Birthdays

May 122025

Jennifer Armstrong (born Waltham, Massachusetts, 1961) has written at least 44 books for children. Her books include Once Upon a Banana and Becoming Mary Mehan.

Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra (born St. Louis, Missouri, 1925; died Montclair, New Jersey, September 22, 2015) was a baseball player and manager. He is well-known for his witty sayings, including “It’s de ja vu all over again.” Children can read more “yogi-isms” at: Yogi-isms.

Dorothy Hodgkin (born Cairo, Egypt, 1910; died England, July 29, 1994) was a British chemist. She used X-Ray crystallography to observe the structure of molecules. She received the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Children could learn more at: Dorothy Hodgkin.

Edward Lear (born Highgate, England, 1812; died San Remo, Italy, January 29, 1888) was a writer, artist, and ornithologist. He is famous for his limericks. Two of his works are A Book of Nonsense, printed in 1846, and Nonsense Songs, published in 1871. Children can read many of his poems at: Lear Poems. Idea: The children could write limericks. A limerick is a poem with five lines. The first, second and fifth lines rhyme and have three metrical feet. The third and fourth lines rhyme and have two metrical feet. Children can learn more at: Edward Lear.

Betsy Lewin (born Clearfield, Pennsylvania, 1937) illustrates books for children. She wrote and illustrated at least 11 books, some co-authored with her husband, Ted Lewin, who died in July of 2021 . She has illustrated at least 50 books written by other authors. She received a 2001 Caldecott Honor Award for Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type. Children can visit her website at: Betsy Lewin.

Mildred McAfee

Mildred McAfee (Parkville, Missouri, 1900; died Berlin, New Hampshire, September 2, 1994) was the first director of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She was appointed by President Roosevelt in 1942. Within three years her group had trained over 85,000 women. She was also president of Wellesley College.

Farley Mowat (born Belleville, Ontario, Canada, 1921; died Port Hope, Canada, May 6, 2014) wrote about 45 books. One of his books is Owls in the Family, and another famous work is Never Cry Wolf. He sold around 17 million books.

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale (born Florence, Italy, 1820; died London, England, August 13, 1910) elevated the status of nurses. During the Crimean War, she worked tirelessly for the wounded. She was known as the “Lady with the Lamp.” She was the first woman to receive the British Order of Merit. Children could read Heart and Soul: The Story of Florence Nightingale, by Gina K. Gorrell. Young adults could also read books written by Nightingale at: Project Gutenberg.

Birthdays

May 132025

Georges Braque (born Argenteuil, France, 1882; died Paris, France, August 31, 1963) was an artist. He and Picasso developed cubism. He also worked with collages. Idea: Children could look at some of his work. They could gather different fabrics, papers, yarn, etc. Then they could make their own collages. Children could learn more at: Georges Braque.

Francine Pascal (born New York, New York, 1938; died New York, New York, July 28, 2024) wrote young adult novels and worked on many television and Broadway projects. Her books include the Sweet Valley High series and The Ruling Class.

Sir Arthur Sullivan (born London, United Kingdom, 1842; died London, United Kingdom, November 22, 1900) was half of the Gilbert and Sullivan team. They wrote light operas. He also composed other songs, including Onward, Christian Soldiers. Idea: Children could listen to one of the team’s operettas or read their works at: Project Gutenberg.

Birthdays

May 142025

Eoin Colfer (born Wexford, Ireland, 1965) writes books for children. His books include the Artemis Fowl series and The Legend of Spud Murphy. Children could visit his website at: Eoin Colfer.

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (born Danzig, Germany, 1686; died Amsterdam, Holland, September 16, 1736) was a scientist. The Fahrenheit temperature scale is named in honor of him. He was the first person to use mercury in thermometers. Today we do not use mercury in thermometers.

The Blue Boy

Thomas Gainsborough (born Sudbury, Suffolk, England, 1727; died London, England, August 2, 1788) was an artist specializing in portraits and landscapes. One of his most famous works is The Blue Boy. Children could view some of his works at: Gainsborough.

George Selden (born Hartford, Connecticut, 1929; died New York, New York, December 5, 1989) wrote at least 16 books for children. Perhaps his most well-known work is The Cricket in Times Square, which received a 1961 Newbery Honor Award. Children could learn more at: George Selden.

Birthdays

May 152025

David Almond (born Felling, England, 1951) writes books for young adults. His books include Skellig, which earned a 2000 Michael L. Printz Honor Award, and Kit’s Wilderness, which received the 2001 Michael L. Printz Medal. He received the very prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 2010. Children can visit his website at: David Almond.

Wizard of Oz

Lyman Frank Baum (born Chittenango, New York, 1856; died Hollywood, California, May 6, 1919) was an author and newspaper reporter. He is famous for his 14 Wizard of Oz books. He also wrote 41 other novels, 83 short stories, more than 200 poems, and around 42 scripts. Children can read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg. Also, children could read The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum, written by Kathleen Krull. Finally, children could learn more at: Baum.

Pierre Curie (born Paris, France, 1859; died Paris, France, April 19, 1906) was a physicist. He and his wife, Marie Curie, researched radioactivity. They and Antoine Henri Becquerrel received the 1903 Nobel Prize in physics for their work on the radioactivity of uranium.

Ellen MacGregor (born Baltimore, Maryland, 1906; died Chicago, Illinois, March 29, 1954) wrote books for children. She is most known for her Miss Pickerell series. After she died, Dora Pantell continued the series.

Norma Fox Mazer (born New York, New York, 1931; died Montpelier, Vermont, October 17, 2009) wrote books for young adults. Her book After the Rain received the 1988 Newbery Medal, and Taking Terri Mueller earned the 1982 Edgar Award. She was married to Harry Mazer, who also wrote books for children and young adults. They co-authored at least two books, Heartbeat and Bright Days, Stupid Nights. children can learn more at: Norma Fox Mazer.

Kadir Nelson (born Washington, DC, 1974) writes and illustrates books for children. He has earned two Caldecott Honor Awards: for Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom in 2007, and for Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad in 2008. He wrote and illustrated We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, for which he won both the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medals for words and pictures. He earned a Celdecott Medal and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Medal for The Undefeated in 2020. Children can visit his website at: Kadir Nelson.

Katherine Anne Porter (born Indian Creek, Texas, 1890; died Silver Spring, Maryland, September 18, 1980) was an author. One of her best known novels is Ship of Fools. She was awarded the 1965 Pulitzer and the National Book Award for Collected Short Stories.

Ellen Louise Axson Wilson

Ellen Louise Axson Wilson (born Savannah, Georgia, 1860; died Washington, DC, August 6, 1914) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1913 until her death on August 6, 1914. She was the first wife of Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth president of the United States. She worked to eliminate slum conditions. She died about a year after Wilson became president. Children could visit a website at: Edith Wilson. Idea: Two of Wilson’s daughters were married in the White House. Children could learn about the children of the president. They could decide if it would be fun to live in the White House.

G. Clifton Wisler (born Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1950; died Plano, Texas, April 8, 2016) wrote books for children and young adults. He also created westerns for adults. His books include Buffalo Moon and King’s Mountain.

Paul Zindel (born New York, New York, 1936; died New York, New York, March 27, 2003) was a playwright and author of young adult books. Two of his most popular books are The Pigman and David and Della. Children could visit a website devoted to him at: Paul Zindel.

Birthdays

May 162025

Caroline Arnold (born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1944) has written and/or illustrated at least 170 books for children. She has also provided many of the photographs in her books. Her books include A Polar Bear’s World and Wiggle and Waggle. Children can visit her website, particularly the activities portion, at: Caroline Arnold.

Bruce Coville (born Syracuse, New York, 1950) has written at least 100 books for children. His books include the My Teacher Is an Alien series and Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. Children can visit his website, particularly the fun page, at: Bruce Coville.

Wesley Dennis (born Falmouth, Massachusetts, 1903; died Falmouth, Massachusetts, September 3, 1966) wrote and illustrated books for children. He is most known for his illustrations of horses. He illustrated fifteen of Marguerite Henry’s books, including Justin Morgan Had a Horse and Misty of Chincoteague. He also illustrated John Steinbeck’s The Red Pony and Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty. Children can learn more at: Wesley Dennis.

Curious George Flies a Kite

Margret Rey (born Hamburg, Germany, 1906; died Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 21, 1966) was a children’s author. She and her husband, H. A. Rey, created Curious George. Children can learn more about her and her husband by reading The Journey that Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey, by Louise W. Borden and Allan Drummond. Children can also visit Margret Rey.

Nancy Grace Roman (born Nashville, Tennessee, 1925; died Germantown, Maryland, December 26, 2018) was an astronomer and one of the first female leaders in NASA. She is called the “Mother of the Hubble Telescope.” Children could read the transcript of an excellent interview at: Nancy Grace Roman.

William Henry Seward

William Henry Seward (born Florida, New York, 1801; died Auburn, New York, October 10, 1872) was secretary of state for Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. He arranged the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000. At the time many people called the deal “Seward’s Folly,” but that purchase ended up to be more than remarkable. Children could read William Seward: The Mastermind of the Alaska Purchase by Zachary Kent. Children could also learn more at: Alaska.

Birthdays

May 172025

Eloise Greenfield (born Parmele, North Carolina, 1929; died Washington, DC, August 5, 2021) wrote at least 48 books (fiction, biographies, non-fiction, and poetry) for children. Her biography Paul Robeson received the 1976 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. Africa Dream earned Greenfield the 1976 Coretta Scott King Medal. She received the 2018 Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Edward Jenner (born Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England, 1749; died Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England, January 26, 1823) discovered the vaccine for smallpox. In 1980 health experts declared that the world was free from smallpox. Children can learn MUCH more at this very interesting website: Edward Jenner.

Grace Lin (born New Hartford, New York, 1974) has written and/or illustrated at least 25 books for children. Her book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon received a 2010 Newbery Honor Award. Her book Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! received a 2011 Theodor Geisel Award. Her work A Big Mooncake for Little Star received a 2019 Caldecott Honor Award. Children can learn more at her website: Grace Lin.

Gary Paulsen (born Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1939; died Tularosa, New Mexico, October 13, 2021) wrote more than 200 books for young adults. Dogsong earned a 1986 Newbery Honor Award. His book The Winter Room received a 1990 Newbery Honor Award. Perhaps his most notable work was Hatchet. He received the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1997 for his body of work.

Birthdays

May 182025

Debbie Dadey (born Morganfield, Kentucky, 1959) has written or co-written at least 160 books for children. Her books include The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series and Slime Wars. Children can visit her website at: Debbie Dady.

Margot Fonteyn (born Margaret Hookman in Reigate, Surrey, England, 1919; died Panama City, Panama, February 21, 1991) was a ballerina for 45 years. She often performed with Rudolph Nureyev.

Lillian Hoban (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1924; died New York, New York, July 17, 1998) was an author and illustrator, some of which were in collaboration with her husband Russell Hoban. One source states she published at least 326 books in eleven different languages. Her books include the Arthur series and Here Come the Raccoons! Children can visit a website devoted to her at: Lillian Hoban.

Irene Hunt (born Pontiac, Illinois, 1907; died Savoy, Illinois, May 18, 2001) wrote books for children. Her book Across Five Aprils received a 1965 Newbery Honor Award, and Up a Road Slowly earned the 1967 Newbery Medal. Children can learn more at: Irene Hunt.

Gloria D. Miklowitz (born New York, New York, 1927; died Pasadena, California, January 20, 2015) wrote at least 47 books for young adults. Her books include Camouflage and Secrets in the House of Delgado.

Pope Saint John Paul II (born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, 1920; died Vatican, April 2, 2005) was the 264th leader of the Catholic Church. He was elected in 1978, and he was the first Polish Pope. He was canonized on April 27, 2014.

Birthdays

May 192025

Arthur Dorros (born Washington, DC, 1950) writes and illustrates books for children. He has written at least 26 books, including Abuela and Ten Go Tango. His Papá and Me received a 2009 Pura Belpré Honor Award. Children can visit his website at: Arthur Dorros.

Tom Feelings (born Brooklyn, New York, 1933; died Mexico, August 25, 2003) wrote and illustrated books for children. Moja Means One: Swahili Counting Book received a 1972 Caldecott Honor Award, and Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book earned a 1975 Caldecott Honor Award. Something on My Mind received a 1979 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration. His book Soul Looks Back in Wonder received a 1994 Jane Addams Honor Award and a 1994 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. The Middle Passage, perhaps his most known book, earned a 1996 Special Commendation from the Jane Addams Award Committee. Children can learn more at: Tom Feelings.

Lorraine Hansberry (born Chicago, Illinois, 1930; died New York, New York, January 12, 1965) was a playwright. One of her most famous works is A Raisin in the Sun.

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, 1925; assassinated in New York, New York, February 21, 1965) was a civil rights activist. Idea: Children could locate more information on Malcolm X. They could predict what might have happened if he had not been killed.

Still life with Peaches by Sarah Miriam Peale

Still Life with Peaches by Sarah Peale

Sarah Miriam Peale (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1800; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1885) painted portraits and still lifes. She was a member of the famous Peale family, daughter of James and niece of Charles Willson. Many experts recognize her as the first American woman to be a successful professional artist. Children could see some of her works at: Sarah Miriam Peale. Idea: Children could make a family tree of the Peales. Did any offspring of the next generation become artists?

Elise Primavera (born West Long Branch, New Jersey, 1954) illustrates and writes books for children. She has written and illustrated at least twelve books, include the Fred and Anthony series and Auntie Claus. She has illustrated at least twenty books written by other others, including Jane Yolen and Diane Stanley. Children can learn more at her website: Elise Primavera.

Francis R. Scobee (born Cle Elum, West Virginia, 1939; died in Challenger disintegration, January 28, 1986) was the commander of the Challenger. Children could learn more at: Francis R. Scobee.

Birthdays

May 202025

Honoré de Balzac (born Tours, France, 1799; died Paris, France, August 18, 1850) was a writer. Older children can read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Caralyn Buehner (born St. George, Utah, 1963) writes books for children. Her husband Mark Buehner often illustrates her books. Their books include Taxi Dog and Snowmen at Night. Children can visit their website at: Buehner.

Carol Carrick (born Queens, New York, 1935; died Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, June 6, 2013) wrote about 50 books for children. Her books include Upside-Down Cake and The Washout.

Sorche Nic Leodhas (born LeClaire Gowans Alger in Youngstown, Ohio, 1898; died Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1969) wrote books for children. She received a 1963 Newbery Honor Award for Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland. She also wrote Always Room for One More. The book’s illustrator, Nonny Hogrogian, was awarded the 1966 Caldecott Medal. Another book, All in the Morning Early earned its illustrator, Evaline Ness, a 1963 Caldecott Honor Award. Children could learn more at: Sorche Nic Leodhas.

Dolley Madison

Dolley Payne Todd Madison (born Guilford County, North Carolina, 1768; died Washington, DC, July 12, 1849) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1817. She was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. She often served as hostess for the widower Thomas Jefferson when he was president. When her husband became president in 1809, she held the first inaugural ball. The British attacked and burned the White House during the War of 1812. She gathered up much of the building’s treasures before the British arrived. Children could visit a website at: Dolley Payne Madison. Idea: Children could research her life and then write about some of her adventures.

Mary Pope Osborne (born Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 1949) is an author. Her books include the Magic Treehouse series. Children can visit her website at: http://marypopeosborne.com/. They could also visit the Magic Tree House site at: http://www.magictreehouse.com/.

Dan Yaccarino (born Montclair, New Jersey, 1965) has written and illustrated at least 40 books for children. He has illustrated books by other authors, including Jack Prelutsky and Kevin Henkes. He also is a television producer. His books include If I Had a Robot and Where the Four Winds Blow. Children can visit his website at: Dan Yaccarino.

Birthdays

May 212025

Mary Anning

Mary Anning (born Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, 1799; died Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, March 9, 1847) was a paleontologist who changed the scientific community’s views of dinosaurs. Because she was a woman, she was given little recognition for her scientific work. She always struggled with poverty, even though she risked her life to collect her fossils. Children could read Jurassic Mary: Mary Anning and the Primeval Monsters by Patricia Pierce.

Bonnie Bryant (born Barbara B. Hiller in New York, New York, 1946) writes books for children. She has written at least 100 Saddle Club books, six Pony Tails books, and two Pine Hollow books.

Albrecht Durer (born Nuremberg, Germany, 1471; died Nuremberg, Germany, April 6, 1528) was a Renaissance artist. Children could visit the Met website at: Albrecht Durer. Idea: Durer did a great deal of engraving. Children could research the process. They could make potato prints to get the feel of engraving.

Beverley Naidoo (born Johannesburg, South Africa, 1943) has written at least twelve books for middle schoolers and at least nine picture books. Her books often focus on apartheid and South Africa. She has twice received the Jane Addams Award, in 2002 for The Other Side of Truth and in 2004 for Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope. Children can visit her website at: Beverly Naidoo.

Rousseau Self-Portrait

Henri Julien Felix Rousseau (born Laval, Mayenne, France, 1844; died Paris, France, September 10, 1910) was an artist. Children could learn more at: Rousseau. Idea: Rousseau was deemed a primitive painter because he had no formal training. Students could view some of his work and compare him to other painters.

Andrei Sakharov (born Moscow, Russia, 1921; died Moscow, Russia, December 14, 1989) was a Soviet physicist and dissident. He developed the atomic bomb for the Soviets, but he later spoke out against the government. He was exiled to Gorky, Russia, for a number of years. He was appointed to the Soviet Congress of Peoples Deputies a few months before he died. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. Older children could read a short autobiography at: Autobiography.

Erica Silverman (born Brooklyn, New York, 1955) has written at least 20 books for children. Her books include On Grandma’s Roof and Big Pumpkin. Children can visit her website at: Erica Silverman.

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