Birthdays

Jun 212025

Robert Kraus (born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1925; died Kent, Connecticut, August 7, 2001) was a cartoonist, publisher, and writer of over 200 children’s books. His books include Leo the Late Bloomer and Boris Bad Enough. Children can learn more at: Robert Krauss.

Jean-Paul Sartre (born Paris, France, 1905; died Paris, France, April 15, 1980) was a philosopher and writer. He received the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature, but he refused it. He said, “A writer should not allow himself to become an institution.”

Henry Ossawa Tanner (born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1859; died Paris, France, May 25, 1937) was one of the first African American artists to have major exhibits. Children can read more about his life and view of his paintings at: Henry Ossawa Tanner.

Birthdays

Jun 222025

Dan Brown (born Exeter, New Hampshire, 1964) is a novelist. His books include The Da Vinci Code and Inferno. Young adults can visit his website at: Dan Brown.

Margaret Sidney (born New Haven, Connecticut, 1844; died San Francisco, California, August 2, 1924) wrote books for children. She is most famous for her Five Little Peppers series. Children can learn more at: Margaret Sidney. They can read many of her books, including Five Little Peppers, at: Project Gutenberg.

Birthdays

Jun 232025

Wilma Rudolph (born St. Bethlehem, Tennessee, 1940; died Brentwood, Tennessee, November 12, 1994) was the first American woman to garner three gold medals in one Olympics. She specialized in track events. A polio survivor, Rudolph serves as a model for dedication and hard work. Children could read Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman, by Kathleen Krull.

Theodore Taylor (born Statesville, North Carolina, 1924; died Laguna Beach, California, October 26, 2006) wrote at least 50 books for children and young adults. One of his books is The Cay, which received the 1970 Jane Addams Book Award. The Edgar Award was presented to him in 1992 for The Weirdo. His The Bomb earned the 1996 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Theodore Taylor.

Birthdays

Jun 242025

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (born Fort Wayne, Tennessee, 1967) has written at least fifteen books for children. She earned a 2016 Newbery Honor Award for The War that Saved My Life. Children can learn more at: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

Betty Cavanna (born Camden, New Jersey, 1901; died Vezelay, France, August 13, 2001) wrote books for young adults. Her works include Paintbox Summer and Spice Island Mystery. Children can learn more at: Betty Cavanna.

Kathryn Lasky (born Indianapolis, Indiana, 1944) has written at least 100 books for children and young adults. She wrote the Royal Diaries series and the Dear America series. A Night Journey received the 1981 Sydney Taylor Book Award for older readers. Sugaring Time was a 1984 Newbery Honor Book. Children could visit her website at: Kathryn Lasky.

Jean Marzollo (born Manchester, Connecticut, 1942; died Cold Spring, New York, April 10, 2018) wrote at least 100 books for children. Her books include the I Spy series. Children could visit her website at: Jean Marzollo.

Ellison Onizuka (born Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii, 1946; died in the Challenger disintegration, January 28, 1986) was an aerospace engineer aboard the Challenger.

Happy Birthday, Virginia!

Birthdays

Jun 252025

Virginia Flag

Virginia became the tenth state of the United States by ratifying the Constitution in 1788. It was named after Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. Its nicknames include Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents, and Mother of States. The capital is Richmond. Virginia ranks 36th in area and twelfth in population. Jamestown was settled in 1607, and important landmarks include Arlington National Cemetery and Appomattox Courthouse National Park. Children could visit an Internet site at: Virginia. Idea: Students could find a list of birthplaces of Presidents. Is Virginia truly the Mother of Presidents?

Birthdays

Jun 252025

Eric Carle (born Syracuse, New York, 1929; died Northampton, Massachusetts, May 23, 2021) wrote and illustrated at least 70 books for children. At least 170 million copies of his books were sold. He wrote among other works The Very Hungry Caterpillar, published in 1969, and The Very Quiet Cricket, published in 1990. He received the 2003 Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his body of work. Children can visit his website, especially the “download and activities” section under Resources at: Eric Carle.

Elizabeth Orton Jones (born Highland Park, Illinois, 1910; died Peterborough, New Hampshire, May 10, 2005) wrote and illustrated books for children. She received a Caldecott Honor Award in 1944 for Small Rain: Verses from the Bible. She earned the 1945 Caldecott Medal for Prayer for a Child, written by Rachel Field. Children can learn more at: Elizabeth Orton Jones.

Tololwa M. Mollel (born Tarusha, Tanzania, 1952) has written at least sixteen books for children. He now lives in Edmonton, Canada. My Rows and Piles of Coins received a 2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration for E. B. Lewis. Children can learn more at: Tololwa M. Mollel.

George Orwell (born Eric Arthur Blair in Motihari, Bengal, 1903; died London, England, January 21, 1950) was a writer. Two of his most famous works are 1984 and Animal Farm.

Sonia Sotomayor

Sonia Sotomayor (born New York, New York, 1954) is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She assumed the office on August 8, 2009. She is the first Hispanic Justice and the third female Justice. Children can learn more at: Sonia Sotomayor.

Lynd Kendall Ward (born Chicago, Illinois, 1905; died Reston, Virginia, June 28, 1985) created and illustrated books and wordless books. He often used wood cuts for his illustrations, but he did work in other media. He received a Caldecott Honor Award in 1950 for America’s Ethan Allen, and he earned the 1953 Caldecott Medal for The Biggest Bear. He illustrated at least eight novels by other writers that earned Newbery Medals or Honor Awards. His unusual illustrations sparked interest in graphic novels. In 2011 the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize was established. Children can learn more at: Lynd Kendall Ward.

Birthdays

Jun 262025

Pearl Buck

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (born Hillsboro, West Virginia, 1892; died Danby, Vermont, March 6, 1973) was an author. She won the 1938 Nobel Prize for The Good Earth.

Robert Burch (born Fayette County, Georgia, 1925; died Fayette County, Georgia, December 25, 2007) wrote nineteen books for children. His works include Queenie Peavy and Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain.

Abner Doubleday

Abner Doubleday (born Ballston Spa, New York, 1819; died Mendham, New Jersey, January 26, 1893) was the “Father of Baseball.” He fought in the Mexican War and in the Civil War. When the war ended, he had attained the rank of major general.

Walter Farley (born Syracuse, New York, 1915; died Sarasota, Florida, October 16, 1989) wrote about 25 books for children. He is known for his The Black Stallion and the sequels to the book. Children could learn more at: Walter Farley.

John Langdon (born near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1741; died Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 18, 1819) represented New Hampshire at the Constitutional Convention. A wealthy merchant, he fought in the Revolutionary War and built warships for the navy. He served as both New Hampshire’s governor and as one of the two U.S. senators from the state. During the country’s first presidential election, he counted the electoral votes and then sent George Washington a note with the results. Children could learn more at: John Langdon.

Thomas Locker (born New York, New York, 1937; died Albany, New York, March 9, 2012) was a writer, painter, and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated 36 books, the majority of which were for children. His works include Where the River Begins and Sky Tree.

Barbara Brenner (born Brooklyn, New York, 1925) has written more than 60 books for children. Her books include Wagon Wheels and One Small Place by the Sea.

Arthur Middleton (born Charleston, South Carolina, 1742; died Goose Creek, South Carolina, January 1, 1787) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented South Carolina. The son of a wealthy plantation owner, Arthur went to England at age twelve to be educated. He returned to South Carolina in 1763 and became a lawyer. He was passionate about breaking away from Great Britain. During the Revolutionary War, the British captured him and held him captive in Florida. Soldiers looted his plantation. After the war he rebuilt the plantation, but he died at a young age. Children could learn more at: Arthur Middleton.

Nancy Willard (born Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1936; died Poughkeepsie, New York, February 19, 2017) was a poet and novelist. She published at least 70 books. She wrote A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers. This book won both the 1982 Newbery Medal and a Caldecott Honor Award.

Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias (born Port Arthur, Texas, 1911; died Galveston, Texas, September 27, 1956) was a great athlete. She played for the women’s All-American basketball team when she was sixteen years old. She won two gold medals during the 1932 Olympic Games in track events. She then went on to a string of championships in golf. She also enjoyed softball, swimming, and skating. Children could learn more at: Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

Charlotte Zolotow (born Norfolk, Virginia, 1915; died Hudson-on-Hastings, November 19, 2013) wrote more than 70 books for children. Her Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, was a Newbery Honor Book in 1962. The Charlotte Zolotow Award, first presented in 1998, is given each year to the writer of the best picture book. Children can learn more about the award at: Zolotow Award. They could also read the portion dedicated to Charlotte Zolotow and her award in Children’s Book Award Handbook by Diana F. Marks.

Birthdays

Jun 272025

Lucille Clifton (born DePew, New York, 1936; died Baltimore, Maryland, February 13, 2010) wrote poetry and children’s books. Her book Amifca received a Jane Addams Special Recognition Award in 1978. Everett Anderson’s Good-bye earned the 1984 Coretta Scott King Medal. Children could learn more at: Lucille Clifton.

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar (born Dayton, Ohio, 1872; died Dayton, Ohio, February 9, 1906) was the son of former slaves. He wrote novels, but he is best remembered for his poetry. He published twelve books. Children can read his works at: Project Gutenberg.

James Lincoln Collier (born New York, New York, 1928) is an author. He wrote with his brother, Christopher Collier, My Brother Sam Is Dead.

Helen Keller with Anne Sullivan

Helen Adams Keller (born Tuscumbia, Alabama, 1880; died Westport, Connecticut, June 1, 1968) was a lecturer despite being deaf and blind. When she was nineteen months old, she became very sick and lost her sight and hearing. At age seven, she met Anne Sullivan. Anne taught her Braille; and she even learned how to speak. She graduated with honors from Radcliffe in 1904. She traveled and lectured for most of her adult life. The play The Miracle Worker was written in 1959. It became a movie in 1962. Children could learn more at: http://www.braillebug.org/hkfacts.asp.

Helen Sewell (born Mare Island, California, 1896; died New York, New York. February 24, 1957) illustrated at least 60 books for children. She received a 1955 Caldecott Honor Award for her illustrations in The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh. She early on illustrated some of the Little House on the Prairie series until Garth Williams replaced her in 1953. Children can learn more at: Helen Sewell.

Birthdays

Jun 282025

Esther Forbes (born Westborough, Massachusetts, 1891; died Worcester, Massachusetts, August 12, 1967) wrote books for both children and adults. She won the 1943 Pulitzer for Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. In 1944 she won the Newbery Award for Johnny Tremain, illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward. Children can learn more at: Esther Forbes.

Bette Greene (born Parkin, Arkansas, 1934; died Lakewood Ranch, Florida, October 2, 2020) was a children’s author. She wrote Summer of My German Soldier, published in 1973. Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe received a 1975 Newbery Honor Award.

Dennis Haseley (born Cleveland, Ohio, 1950) writes books for children and young adults. His works include The Sky Writer and Shadows.

Maria Goeppert Mayer (born Kattowitz, Germany, 1906; died San Diego, California, February 20, 1972) was part of the Manhattan Project team. She experimented with the separation of uranium isotopes. She became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in physics when she shared it with J. Hans Daniel Jensen and Eugene Wigner in 1963. Children could learn more at: Maria Goeppert Mayer.

Self-Portrait
Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens (born Siegen, Westphalia, 1577; died Antwerp, Belgium, May 30, 1640) was an artist and a diplomat. By age 21 he had earned the status of master painter. He was also prolific in several languages. He became so busy that his shop was similar to a production line. He made the original sketches. His apprentices filled in the work. He came along and completed the details. Children could view some of his works at: Rubens. Idea: Students could look at some of his works. They could try his assembly line approach.

Birthdays

Jun 292025

George Washington Goethals (born Brooklyn, New York, 1858; died New York, New York, January 21, 1928) was the chief engineer and the first governor of the Panama Canal. Idea: Children could learn about the problems he faced as he built the Panama Canal.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery (born Lyons, France, 1900; died in a military plane crash, July 31, 1944) was an author. He wrote The Little Prince.

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