First Thanksgiving in North America was held in 1619 when 38 colonists from Berkeley Parish (England) reached the New World in Virginia and prayed, thanking God for a safe voyage.
Dec 042026
Dec 042026
George Washington said goodbye to his officers at the Fraunces Tavern in New York City in 1783. Fraunces Tavern is now part museum and part restaurant. Children can read the text of his speech at: Farewell Speech.
Dec 042026
Mary Celeste was found abandoned in 1872. The ship had left New York on November 5, 1872. The crew of another ship, the Dei Gratia, observed that she was floating aimlessly near the coast of Portugal. Members of the Dei Gratia crew boarded her on December 4 and found no people and no sign of violence. The captain and his family, the crew, and a lifeboat and navigation instruments were missing, but the ship and cargo were in excellent shape. The mystery of the Mary Celeste has yet to be solved. Children could read The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple. Older children could read more at: Mary Celeste.
Dec 042026
George Ancona (born New York, 1929; died Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 1, 2021) was a photographer, author, and illustrator of over 100 children’s books. ¡Ole! Flamenco was a 2011 Pura Belpré Award Honor Book for Author, and Bario: José’s Neighborhood was a 2000 Pura Belpré Honor Book. Children can learn more at: George Ancona.
Bruce Hiscock (born San Diego, California, 1940; died Porter Corners, New York, July 11, 2021) wrote and illustrated books for children. He specialized in books about nature. His works include Ookpik – The Travels of a Snowy Owl and Coyote and Badger – Desert Hunters of the Southwest.
Munro Wilbur Leaf (born Hamilton, Maryland, 1905; died Garrett Park, Maryland, December 21, 1976) was a children’s author and illustrator. His credits include cartoons and around 40 books. One of his works is The Story of Ferdinand, published in 1936. Very interesting fact – Ferdinand was considered by some to be subversive and was banned in Nazi Germany. Older children could read the classic The Story of Ferdinand to younger children. Children can learn more at: Munro Wilbur Leaf.
Dec 052026
United Nations Flag
World Soil Day is today! The day reminds us of the importance of healthy soil and its role in promoting a healthy earth. It was initiated by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations on December 5, 2013. This year’s theme is Soil and Water: A Source of Life. Idea: Children could dig up some soil and look for plant remains and animals. They could also investigate how to compost.
Dec 052026
Pears
World Pear Day is today! Celebrated on the first Saturday in December, the day reminds us of the versatility and nutritional value of pears. Pears are high in fiber, and they can be baked, poached, sautéed, or eaten raw. China, Argentina, and the United States are the three largest producers of pears in that order. Washington, Oregon, and California are the three largest growers of pears in the United States in that order. Over three thousand types of pears are grown worldwide. This year’s theme is Pick Your Perfect Pear.
Dec 052026
United Nations Flag
United Nations declares today as International Volunteer Day. This year’s theme is Volunteering Is Empathy in Action. Children could volunteer to help around the community. They could consider picking up litter or building bird feeders. Children could learn more at: Volunteer.
Dec 052026
Amendment Twenty-One to the Constitution was adopted in 1933, repealing Amendment Eighteen and ending Prohibition.
Dec 052026
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Montgomery Bus Boycott began in 1955. Following Rosa Parks’s arrest on December 1, 1955, African Americans boycotted buses until December 20, 1956. A Supreme Court ruling forced the integration of the bus system. Children could learn more at: Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Dec 052026
Pathfinder was launched toward Mars in 1996. The craft traveled for 211 days and 309 million miles to reach the surface of Mars on July 4, 1997. A small rover named Sojourner (named after Sojourner Truth) traveled about the surface and analyzed rocks and the surface of the planet. The two vehicles (both significantly outliving scientific estimates) sent back 2.3 billion bits of data before transmissions stopped on September 27, 1997. Children can view some of the images of Mars at: Pathfinder.