.

John Brown

John Brown (born Torrington, Connecticut, 1800; hanged Charles Town, West Virginia, December 2, 1859) was an abolitionist. He led a raid on Harpers Ferry in the cause of abolition. He was caught and hanged. Children could learn more about him and his raid at: John Brown.

Howard Carter (born Kensington, London, United Kingdom, 1873; died Kensington, London, United Kingdom, March 2, 1939) was an archaeologist. He discovered King Tut’s tomb. Older children could read In the Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamen’s Tomb by Daniel Meyerson.

William Pène du Bois (born Nutley, New Jersey, 1916; died Nice, France, February 5, 1993) wrote and illustrated children’s books. He received the 1948 Newbery Medal for The Twenty-One Balloons. His Bear Party was a 1952 Caldecott Honor Book, and Lion was a 1957 Caldecott Honor Book. Children can learn more at: William Pene du Bois.

Eleanor Estes (born West Haven, Connecticut, 1906; died West Haven, Connecticut, July 15, 1988) wrote and illustrated at least 20 books for children. She earned three Newbery Honor Awards: The Middle Moffat in 1943, Rufus M. in 1944, and The Hundred Dresses in 1945. She received the 1952 Newbery Medal for Ginger Pye. Children can learn more at: Eleanor Estes.

Birthdays

May 102025

Caroline B. Cooney (born Geneva, Connecticut, 1943) has written at least 75 mystery, romance, and suspense novels for young adults. Her books include The Face on the Milk Carton and What Janie Found. Young adults can learn more at: Caroline B. Cooney.

Christopher Paul Curtis (born Flint, Michigan, 1953) is an author. His book The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 was a 1996 Newbery Honor Book and a 1996 Coretta Scott King Honor Book. His Bud, Not Buddy was awarded the 2000 Newbery Award and the 2000 Coretta Scott King Medal. Also, Elijah of Buxton received a 2008 Newbery Honor Award, the 2008 Coretta Scott King Award, and the 2008 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction!

Robert Gray (born 1755; died at sea near Charleston, South Carolina, July 1806) was the first American to circumnavigate the world. He sailed from Boston on September 30, 1787 and traded with the Northwest Coast Indians. He traveled to China before returning to Boston on August 9, 1790.

Judith Jamison (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1944; died New York, New York, November 9, 2024) was a dancer and a choreographer.

Bruce McMillan (born Massachusetts, 1947) has written at least 45 books for children. His works include Nights of the Pufflings and The Problem with Chickens. Children can learn more at: Bruce McMillan.

Ellen Ochoa (born Los Angeles, California, 1958) Is the first Hispanic woman to go into space. An engineer, Dr. Ochoa has flown in four Space Shuttle missions: STS 56, STS 66, STS 96, and STS 110. She was Director of the Johnson Space Center from January 1, 2013 until May 2018. Children could learn more at: Ellen Ochoa

George Ross

George Ross (born New Castle, Delaware, 1730; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1779) signed the Declaration of Independence. He moved from Delaware to Pennsylvania and became a lawyer. Initially he was a prosecutor for the Crown, but he ultimately sided with the revolutionaries. He was a colonel during the Revolutionary War, and later he was a judge for the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania. Children could learn more at: George Ross.

Birthdays

May 112025

Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Baline in Tyumen, Russia, 1888; died New York, New York, September 22, 1989) wrote approximately 1,250 songs. Two of his most famous works are God Bless America and White Christmas.

Sheila Burnford (born Scotland, 1918; died England, April 20, 1984) was an author. She is best remembered for her book The Incredible Journey.

Salvador Dali (born Figueras, Spain, 1904; died Figueras, Spain, January 23, 1989) was a surrealist painter.

Martha Graham (born Allegheny, Pennsylvania, 1894; died New York, New York, April 1, 1991) was a dancer and a choreographer.

Juanita Havill (born Evansville, Indiana, 1949) writes books for children. Her books include Jamaica’s Find and Eyes Like Willy’s.

Mike Lupica (born Oneida, New York, 1952) is a sports columnist and writer. His books for children include Heat and Travel Team. Young adults can learn more at: Mike Lupica.

Harriet Quimby

Harriet Quimby (born Arcadia Michigan, 1875; died Quincy, Massachusetts, July 1, 1912) was an early female aviator. She was the first American woman to obtain a pilot’s license. In 1912 she was the first woman to fly across the English Channel. She died in an airplane-related accident later that year.

Peter Sis (born Brno, Moravia, Czechoslovakia, 1949) writes and illustrates books for children. He has received many awards for his books. He has received three Caldecott Honor Awards: Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilee in 1997, Tibet Through the Red Box in 1999, and The Wall: Growing Up behind the Iron Curtain in 2008. The last book also earned the Robert F. Sibert Medal for Informational Books. Sis has also earned the very prestigious Han Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in 2012.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder (born Lemoore, California, 1927; died San Francisco, California, October 8, 2014) wrote at least 46 books for children. She received three Newbery Honor Awards: The Egypt Game in 1968, The Headless Cupid in 1972, and The Witches of Worm in 1973.

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