Birthdays

Aug 092025

Jose Aruego (born Manila, Philippines, 1932; died New York, New York, August 9, 2012) was a children’s author and illustrator. Idea: Children could read and enjoy some of his work, especially Mitchel is Moving. They could learn more at: Jose Aruego.

Patricia McKissack (born Nashville, Tennessee, 1944; died Saint Louis, Missouri, April 7, 2017) was a children’s author of great acclaim. She and her late husband Fredrick wrote and illustrated over 100 books together. A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter earned the 1990 Coretta Scott King Medal and the 1990 Jane Addams Book Award. Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman? received a 1993 Coretta Scott King Honor Award. The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural was a 1993 Newbery Honor Book and the 1993 Coretta Scott King Medal winner. McKissack earned another Coretta Scott King Medal in 1995 for Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters and still another Coretta Scott King Honor Award in 1997 for Rebels Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts. McKissack earned still more Coretta Scott King Honor Awards: one in 2000 for Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers and one in 2004 for Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States.

Seymour Simon (born New York, New York, 1931) is a children’s author. He has written about 250 nonfiction books about many different subjects. All of his books, including Big Cats and Neptune, reflect thoughtful research. Children could visit his amazing website at: Seymour Simon.

P. L. Travers (born Maryborough, Queensland, Australia, 1899; died London, England, April 23, 1996) was an author. She wrote the Mary Poppins series.

Birthdays

Aug 102025

Herbert Hoover

Herbert Clark Hoover (born West Branch, Iowa, 1874; died New York, New York, October 20, 1964) was the thirty-first president (1929-1933) of the United States. His parents died when he was eight years old, and he was raised by Quaker relatives. He became a mining engineer and was a millionaire by age forty. During World War I he saved Americans remaining in Europe and distributed food to needy people in Belgium. His political slogan during his campaign was a “chicken in every pot.” The Great Depression took place during his administration, but he felt government should not take responsibility for what was happening. People who lost their homes built shack cities and called them Hoovervilles. He was soundly defeated by Franklin Roosevelt and was not elected to a second term. He lived another thirty years after his presidency. Children could visit a website at: Herbert Hoover. Idea: Children could watch a portion of the musical Annie to learn more about the conditions during the Depression.

Tony Ross (born London, England, 1938) writes and illustrates books for children. He wrote and illustrated the Little Princess books. He illustrated the Horrid Henry series and the Amber Brown series.

Margot Ladd Tomes (born Yonkers, New York, 1917; died New York, New York, June 25, 1991) illustrated more than 60 children’s books. She illustrated books written by Jean Fritz and Aileen Fisher. Children can learn more at: Margot Ladd Tomes.

Birthdays

Aug 112025

Joanna Cole (born Newark, New Jersey, 1944; died Sioux City, Iowa, July 12, 2020) was a children’s author. She wrote over 250 books that were published in thirteen countries. One of her enterprises was the Magic School Bus Series.

Don Freeman (born San Diego, California, 1908; died New York, New York, February 1, 1978) was a painter, cartoonist, author, and illustrator. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 20 children’s books, including the classic Corduroy. His book Fly High, Fly Low received a 1958 Caldecott Honor Award. Children could learn more about him at: Don Freeman.

Alex Haley (born Ithaca, New York, 1921; died Seattle, Washington, February 13, 1992) was a writer. One of his most famous works is Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The book, a Pulitzer Prize-winner in 1975, has been translated into 37 languages. He also wrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Steven Kroll (born New York, New York, 1941; died New York, New York, March 8, 2011) wrote at least 96 books for children. His works include Jungle Bullies and Sweet America. Children can learn more at: Steven Kroll.

George Sullivan (born Lowell, Massachusetts, 1927) has written at least 100 nonfiction books for children and young adults. His works include Matthew Brady: His Life and Photographs and Trapped.

Catherine Woolley (born Chicago, Illinois, 1904; died Truro, Massachusetts, July 23, 2005) wrote children’s books. Often using the pen name Jane Thayer, she wrote 86 books. She is best known for The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy and Sandy and the Seventeen Glasses.

Birthdays

Aug 122025

George Wesley Bellows (born Columbus, Ohio, 1882; died New York, New York, January 8, 1925) was an artist. He is best known for his realistic works about city life. Children could view many of his works at: George Wesley Bellows.

Ann M. Martin (born Princeton, New Jersey, 1955) is a children’s author. She has written many books, including The Baby-Sitters Club series. She received a Newbery Honor Award in 2003 for A Corner of the Universe. Children could visit a website at: Ann M. Martin.

Christy Mathewson

Christy Mathewson (born Factoryville, Pennsylvania, 1880; died Saranac Lake, New York, October 7, 1925) was a famous baseball player. Idea: Children could examine his baseball statistics, and they could find out if he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This link could really help: Christy Mathewson.

Fredrick McKissack (born Nashville, Tennessee, 1939; died Chesterfield, Missouri, April 28, 2013) wrote and illustrated books for children. He worked with his wife Patricia to produce more than 100 books. A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter earned the 1990 Coretta Scott King Medal and the 1990 Jane Addams Book Award. Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman? received a 1993 Coretta Scott King Honor Award. The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural was a 1993 Newbery Honor Book and the 1993 Coretta Scott King Medal winner. The McKissacks earned another Coretta Scott King Medal in 1995 for Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters and still another Coretta Scott King Honor Award in 1997 for Rebels Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts. The McKissacks earned still more Coretta Scott King Honor Awards: one in 2000 for Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers and one in 2004 for Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States. Children could learn more at: Fredrick McKissack.

Walter Dean Myers (born Martinsburg, West Virginia, 1937; died New York, New York, July 1, 2014) wrote over 100 books for young adults. He earned six Coretta Scott King Awards: in 1980 for The Young Landlords, in 1985 for Motown and Didi, in 1989 for Fallen Angels, in 1993 for Somewhere in the Darkness (Honor Award), in 1994 for Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary (Honor Award), and in 2000 for Monster (Honor Award). He earned two Newbery Honor Awards: in 1989 for Scorpions, and in 1993 for Somewhere in the Darkness. He received the first Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2000 for Monster. He also received a 2004 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Honor Award for Blues Journey. The Margaret A. Edwards Award was presented to him in 1994 for his body of work. Children could learn more at: Walter Dean Myers.

William B. Purvis (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1838; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1914) was an African American inventor and entrepreneur. He obtained at least four patents. His first patent was an improvement to a hand stamper. His second patent is the one for which he is most known, Patent Number 419,065, an improvement to the fountain pen on January 7, 1890. He also received a patent for an improvement of paper bags and a patent for a close-conduit electric railway system.

Birthdays

Aug 132025

John Logie Baird (born Hellensburgh, Scotland, 1888; died Beyhill, England, June 14, 1946) was an early pioneer in television development.

William Caxton (born Kent, England, 1422; died London, England, 1491) was the first printer to publish a book in English. Older children could read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Ruth Stiles Gannett (born New York, New York, 1923; died Danvers, Massachusetts, June 11, 2024)) wrote books for children. Her book My Father’s Dragon received a 1949 Newbery Honor Award. Her other works include Katie and the Sad Noise. Children can read My Father’s Dragon at: Project Gutenberg.

Alfred Hitchcock (born London, England, 1899; died Beverly Hills, California, April 29, 1980) was a movie director. He specialized in movies providing high suspense. Two of his most famous movies were The Thirty-Nine Steps and The Birds.

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Moses in Darke County, Ohio, 1860; died Greenville, Ohio, November 3, 1926) was a sharpshooter. She joined Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show in 1885. She amazed audiences for years with her skills, including shooting the cigarette out of her husband’s mouth. Idea: Children could find out how she got the last name Oakley. They might want to read Robert Quackenbush’s Who’s That Girl with the Gun?

Lucy Stone (born West Brookfield, Massachusetts, 1818; died Boston, Massachusetts, October 18, 1893) campaigned for women’s rights. Her father did not believe women should have college educations. She had to work for nine years to earn the money to go to Oberlin College. She was the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree. Children could learn more at: Lucy Stone.

Birthdays

Aug 142025

Julia Child (born Pasadena, California, 1912; died Santa Barbara, California, August 13, 2004)) was an author and a television chef. She always concluded her shows with “Bon Appétit!” Her kitchen was donated to the Smithsonian. Children could view a timeline of her life at: Julia Child. Idea: Children could demonstrate to the class how to make simple foods.

Gary Larson (born Tacoma, Washington, 1950) is a cartoonist. He created The Far Side.

Alice Provensen (born Chicago, Illinois, 1918; died San Clemente, California, April 23, 2018) and her husband, Martin Provensen, wrote and illustrated children’s books. They earned a 1982 Caldecott Honor Award for A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers. They also received the 1984 Caldecott Medal for The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot, July 25, 1909.

Birthdays

Aug 152025

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte (born Corsica, 1769; died St. Helena, May 5, 1821) was a French emperor.

Stephen G. Breyer (born San Francisco, California, 1938) is a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court. Appointed by Bill Clinton, he took over his duties regarding the Supreme Court on August 3, 1994. He retired on June 30, 2022. Children could learn more at: Stephen G. Breyer.

Walter Crane (born United Kingdom, 1845; died United Kingdom, March 14, 1915) was a famous illustrator of children’s books. He, Randolph Caldecott, and Kate Greenaway formed a powerful triumvirate that invigorated children’s literature. Children can view many of his works at: Project Gutenberg. They could learn more about Crane at: Walter Crane.

Edna Ferber (born Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1887; died New York, New York, April 16, 1968) was a novelist. So Big was very popular, and it won her a Pulitzer Prize. Children can read some of her works at: Project Gutenberg.

Florence Kling Harding

Florence Kling Harding (born Marion, Ohio, 1860; died Marion, Ohio, November 21, 1924) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1921 to August 2, 1923. She was the wife of Warren Harding, twenty-ninth president of the United States. Children can visit a website at: Florence Harding. Idea: One child could research Mrs. Harding’s life and pretend to be her. The rest could have a question and answer session with “Mrs. Harding.”

Theresa Nelson (born Beaumont, Texas, 1948) writes books for children. Her works include Earthshine and The Empress of Elsewhere. Children can visit her website at: Theresa Nelson.

Edith Nesbit (born Kennington, Surrey, England, 1858; died New Romney, Kent, England, May 4, 1924) wrote at least 40 books for both children and adults. Her most famous children’s books include The Railway Children and Five Children and It. Children can learn more at: Edith Nesbit.

Sir Walter Scott (born Edinburgh, Scotland, 1771; died Abbotsford, Scotland, September 21, 1832) was a famous poet. Children can read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Brinton Turkle (born Alliance, Ohio, 1915; died Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 9, 2003) wrote and illustrated about twenty books for children. He also illustrated over 100 books written by other authors. His works include Do Not Open and Deep in the Forest. He received a 1970 Caldecott Honor Award for Thy Friend, Obadiah. Children could learn more at: Brinton Turkle.

Birthdays

Aug 162025

Menachem Begin (born Brest-Litovsk, Poland, 1913; died Tel Aviv, Israel, March 9, 1992) was an important Israeli hero. He fought for Israel’s freedom. He was elected Israel’s Prime Minister in 1977 and signed the Camp David Accord in 1979. He and Anwar el-Sadat received the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

Matt Christopher (born Bath, Pennsylvania, 1917; died Charlotte, North Carolina, September 20, 1997) was a children’s author. He is known for his 130 novels about sports. Children could visit a site hosted by his sons, Dale and Duane, at: Matt Christopher. Idea: Children could pick one of Matt Christopher’s sports books. After reading it, they could make a list of new things they have learned about the sport.

Beatrice Schenk de Regniers (born Lafayette, Indiana, 1914; died Washington, DC, March 1, 2000) wrote more than 50 books for children. Her works include May I Bring a Friend? (which earned the 1965 Caldecott Medal for illustrator Beni Montresor) and The Giant Story (illustrated by Maurice Sendak). Children can learn more at: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers.

Diana Wynne Jones (born United Kingdom, 1934; died United Kingdom, March 26, 2011) wrote fantasy books for children. Her works include Fire and Hemlock and The Archer’s Goon. Children could learn more at: Diana Wynne Jones.

Birthdays

Aug 172025

Davy Crockett (born Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1786; died at the Alamo, March 6, 1836) was an adventurer and a frontier fighter. He represented the state of Tennessee in the House of Representatives from March 4, 1833 to March 4, 1835. Idea: Children could make a timeline of Davy Crockett’s life. Older children could read his autobiography, A Narrative of the Life of Davy Crockett, of the State of Tennessee, at: Project Gutenberg.

Myra Cohn Livingston (born Omaha, Nebraska, 1926; died Los Angeles, California, August 23, 1996) wrote books of poetry for children. Her works include Celebrations and Sky Songs. Children can learn more at: Myra Cohn Livingston.

Geneva Grace Stratton-Porter (born near Wabash, Indiana, 1863; died Los Angeles, California, December 6, 1924) wrote books for children. She also wrote articles for magazines, and she was one of the first woman movie producers. Her books include Keeper of the Bees and A Girl of the Limberlost. Children can learn more at: Geneva Grace Stratton-Porter. Children can read many of her works at: Project Gutenberg.

Birthdays

Aug 182025

Rosalynn Carter

Rosalynn Smith Carter (born Plains, Georgia, 1927; died Plains, Georgia, November 19, 2023) was America’s First Lady from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981. She was the wife of Jimmy Carter, thirty-ninth president of the United States. While she was First Lady, she devoted much of her time to the performing arts. She also held a post on the President’s Commission on Mental Health. She was the second longest living First Lady. Children could visit a website at: Rosalyn Smith Carter. Idea: They could find out if the Secret Service protects former First Ladies.

Roberto Clemente (born Carolina, Puerto Rico, 1934; died San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 31, 1972) was a baseball player. He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent his entire career with them. He was killed in a plane crash while trying to deliver supplies to Nicaragua. An earthquake there had devastated parts of the country. He became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. Children could learn more at: Roberto Clemente.

Paula Danziger (born Washington, DC, 1944; died New York, New York, July 8, 2004) wrote more than 30 children’s books. She is well known for her Amber Brown series. After Danziger died, her two close friends, Bruce Coville and Elizabeth Levy, wrote more Amber Brown books in her style. Children could learn more at: Paula Danziger.

Louise Fatio (born Lausanne, Switzerland, 1904; died New Jersey, July 26, 1993) wrote books for children. Her husband, Roger Duvoisin, illustrated many of her works. Her books include Happy Lion and Happy Lion and the Bear.

Sonia Levitin (born Berlin, Germany, 1934) has written at least 37 books for children and young adults. Incident at Loring Groves earned a 1989 Edgar Award, and The Return received a 1987 Sydney Taylor Book Award. Children could learn more at: Sonia Levitin.

Meriwether Lewis

Meriwether Lewis (born Albemarle County, Virginia, 1774; died near Nashville, Tennessee, October 11, 1809) was half of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. He later became governor of the Louisiana Territory. Older children might be able to solve the mystery surrounding Lewis’s death. They could read Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map, by Geoff Benge and Janet Benge. They could read his journals at Project Gutenberg.

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