Japanese Cherry Trees in Blossom
Cherry trees were first planted in Washington, DC, in 1912. First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda (the Japanese ambassador’s wife) planted the first of three thousand trees. The original trees were a gift from Japan to the United States. Since then, some propagates from the trees have been sent back to Japan. Other propagates have been planted around Washington, DC, to maintain the lineage. Children can learn more at: Cherry Blossoms.
White House Reconstruction
President Truman and his family moved back into the White House in 1952 after major renovations had been completed. The family had left in late 1948 when the building was deemed to be unsafe. Children can learn more about the White House at: White House.
Julia Alvarez (born New York, New York, 1950) writes poetry, fiction, and essays. Her book Before We Were Free received the 2004 Pura Belpré Medal, and Alvarez earned another Pura Belpré Medal in 2010 for Return to Sender. Children can visit her website at: Julia Alvarez.
Nathaniel Currier (born Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1813; died New York, New York, November 20, 1888) was a lithographer. He was part of the famous Currier and Ives partnership. Their lithographs answered a need for reasonably priced art. Now the originals are very expensive.
Dick King-Smith (born England, 1922; died England, January 4, 2011) wrote at least 135 books for children. His book The Sheep-Pig became the movie Babe. Children could learn more at: Dick King-Smith.
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (born Lennap, Prussia, 1845; died Munich, Germany, February 10, 1923) discovered X-rays. He won a 1901 Nobel Prize for his work. Children can learn more at: Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.
Edward Steichen (born Luxembourg, 1879; died West Redding, Connecticut, March 25, 1973) was a photographer. Children could view a collection of his photographic portraits at: Edward Steichen.
Johannes Amos Comenius
Johannes Amos Comenius published the first children’s picture book in 1658. Orbis Pictus, originally written in Latin, was also called A World of Things Obvious to the Senses drawn in Pictures. Children can read a 1727 English translation and a Latin version at: Project Gutenberg.
Washing machine was patented by Nathaniel Briggs in 1797. A fire in the patent office in 1836 destroyed all records of his patent. However, his patent probably resembled a current wash board.
Constantinople, Turkey’s largest city, changed its name to Istanbul in 1930. Also, Turkey’s capital and second largest city, Angora, changed its name to Ankara. Children can learn more about Turkey in general at: Turkey.
First national curling championships were held in 1957. Today about 1.5 million people participate in curling events. Children could learn more about curling at: http://www.worldcurling.org/.
Byrd Baylor (born San Antonio, Texas, 1924; died Tucson, Arizona, June 16, 2021) wrote books for children. Four of her books have earned Caldecott Honor Awards for the illustrators. Tom Bahti earned a 1973 Caldecott Honor Award for When Clay Sings. Peter Parnell received three Caldecott Honor Awards, one in 1976 for The Desert Is Theirs, one in 1977 for Hawk, I’m Your Brother, and one in 1979 for The Way to Start a Day,
Doreen Cronin (born Queens, New York, 1966) has written at least 24 books for children. Her book Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type earned the illustrator, Betsy Lewin, a 2001 Caldecott Honor Award. Children can learn more at: Doreen Cronin.
Mary Stolz (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1920; died Longboat Key, Florida, December 15, 2006) wrote at least 57 books for children and young adults. Her book Belling the Tiger received a 1962 Newbery Honor Award, and The Noonday Friends earned a 1966 Newbery Honor Award. Children could learn more at: Mary Stolz.
Frozen Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls stopped flowing for one day in 1848. Ice had jammed the river. Children could learn more at: Niagara Falls.
Herbert Hoover
White House had its first telephone installed in the Oval Office in 1929. Herbert Hoover was President. President Rutherford B. Hayes had the first White House telephone installed on May 10, 1877, but that telephone was located in the telegraph room.