Birthdays

 Birthdays
Feb 242025
 

Wilhelm Karl Grimm (born Hanau, Germany, 1786; died Berlin, Germany, December 16, 1859) and his brother, Jacob, wrote Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Children could read portions of Grimm’s Fairy Tales at: Project Gutenberg. They could learn more at: Wilhelm Karl Grimm.

Winslow Homer (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1836; died Prout’s Neck, Maine, September 29, 1910) was an artist known for his outdoor scenes. Children could learn more about him at the National Gallery of Art site: Winslow Homer.

Steven Jobs (born Los Altos, California, 1955; died Palo Alto, California, October 5, 2011) co-founded Apple, Inc.

Uri Orlev (born Jerzy Henryk Orlowski in Warsaw, Poland, 1931; died Jerusalem, Israel, July 25, 2022) published over 30 books for children. He grew up in the Warsaw Ghetto. His mother was killed by Nazis, and he was placed in the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. He received the 1996 Hans Christian Andersen Award. His books include The Lady with the Hat and Hairy Tuesday.

Honus Wagner

Honus Wagner

Honus Wagner (born John Peter Wagner in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, 1874; died Carnegie, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1955) was a famous baseball player. He was nicknamed the “Flying Dutchman.” Children could read Dan Gutman’s Honus and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure. They could also learn more at: Honus Wagner.

Bryce Canyon National Park Was Established in 1928

 Events
Feb 252025
 

Thor’s Hammer (hoodoo)

Bryce Canyon National Park was established in 1928. Located in southern Utah, the park encompasses 35,835 acres. Bryce Canyon National Park is really not a canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters. Its distinctive features are hoodoos, pinnacles caused by frost erosion and erosion of the sedimentary rocks. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans lived there about 10,000 years ago. The Paiutes moved in when other groups left, but they were pushed out around 1873 when Mormon settlers started overgrazing the land. The park has three distinct life zones, determined by altitude. At least 400 different species of plants have been identified. Although hundreds of different animal species live there, the mule deer is the most common animal. Children can learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Feb 252025
 

Frank Bonham (born Los Angeles, California, 1914; died Arizona, December 16, 1988) wrote at least 48 westerns and novels for young adults. His books include Nitty Gritty and Durango Street.

Ida Lewis (born Newport, Rhode Island, 1842; died Little Rock Island, Newport, Rhode Island, October 24, 1911) was a lighthouse keeper. She is best known for making many daring rescues at sea. Children could read Rowing to the Rescue: The Story of Ida Lewis, Famous Lighthouse Heroine by Doris Licameli.

Pierre Auguste Renoir (born Limoges, France, 1841; died Cagnes-sur-Mer, Provence, France, December 17, 1919) was an impressionist painter. One of his most famous works is The Luncheon of the Boating Party. Later in his life, arthritis crippled his hands. He had paint brushes tied to his hands and learned to paint in broader strokes. Children could view some of his works at: Auguste Renoir.

Cynthia Voigt (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1942) is an author who writes for children and young adults. She wrote Dicey’s Song, the Newbery Medal winner for 1983. She also wrote A Solitary Blue, which earned a 1984 Newbery Honor Award. Voight received the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1995 for her body of work. Children could view her website at: Cynthia Voigt.

Amendment Twenty-Two to the Constitution Was Adopted in 1951

 Events
Feb 262025
 

amendmentAmendment Twenty-Two to the Constitution was adopted in 1951. It stated that a President could not be elected to more than two terms in office. Prior to the amendment, custom (but not law) was that no President would run for a third term. However, Franklin Roosevelt was elected to office four times. After he died in his fourth term, people began to feel the number of terms should be limited, and the amendment was born. Children could read the actual words of the amendment at: Amendment Twenty-Two. They could debate presidential term limits, especially since senators and congress people do not have term limits.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Feb 262025
 

Buffalo Bill Cody (born William Frederic Cody in Scott County, Iowa, 1846; died Denver, Colorado, January 10, 1917) was a frontiersman and showman. Children can read more about him at: Buffalo Bill Cody.

Victor Hugo (born Besancon, France, 1802; died Paris, France, May 22, 1885) was an author. One of his best known works is Les Miserables. Students can read many of his works at: Project  Gutenberg.

Sharon Bell Mathis (born Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1937) writes books for children. Her book Ray Charles received the 1974 Coretta Scott King Award. Her book The Hundred Penny Box received a 1976 Newbery Honor Award. Children can learn more at: Sharon Bell Mathis.

Colby Rodowsky (born Baltimore, Maryland, 1932; died Silver Spring, Maryland, October 5, 2020) wrote at least seventeen books for children. Her books include Julie’s Daughter and Fitchett’s Folly.

Judith Saint George (born Westfield, New Jersey, 1939; died Bloomfield, Connecticut, June 10, 2015) wrote over 40 books for children. Her books include So You Want to Be President? (which earned illustrator David Small the 2001 Caldecott Medal) and The Duel.

Levi Strauss (born Buttenheim, Bavaria, Germany, 1829; died San Francisco, California, September 26, 1902) invented tough, durable pants for California gold miners. These pants are now known as jeans. Idea: Children could compare and contrast denim with other fabrics. They could see how jeans are made at: Jeans.

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