Comoros celebrates Independence Day. Comoros declared its independence from France in 1975. This archipelago is located in the Mozambique Channel, and the country is smaller than Rhode Island. Over 700,000 people live on the islands. Its major industries are perfume distillation and fishing. Moroni is the capital.
Antirabies inoculation was administered safely for the first time by Louis Pasteur in 1885. He saved a child who had been bitten by a rabid dog.
Babe Ruth
Major League All-Star Game was held for the first time in 1933 in Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois. Players included Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Planned as a one-time event, the very successful All-Star game has been played every year since then, except 1945 (World War II) and 2020 (Covid-19 Pandemic). Children could learn more, including a list of every All-Star Game, at: Baseball.
Kathi Appelt (born Fayetteville, North Carolina, 1954) has written at least 40 books for children. Her novel The Underneath received a 2009 Newbery Honor Award. Appelt also wrote Before and After Otis. Children can visit her website at: Kathi Appelt.
George W. Bush
George W. Bush (born New Haven, Connecticut, 1946) was the forty-third president of the United States. He is a former governor of Texas. Children can visit a website at: George W. Bush.
Cheryl Harness (born Maywood, California, 1951) has written and illustrated at least 35 books for children. Her books include Mary Walker Wears the Pants and Just for You to Know. Children can visit her website at: Cheryl Harness.
Ekua Holmes (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1955) is an artist and children’s book illustrator. She received a 2016 Caldecott Honor Award for Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. She earned the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets.
John Paul Jones (born Kirkbean, Scotland, 1747; died Paris, France, July 18, 1792) was a Revolutionary War hero. His name was really John Paul, but he added the names Jones when he fled a murder charge in the Caribbean and came to the United States. He was captain of the U. S. S. Bonhomme Richard and battled the British Serapis. When the British captain asked him if he was ready to surrender, he replied, “Sir, I have not yet begun to fight.”
Frida Kahlo (born Coyoacan, Mexico, 1907; died Coyoacan, Mexico, July 13, 1954) was a surrealist painter. She was the wife of Diego Rivera. Children can view some of her works at: Frida Kahlo.
Carol Lerner (born Chicago, Illinois, 1927) has written and illustrated about twenty books for children. Books include Butterflies in the Garden and Plants that Make You Sniffle and Sneeze.
Dhan Gopal Mukerji (born Kajangal, India, 1890; died New York, New York, July 14, 1936) was a writer. He received the 1928 Newbery Medal for Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon. Children could read his Kari the Elephant at: Project Gutenberg.
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Francis Robbins in New York, New York, 1921; died Los Angeles, California, March 6, 2016) was America’s First Lady from January 20, 1981 to January 20, 1989. She was the wife of Ronald Reagan, fortieth president of the United States. Her given name was Anne, but she was nicknamed Nancy as a small child. Her parents divorced, and her mother married Loyal Davis. He adopted Nancy. She became an actress and appeared in eleven movies. While she was First Lady, she directed major changes to the second and third floors of the White House. Children can visit a website at: Nancy Reagan.
Gloria Skurzynski (born Duquesne, Pennsylvania, 1930) has written more than 60 books for children. Her books include This Is Rocket Science and Are We Alone? Children can visit her website at: Gloria Skurzynski.
Solomon Islands celebrate Independence Day. These Pacific islands became free from Great Britain in 1978. The total area of the islands is a bit smaller than the area of Maryland. Natural resources include fish, bauxite, and forests. Almost 600,000 people live there, and Honiara is the capital.
The Adventures of Pinocchio was created by Carl Collodi, whose real name was Carl Lorenzini, in 1881. Children can read the book or listen to a recording at: Project Gutenberg.
Sliced bread
Sliced bread was sold for the first time in 1928 at the Chillicothe Baking Company in Chillicothe, Missouri. Before then, people sliced their own bread. Bread consumption increased, because people found it easier to grab a slice and go. Consumption of butter, jam, and other spreads increased as well. For a short time during World War II sliced bread could not be sold. The invention led to the saying, “the best thing since sliced bread.”
Nathan Aaseng (born Park Rapids, Minnesota, 1953) has written at least 175 books for children. Many of his books are about sports and athletes, but he does write about a variety of other topics. His works include Sports Great Michael Jordan and Invertebrates.
Marc Chagall (born Vitsyebsk, Russia (now Belarus), 1887; died St. Paul de Vence, France, March 28, 1965) was an artist. He went to France in 1923. His pictures contain elements of dreams and fantasy. Children could visit a website at: Marc Chagall to see how he uses color.
Robert Heinlein (born Butler, Missouri, 1907; died Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, May 8, 1988) is well-known for his works of science fiction. He wrote a number of “Heinlein juveniles,” science fiction for young adults. Those books include Citizen of the Galaxy and Time for the Stars. Children can learn more at: Robert Heinlein.
Leroy “Satchel” Paige (born Mobile, Alabama, 1906; died Kansas City, Missouri, June 8, 1982) was a baseball player. He moved from the Negro leagues to the major leagues. He played for the Cleveland Indians; they won the World Series in 1948. Children could learn more at: Satchel Page. They could find out why his nickname was “Satchel.”
Dr. John Watson “was born” in 1852. Watson was the friend of Sherlock Holmes, created by the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Older children can read Doyle’s works at: Project Gutenberg.
Wendy Watson (born Paterson, New Jersey, 1942) writes and illustrates books for children. Her books include Moving and Lollipop. Children can visit her website: http://www.wendy-watson.com/.
Harriet Ziefert (born North Bergen, New Jersey, 1941) has written several hundred books for children. Her books include One Smart Skunk and Buzzy’s Birthday.
Blueberries
National Blueberry Day is today! Two types of blueberries exist, lowbush (wild) and highbush (cultivated). Most American blueberries are highbush. Oregon produces more blueberries than any other state, followed by Washington, Georgia, and Michigan. The blueberry is considered a superfood because it contains anthocyanin, an antioxidant. The fruit can served in a variety of ways, from just grab-a-handful to blueberry pie to blueberry muffins to blueberry jam. Children can learn more at: Blueberries.
Olive Branch Petition was signed by representatives from the Second Continental Congress in 1775. It was delivered to King George III as one last try to peacefully resolve differences between the American colonies and Great Britain. Older children could read a copy of the petition at: Olive Branch Petition. Idea: Children could predict what would have happened if the king had not ignored the petition.