United Nations Flag
United Nations Charter was signed by fifty nations in San Francisco, California, in 1945. The United Nations replaced the faltering League of Nations. Now 193 members belong to the United Nations. Children could see the list of countries now belonging to the United Nations at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states.
Candy Land Board
Candy Land was trademark registered in 1951. Teacher Eleanor Abbott invented the game in 1948 in San Diego, California, when a group of children and she contracted polio. Many of the children were in iron lungs, and they had few activities of interest or fun. She tested the game at the hospital, and the children suggested she contact Milton Bradley. The company bought the wildly successful game. In 1984 Hasbro bought Milton Bradley and now owns the game. The game has gone through several iterations, but about a million games are sold every year.
Universal Bar Codes were put into practice in 1974. A package of gum was scanned at the Marsh grocery store in Troy, Ohio. The purchaser was Clyde Dawson, and the store clerk was Sharon Buchanan. Afterward, the package of gum went to the Smithsonian and was put on display.
976CN Tower was opened officially in 1976. Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, it stands 1,815 feet tall. It was the tallest free-standing structure in the world until 2010 when the Canton Tower and Burj Khalifa were built.
Pearl Buck
Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (born Hillsboro, West Virginia, 1892; died Danby, Vermont, March 6, 1973) was an author. She won the 1938 Nobel Prize for The Good Earth.
Robert Burch (born Fayette County, Georgia, 1925; died Fayette County, Georgia, December 25, 2007) wrote nineteen books for children. His works include Queenie Peavy and Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain.
Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday (born Ballston Spa, New York, 1819; died Mendham, New Jersey, January 26, 1893) was the “Father of Baseball.” He fought in the Mexican War and in the Civil War. When the war ended, he had attained the rank of major general.
Walter Farley (born Syracuse, New York, 1915; died Sarasota, Florida, October 16, 1989) wrote about 25 books for children. He is known for his The Black Stallion and the sequels to the book. Children could learn more at: Walter Farley.
John Langdon (born near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1741; died Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 18, 1819) represented New Hampshire at the Constitutional Convention. A wealthy merchant, he fought in the Revolutionary War and built warships for the navy. He served as both New Hampshire’s governor and as one of the two U.S. senators from the state. During the country’s first presidential election, he counted the electoral votes and then sent George Washington a note with the results. Children could learn more at: John Langdon.
Thomas Locker (born New York, New York, 1937; died Albany, New York, March 9, 2012) was a writer, painter, and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated 36 books, the majority of which were for children. His works include Where the River Begins and Sky Tree.
Barbara Brenner (born Brooklyn, New York, 1925) has written more than 60 books for children. Her books include Wagon Wheels and One Small Place by the Sea.
Arthur Middleton (born Charleston, South Carolina, 1742; died Goose Creek, South Carolina, January 1, 1787) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented South Carolina. The son of a wealthy plantation owner, Arthur went to England at age twelve to be educated. He returned to South Carolina in 1763 and became a lawyer. He was passionate about breaking away from Great Britain. During the Revolutionary War, the British captured him and held him captive in Florida. Soldiers looted his plantation. After the war he rebuilt the plantation, but he died at a young age. Children could learn more at: Arthur Middleton.
Nancy Willard (born Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1936; died Poughkeepsie, New York, February 19, 2017) was a poet and novelist. She published at least 70 books. She wrote A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers. This book won both the 1982 Newbery Medal and a Caldecott Honor Award.
Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias (born Port Arthur, Texas, 1911; died Galveston, Texas, September 27, 1956) was a great athlete. She played for the women’s All-American basketball team when she was sixteen years old. She won two gold medals during the 1932 Olympic Games in track events. She then went on to a string of championships in golf. She also enjoyed softball, swimming, and skating. Children could learn more at: Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
Charlotte Zolotow (born Norfolk, Virginia, 1915; died Hudson-on-Hastings, November 19, 2013) wrote more than 70 books for children. Her Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, was a Newbery Honor Book in 1962. The Charlotte Zolotow Award, first presented in 1998, is given each year to the writer of the best picture book. Children can learn more about the award at: Zolotow Award. They could also read the portion dedicated to Charlotte Zolotow and her award in Children’s Book Award Handbook by Diana F. Marks.
Pineapples
International Pineapple Day is today! The pineapple is a fruit; the scaly portion of the outside is really the flowers that have melded together. The pineapple is very versatile. It can be eaten raw or baked into desserts. Its juice is delicious, but the juice can also be made into a meat tenderizer.
Flag of Djibouti
Djibouti celebrates Independence Day. It declared its independence from France in 1977. Located in northeastern Africa, Djibouti is a bit smaller than Massachusetts. The capital is named Djibouti as well. According to the CIA World Factbook, most of the country is a desert, and natural resources include gold, limestone, and marble. About 800,000 people live in Djibouti. Children can learn more at: Djibouti.
James Smithson
James Smithson, a British subject, died in Genoa, Italy, in 1829. He bequeathed his fortune to the United States, a country he had never visited. Children can learn more about him at: James Smithson. The Smithsonian Institute, established in 1846, was created from his money and personal possessions. Today the Smithsonian has nineteen museums and nine research centers. The Smithsonian houses 137 million artifacts, and 30 million people visit it every year. Children can visit its website at: http://www.si.edu.
Happy Birthday Song was created in 1859. Mildred J. Hill created the melody, and Patty Smith Hill wrote the lyrics. It was published in 1893. It is probably one of the most popular songs today. Mildred Hill died before it became so famous.
Newbery Medal was awarded for the first time to Hendrik Van Loon for The Story of Mankind in 1922. Children can read The Story of Mankind at: Project Gutenberg. The Newbery Awards are presented to the American writers of the best children’s books. Children can learn more about John Newbery and the Newbery Awards at: Newbery. You could also read the portion dedicated to John Newbery and the Newbery Medal in the Children’s Book Award Handbook by Diana F. Marks.