Birthdays

Oct 272025

Enid Bagnold (born Rochester, Kent, England, 1889; died London, England, March 31, 1981) was a novelist and playwright. One of her books is National Velvet. Children could learn more at: Enid Bagnold.

James Cook

James Cook (born Martin-in-Cleveland, near Whitby, Yorkshire, England, 1728; died Kealakekwa Bay, Hawaii, February 14, 1779) was an explorer. He made three trips though the Pacific area. He sailed around the world twice. His last voyage was to locate the Northwest Passage. He was killed by natives when he went to investigate a boat theft. Idea: Cartographers could mark his various voyages on a map. They could find out what foods he brought back to Europe.

Jared Ingersoll (born New Haven, Connecticut, October 27, 1749; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1822) represented Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention. A lawyer, he spoke little at the Convention, but he was well respected. Later he became a judge. Older children can learn more at: Jared Ingersoll.

Roy Lichtenstein (born New York, New York, 1923; died New York, New York, September 29, 1997) was an artist, known for his pop art movement. Some of his works resembled comic strips. Children can view some of his works at: Roy Lichtenstein.

Nicolo Paganini (born Genoa, Italy, 1782; died Nice, France, May 27, 1840) was a famed violin virtuoso. He also composed works for the violin.

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt (born New York, New York, 1858; died Oyster Bay, New York, January 6, 1919) was the twenty-sixth president (1901-1909) of the United States. He was a sickly child, often experiencing asthma attacks. He challenged himself as an adult. He even climbed the Matterhorn. He became a lawyer; but after the death of his first wife, he ran a cattle ranch in North Dakota. During the Spanish-American War, he led the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. Later he became governor of New York and then vice-president to William McKinley. When McKinley died, Roosevelt became the youngest president at age 42. During his presidency he established 150 million acres of national parks and forests. He authorized the building of the Panama Canal. He received the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to resolve the Russo-Japanese War. The teddy bear is named in honor of him. Children could visit a website at: Theodore Roosevelt. They could also read Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt by Jean Fritz, and then make a timeline of Roosevelt’s exciting life.

Dylan Thomas (born Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, 1914; died New York, New York, November 9, 1953) was a poet and a playwright. His works include Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Twenty-Five Poems. Children could read some his poems at: Dylan Thomas.

Birthdays

Oct 282025

Desiderius Erasmus (born Rotterdam, probably 1467; died Basel, Switzerland, July 12, 1536) was a Dutch writer, philosopher, and theologian. Young adults can read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Bill Gates (born Seattle, Washington, 1955) is a developer of computer software. Experts believe he is one of the richest men in the United States.

Leonard Kessler (born Akron, Ohio, 1921; died Sarasota, Florida, February 16, 2022) wrote and/or illustrated more than 200 books for children. His books include the Mr. Pine series and I Made a Line.

Jonas Salk (born New York, New York, 1914; died La Jolla, California, June 23, 1995) developed the Salk Polio Vaccine and announced his results in 1953. Older children could learn more at: Jonas Salk.

Lauren Wolk (born Baltimore, Maryland, 1956) is an author, poet, and artist. Her book Wolf Hollow received a 2017 Newbery Honor Award; her book Beyond the Bright Sea was awarded the 2018 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Children could learn more at: Lauren Wolk.

Birthdays

Oct 292025

Daniel Decatur Emmett (born Mount Vernon, Ohio, 1815; died Mount Vernon, Ohio, June 28, 1904) wrote the words and music of Dixie. Idea: Children could play Dixie on tissue paper-covered combs.

Valerie Worth (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1933; died Clinton, New York, July 31, 1994) wrote poetry and fiction for children. Her books include Fox Hill and Small Poems.

Birthdays

Oct 302025

John Adams

John Adams (born Braintree, Massachusetts, 1735; died Quincy, Massachusetts, July 4, 1826) was the second president (1797-1801) of the United States. He was a direct descendant of a Mayflower voyager. Before the Revolutionary War, he helped establish the Sons of Liberty. He was Washington’s vice president, but he felt the position was useless. Children could visit a website at: John Adams.

Louise Borden (born Cincinnati, Ohio, 1949) has written at least 30 books for children. Her works include The Journey That Saved Curious George and Touching the Sky: The Flying Adventures of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Children can visit her website at: Louise Borden.

Bruce Hale (born Los Angeles, California, 1957) has written and illustrated over 25 books for children. His works include the Chet Gecko series and Snoring Beauty. Children can visit his website at: Bruce Hale.

Eric A. Kimmel (born Brooklyn, New York, 1946) has written more than 150 books for children. Trina Schart Hyman earned a 1990 Caldecott Honor Award for her illustrations in his book Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins. He received Sydney Taylor Book Awards for The Chanukah Guest (1990) and Gershon’s Monster (2000). Children can visit his website at: Eric A. Kimmel.

Emily Price Post (born Baltimore, Maryland, 1872; died New York, New York, September 25, 1960) was a writer. She wrote several books on proper etiquette. For a time she wrote a syndicated column that appeared daily in about two hundred newspapers.

Henry Winkler (born New York, New York, 1945) is an actor, director, and author of eighteen books for children. He collaborates with Lin Oliver on the Hank Zipzer books. Children can visit the Zipzer site at: Hank Zipzer.

Birthdays

Oct 312025

Jim Benton (born Michigan, 1960) has written and illustrated at least 33 books for children. His works include the Franny K. Stein series and the It’s Happy Bunny series. Children can visit his website at: Jim Benton.

Michael Collins (born Rome, Italy, 1930; died Naples, Florida, April 28, 2021) was the third person on Apollo 11. He orbited the moon while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren landed on the moon. Collins was also a test pilot and the pilot of Gemini 10. Children can learn more at: Michael Collins.

John Keats (born London, England, 1795; died Rome, Italy, February 23, 1821) was a great English poet. Children could read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon Low (born Savannah, Georgia, 1860; died Savannah, Georgia, January 17, 1927) created the American Girl Scouts. When she was traveling in Europe, she became friends with Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts. When she returned to the United States in 1912, she organized the first group of Girl Guides. In 1915 the organization’s name was changed to the Girl Scouts. Idea: Perhaps a Girl Scout could speak to the group. Children could learn more at: Girl Scouts.

William Paca

William Paca (born Abingdon, Maryland, 1740; died Talbot County, Maryland, October 23, 1799) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented Maryland. He spent quite a bit of his own money to provide supplies to the Revolutionary War soldiers. After the Revolutionary War, he became a United States district justice. He also made several suggestions regarding the Bill of Rights. Older children could learn more at: Paca.

Jip, His Story

Katherine Paterson (born Qing Jiang, Jiansi, China, 1932) has written more than 40 books for children. She earned the 1978 Newbery Medal for Bridge to Terabithia, a 1979 Newbery Honor Award for The Great Gilly Hopkins, and the 1981 Newbery Medal for Jacob Have I Loved. She received the 1997 Scott O’Dell Award for Jip, His Story, the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1998, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2006, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 2013. Children can visit her website at: http://www.terabithia.com/about.html.

All-of-a-Kind Family

Sydney Taylor (born New York, New York, 1904; died New York, New York, February 12, 1978) wrote books for children. Her books include the fascinating All-of-a-Kind Family series and Danny Loves a Holiday. After her death, her husband created the Sydney Taylor Book Award in her honor. The award honors the best Jewish writers and illustrators every year. Children can read more about Sydney Taylor and the Sydney Taylor Book Award from Children’s Book Award Handbook by Diana F. Marks.

Jan Vermeer (born Delft, Netherlands, 1632; died Delft, Netherlands, December 15, 1675) was a Dutch painter. Experts believe he painted only 35 or 36 works. Children can view several of his works at: Vermeer.

Birthdays

Nov 012025

Stephen Crane (born Newark, New Jersey, 1871; died Badenweiler, Germany, June 5, 1900) was an author. He is especially known for his short stories. His The Red Badge of Courage was written about the Civil War. He died at an early age from tuberculosis, made more serious by a bout of malaria fever. Children can read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Hilary Knight (born Long Island, New York, 1926) is a children’s author and illustrator. He has illustrated more than 50 books and has written more than nine books. He is best known as the illustrator of the Eloise series. Children can visit his website at: Hilary Knight.

Crawford Williamson Long (born Danielsville, Georgia, 1815; died Athens, Georgia, June 16, 1878) was the first doctor to use ether in an operation performed in 1842.

Onion John

Symeon Shimin (born Russia, 1902; died New York, New York, 1984) illustrated children’s books. He illustrated Onion John, by Joseph Krumgold, and Dance in the Desert, by Madeleine L’Engle. Children can learn more about him at: Symeon Shimin.

Birthdays

Nov 022025

Marie Antoinette (born Vienna, Austria, 1755; died Paris, France, October 16, 1793) was queen of France during the French Revolution. Daughter of the Emperor of Austria, she married the French dauphin when she was fifteen years old. The dauphin became King Louis XVI in 1774. The country was close to bankruptcy, and the court’s extravagant life style turned the people against them. Legend says that when she heard that the poor had no bread to eat, she stated, “Let them eat cake.” The king and queen tried to escape the country, but they were discovered and imprisoned. He was beheaded in January of 1793. She died at the guillotine in October of 1793.

Daniel Boone

Daniel Boone (born Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1734; died St. Charles County, Missouri, September 26, 1820) was a pioneer, explorer and army officer. His life has inspired many stories. He was captured by Native Americans, but he later escaped. The British also seized him, but he got away soon after. He spent his life in the rugged frontier. Children could learn more about him at: Daniel Boone.

Alyssa Satin Capucilli (born Brooklyn, New York, 1957) is a children’s author. Her books include the Biscuit series. Children can visit her amazing site and enjoy the free activities and reader’s theater at: Alyssa Satin Capucilli.

Margaret Bloy Graham (born Toronto, Canada, 1920; died Belmont, Massachusetts, January 22, 2015) wrote and illustrated books for children. She illustrated the Harry the Dirty Dog series, written by her then-husband, Gene Zion. She received a Caldecott Honor Award in 1952 for The Storm Book and another Caldecott Honor Award in 1955 for Really Spring. Children can see Betty White read Harry the Dirty Dog at: http://www.storylineonline.net/harry-the-dirty-dog/.

Warren G. Harding

Warren Gamaliel Harding (born Corsica, Ohio, 1865; died San Francisco, California, August 2, 1923) was the twenty-ninth president (1921-1923) of the United States. Before he became president, he served as a state senator, a lieutenant governor, and a United States senator. He felt high tariffs and low taxes would help America. Unfortunately, some of his appointees were dishonest, and his administration was marred. He died of an embolism while in office. After his death, his wife destroyed many of his letters. Children can visit a website at: Warren Harding.

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock (born Newport, Vermont, 1956) is a children’s author. One of her books is Gifts from the Sea, published in 2005. Children can visit her website at: Natalie Kinsey-Warnock.

Barbara Knutson (born South Africa, 1959; died St. Paul, Minnesota, May, 2005) wrote and illustrated books for children. Her works include How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots and Love and Roast Chicken. Children can learn more at: Barbara Knutson.

James Knox Polk

James Knox Polk (born Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 1795; died Nashville, Tennessee, June 15, 1849) was the eleventh president (1845-1849) of the United States. He served in the House of Representatives for seven terms. At one point he was Speaker of the House. He became Tennessee’s governor, and then he felt his political career was over. However, in 1844 he became the darkhorse candidate and won the election. During his administration over one million square miles of territory were added to the United States. He did not run for a second term, and he died three months after leaving the White House. Children can visit a website at: James Knox Polk.

Birthdays

Nov 032025

Stephen Fuller Austin (born Wythe County, Virginia, 1793; died Columbia, Texas, December 27, 1836) was a Texas hero. He founded a settlement in Texas in 1822 when the land belonged to Mexico. He was imprisoned when he pushed for Texas autonomy, but he was given his freedom in 1835. In 1836 he ran against Sam Houston for the presidency of Texas, but he lost. The Texas state capital is named in honor of him.

William Cullen Bryant (born Cummington, Massachusetts, 1794; died New York, New York, June 12, 1878) was an American poet. Children can read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Janell Cannon (born Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1957) is a children’s author and illustrator. Most of her books feature animals, and her most famous book is Stellaluna. Children can watch Pamela Reed read Stellaluna on Storyline Online at: http://www.storylineonline.net/stellaluna/.

Bette Bao Lord (born Shanghai, China, 1938) is a writer and an activist. She wrote In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, published in 1984.

A Very Tasty Sandwich!

John Montague, Fourth Earl of Sandwich (born London, England, 1718; died London, England, April 30, 1792) invented the sandwich. He held many posts, including lord of the admiralty. Captain Cook named the Sandwich Islands in honor of him in 1778. According to legend, he created the sandwich as a way of saving time during a gambling party in 1762, because he could eat with one hand and gamble with the other.

Birthdays

Nov 042025

M. T. Anderson (born Stow, Massachusetts, 1968) is a children’s author. One of his books is The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing. Children could visit his very interesting website at: M. T. Anderson.

Laura Welch Bush

Laura Welch Bush (born Midland, Texas, 1946) was America’s First Lady from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009. She is the wife of George W. Bush, the forty-third president of the United States. She is the only First Lady to have twins. Children could visit a website at: Laura Bush.

Walter Leland Cronkite (born St. Joseph, Missouri, 1916; died New York, New York, July 17, 2009) was a journalist and television anchorperson. He was a pioneer in television news reporting. He was one of the first news reporters to break the news of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Gail E. Haley (born Charlotte, North Carolina, 1939) is a children’s book author and illustrator. Her A Story, A Story earned the 1971 Caldecott Medal. Gail also received the 1976 Kate Greenaway Award for The Post Office Cat. Children could visit her website, filled with videos and activities, at: Gail Haley

Sterling North (born Edgerton, Wisconsin, 1906; died Whipanny, New Jersey, December 21, 1974) was a children’s author. He wrote Rascal, the 1964 Newbery Honor Award book. His hometown bought his childhood home and created a museum. Children could visit the museum’s website, especially the photos, at: Sterling North.

Will Rogers (born Oolagah, Indian Territory (now called Oklahoma), 1879; died in a plane crash near Point Barrow, Alaska, August 15, 1935) was a famous humorist, writer, and actor. Children can learn more at: Will Rogers.

Birthdays

Nov 052025

Raymond Bial (born Danville, Illinois, 1948; died Danville, Illinois, January 1, 2021) was a children’s author. He combined his writing with photography to create photo-essays. He published over a hundred books, including The Underground Railroad and Mist over the Mountains.

Larry Dane Brimner (born Saint Petersburg, Florida, 1949) is a children’s author. He has written over 150 books. One of his books is Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene “Bull” Connor. The book was named a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, and it received the 2012 Carter G. Woodson Award. Children could visit his website at: Larry Dane Brimner.

Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1912; died Apple Valley, California, July 6, 1998) was a singer and an actor. He is famous for his cowboy roles in the early days of movies and television.

Ida Minerva Tarbell (born Erie County, Pennsylvania, 1857; died Bethel, Connecticut, January 6, 1944) was a writer and historian. She meticulously researched her subjects, and she set a new standard for investigative reporting. Children could learn about Tarbell at: Ida Minerva Tarbell. The could also read Ida M. Tarbell: The Woman Who Challenged Big Business – and WON, by Emily Arnold McCully. Finally they could read some of her works at: Project Gutenberg.

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