Hillary and Norgay
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. They arrived at the top in 1953 at 11:30 AM. As of January 2023 approximately 6,338 people have made the ascent since then.
May 292025
May 292025
Detail of National World War II Memorial
National World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC, in 2004. Located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II Memorial pays tribute to the 16 million American men and women who served in the armed forces. Over 400,000 of those died. Work on the project began in 1993. Children can learn more at: http://www.nps.gov/nwwm/index.htm.
May 292025
Andrew Clements (born Camden, New Jersey, 1949; died Baldwin, Maine, November 29, 2019) wrote at least 60 books for children. His books include Frindle and the Jake Drake series.
Eleanor Coerr (born Canada, 1922; died New York, New York, November 22, 2010) wrote at least seventeen books for children. Her most popular book was probably Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
Brock Cole (born Charlotte, Michigan, 1938) writes and illustrates books for children and young adults. His works include Larky Mavis and Fair Monaco. He also illustrates books written by other authors.
Patrick Henry (born Studley, Virginia, 1736; died near Brookneal, Virginia, June 6, 1799) was a patriot and a speaker. He opposed the Stamp Act, and he is famous for his “Give me Liberty or give me Death” speech, given March 23, 1775. He continued to be active in politics after the Revolutionary War. Children could learn more at: Patrick Henry.
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (born Brookline, Massachusetts, 1917; assassinated in Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963) was the thirty-fifth president (1961-1963) of the United States. He graduated from Harvard and was wounded during World War II. Representing Massachusetts, he was a member of Congress for three terms before he was elected to the Senate. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his book Profiles in Courage. He defeated Richard Nixon in the presidential race by only 118,000 votes. He was committed to the space program, and he sponsored the Peace Corps. Children could learn more at: John Kennedy.
Willo Davis Roberts (born Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1928; died Granite Falls, Washington, November 19, 2004) wrote 99 books for children and young adults. She earned three Edgar Allan Poe Awards: Megan’s Island in 1988, The Absolutely True Story of My Visit to Yellowstone with the Terrible Rupes in 1994, and Twisted Summer in 1996.
T. H. White (born Bombay, India, 1906; died Athens, Greece, January 17, 1964) was a novelist. He is most known for his Arthurian works. He published The Sword in the Stone in 1938. The Queen of Air and Darkness was published in 1939, and The Ill-Made Knight was printed in 1940. The Candle in the Wind was published in 1958. Later he assembled all four of these books into The Once and Future King, published in 1958. Children can learn more at: T. H. White.
May 302025
Flag of Anguilla
Anguilla celebrates Anguilla Day, a national holiday. Located in the Caribbean, these islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The day commemorates the day of the country’s determination of its independence, May 30, 1967. This country consists of one major island, measuring about sixteen miles long and three miles wide, and a number of small islands. About half the size of Washington, DC, Anguilla depends on tourism. Approximately 15,000 people call Anguilla home. The capital is The Valley. Children can learn more at: Anguilla.
May 302025
The Pennsylvania Evening Post in 1775 became the first newspaper to be published in the United States. Benjamin Towne printed the newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper closed in 1784.
May 302025
Kansas-Nebraska Act became law in 1854, and the Kansas and Nebraska Territories were created. The Act voided the Missouri Compromise, and each territory could vote on the issue of slavery. Idea: Children could research these territories. They could draw on a map how far the territories extended. Children can look at a photo of the original document and read a transcript of the act at: Kansas-Nebraska Act.
May 302025
Early Indianapolis 500 Road Race
Indianapolis 500 Road Race was held for the first time in 1911. Ray Harroun won the race with an average speed of 75 miles per hour.
May 302025
Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC, in 1922. Daniel Chester French sculpted “Seated Lincoln.” People had voiced the idea of a memorial for Abraham Lincoln soon after his assassination, but real plans did not start until 1910. Approximately six million people visit the memorial each year. Children can learn more at: http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm.
May 302025
Chicago Cubs traded Max Flack for the Cardinals player Cliff Heathcote between games in a doubleheader in 1922. Both Flack and Heathcote played for both teams the same day!
May 302025
Mel Blanc (born San Francisco, California, 1908; died Los Angeles, California, July 10, 1989) was the voice of many of the characters on Looney Tunes, including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Children could read Melvin the Mouth, written by Katherine Blanc and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. Katherine Blanc is the daughter-in-law of Mel Blanc.
Peter I (born Moscow, Russia, 1672; died St. Petersburg, Russia, January 28, 1725) was Tsar and Emperor of Russia. He wanted to make Russia more of a world power. He introduced Arabic numerals, and he simplified the Russian alphabet. He overhauled government and the military.