Celebrate and Learn

Jackson Pollock (born Cody, Wyoming, 1912; died in an auto accident, East Hampton, New York, August 11, 1956) was an abstract expressionist painter. He developed a style where he dribbled paint and enamels over canvas to create delicate, lacy designs. While he was alive, he was famous but not wealthy. Only after he died did the price of his works soar. Children could view a gallery of his works at: Jackson Pollock. Then they could go to an amazing site and make their own art Jackson Pollock style: http://www.jacksonpollock.org/.

Arthur Rubenstein (born Artur Rubenstein in Lodz, Poland, 1887; died Geneva, Switzerland, December 20, 1982) was a concert pianist. He performed for the first time as a teenager in 1901. When World War II became imminent, he moved to the United States. He enjoyed touring and performing for radio, television, and movies.

Henry Morton Stanley (born Denbighshire, Wales, 1841; died London, England, May 10, 1904) was an explorer. He organized an  expedition to find the missing missionary, David Livingstone. Stanley found Livingstone on November 10, 1871, and asked the famous question, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

Vera B. Williams (born Hollywood, California, 1927; died Narrowsburg, New York, October 16, 2015) was a children’s author and illustrator. She received a 1983 Caldecott Honor Award for A Chair for my Mother. Next, her book Music, Music for Everyone earned a 1985 Jane Addams Children’s Book Honor Award. She wrote More, More, More, Cried the Baby, a 1991 Caldecott Honor Book. Lucky Song won the 1998 Charlotte Zolotow Award. Her book Amber was Brave, Essie was Smart received the 2002 Jane Addams Children’s Book Honor Award.