Feb 122024
 

Louisa Adams

Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams (born London, England, 1775; died Washington, DC, May 14, 1852) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1825 to March 4, 1829. She was the wife of John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States. She was the first First Lady not born in the United States. A few years after Adams’s presidency, he was elected to the House of Representatives. They lived in Washington, DC for another seventeen years. Older children could visit a website at: Louisa Adams.

Judy Blume (born Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1938) is a children’s author. She wrote, among other works, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great in 1972, Blubber in 1974, and Fudge-a-Mania in 1990. In 1996 she received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contributions to young adult literature. Children could visit her website at: Judy Blume.

Charles Darwin (born Shrewsberry, England, 1809; died Down, Kent, England, April 19, 1882) was a writer and a naturalist. He proposed the theory of natural selection after visiting the Galapagos Islands. One of his most famous works is The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. Young adults could read his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Christian McKay Heidicker (born 1982) writes books for middle schoolers and young adults. His book Scary Stories for Young Foxes received a 2020 Newbery Honor Award. His other works include Cure for the Common Universe. Middle schoolers and young adults can learn more at: Christian McKay Heidicker.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln (born Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1809; died Washington, DC, April 15, 1865) was the sixteenth president (1861-1865) of the United States. He was born in a log cabin, and his formal schooling added up to one year. He taught himself law and fought in the Black Hawk War of 1832. He served in the state legislature and became a Congressman in 1846. His debates with Stephen A. Douglas made him a more well-known figure. The Civil War brought him terrible sorrows. He was shot five days after the end of the Civil War. Children could visit a website at: Abraham Lincoln. Children could read Russell Freedman’s book, Lincoln: A Photobiography. Russell Freedman received the 1988 Newbery Medal for the book.

Anna Pavlova (born St. Petersburg, Russia, 1881; died The Hague, The Netherlands, January 23, 1931) was a ballerina. She toured worldwide and made ballet more popular. She also studied dance of different countries. Even when she was famous, she practiced fifteen hours a day.

David Small (born Detroit, Michigan, 1945) is a writer and illustrator. His illustrations in The Gardener earned him a Caldecott Honor Award in 1998. His illustrations in So You Want to Be President? won the 2001 Caldecott Award. He received another Caldecott Honor Award in 2013 for One Cool Friend. Children can visit his fascinating website at: David Small.

Jacqueline Woodson (born Columbus, Ohio, 1963) is an AMAZING author of children’s books. She has won many awards. Miracle’s Boys received the Coretta Scott King Medal. Locomotion earned a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. Coming on Home Soon earned E. B. Lewis, the illustrator, a Caldecott Honor Award. Both Show Way and Feathers obtained Newbery Honor Awards. In 2006 Jacqueline received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. She earned a 2015 Newbery Honor Award for Brown Girl Dreaming. Children can visit her text-rich and visually appealing website at: Jacqueline Woodson.