Birthdays

Feb 102025

Adrienne Adams (born Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1906; died Rolla, Missouri, December 3, 2002) wrote and illustrated books for children. She received a 1960 Caldecott Honor Award for her illustrations in Houses from the Sea. Adams earned a 1961 Caldecott Honor Award for her work in The Day We Saw the Sun Come Up. Alice E. Goudy wrote both of those books. Children can learn more at: Adrienne Adams.

Lucy Cousins (born United Kingdom, 1964) has written at least 38 books for children. She is best known for her series Maisy the Mouse. Children can view her website at: Maisy.

Stephen Gammell (born Des Moines, Iowa, 1943) has illustrated over 50 books for children. He received a Caldecott Honor Award in 1983 for Where the Buffaloes Begin. He earned the 1989 Caldecott Medal for Song and Dance Man. He illustrated Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and its sequels.

Elaine Lobl Konigsburg (born New York, New York, 1930; died Falls Church, Virginia, April 19, 2013) was a children’s author. She wrote among other works Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth, which received a 1968 Newbery Honor Award. In that same year Konigsburg was awarded the Newbery Medal for the classic From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. She received another Newbery Medal in 1997 for A View from Saturday. Children can learn more at: Elaine Lobl Konigsburg.

Boris Leonidovich Pasternak (born Moscow, Russia, 1890; died Moscow, Russia, May 30, 1960) was an author. One of his most famous works is Doctor Zhivago; he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958 for the book. Children can read some of his poems at: Pasternak.

Leontyne Price (born Laurel, Mississippi, 1927) is an opera singer. She rose to fame as one of the first African Americans to perform in leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera. In 1997 she wrote Aida, a book for children, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon.

Birthdays

Feb 112025

Edison Holding a Light Bulb
NPS Photograph

Thomas Alva Edison (born Milan, Ohio, 1847; died Menlo Park, New Jersey, October 18, 1931) held more than 1,200 patents. He invented the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and part of the telephone transmitter. Children can learn more by visiting the Thomas Edison National Park website at: Thomas Alva Edison.

Holly Keller (born New York, New York, 1942) writes and illustrates books for children. She has written and illustrated at least 35 books, including Geraldine and Mrs. Duffy and Farfalina and Marcel, which received the Charlotte Zolotow Award in 2005. She has also illustrated at least 20 books by other authors, including Patricia Lauber and Paul Showers.

Mo Willems (born Des Plaines, Illinois, 1968) is an animator and a writer/illustrator of at least 80 books for children. He has received three Caldecott Honor Awards: Don’t Let the Pigeons Drive the Bus in 2004, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale in 2005, and Knuffle Bunny: A Case of Mistaken Identity in 2008. He has also received two Theodore Geisel Awards: There is a Bird on Your Head in 2008 and Are You Ready to Play Outside? in 2009. Children can visit his very interesting website at: Mo Willems.

Jane Yolen (born New York, New York, 1939) has written over 400 books for children, and she has received many, many awards. Her book Devil’s Arithmetic received the 1989 Sydney Taylor Award. She has received three Golden Kite Awards: The Girl Who Cried Flowers and other Tales in 1974, The Transfigured Hart (Honor Book) in 1975, and Moon Ribbons and other Tales (Honor Book) in 1976. She wrote The Emperor and the Kite, and its illustrator, Ed Young, received a Caldecott Honor Award in 1968. She wrote Owl Moon, and its illustrator, John Schoenherr, received the 1988 Caldecott Medal. Children can visit her very interesting website at: Jane Yolen.

Birthdays

Feb 122025

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.

Birthdays

Feb 132025

Mary GrandPré (born Aberdeen, South Dakota, 1954) illustrates books for children. Her illustrations in The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art earned her a 2015 Caldecott Honor Award. She also illustrated the US editions of the Harry Potter books.

Janet Taylor Lisle (born Englewood, New Jersey, 1947; died Boston, Massachusetts, October 5, 2023) wrote books for young adults. Her work Afternoon of the Elves received a 1990 Newbery Honor Award. Her book The Art of Keeping Cool received the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2001. Children can visit her website at: Janet Taylor Lisle.

William Sleator (born Havre de Grace, Maryland, 1945; died Bua Chet, Thailand, August 3, 2011) wrote science fiction books for young adults. His works include Interstellar Pig and The Green Futures of Tycho.

Simms Taback (born New York, New York, 1932; died Ventura, California, December 25, 2011) was an author and illustrator. He illustrated more than 40 books. His book There Was an Old Lady that Swallowed a Fly was a 1998 Caldecott Honor Book. Another of his books, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, won the 2000 Caldecott Medal. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Simms Taback.

Bess Truman

Elizabeth (Bess) Virginia Wallace Truman (born Independence, Missouri, 1885; died Independence, Missouri, October 18, 1982) was America’s First Lady from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953. She was the wife of Harry S Truman, thirty-third president of the United States. She did not like being First Lady because she found so little privacy. Also, many people compared her to Eleanor Roosevelt, the previous First Lady. She lived the longest of all First Ladies. Older children could visit a website at: Bess Truman.

American Gothic

Grant Wood (born near Anamosa, Iowa, 1892; died Iowa City, Iowa, February 12, 1942) was an artist and a teacher. He is most known for his paintings about the Midwest. One of his most famous works is American Gothic. Idea: American Gothic is often parodied. Students could update American Gothic. Children can read more about him and see some of his works at: Grant Wood.

Charles “Chuck” Yeager (born Myra, West Virginia, 1923; died Los Angeles, California, December 7, 2020) was a test pilot who broke the sound barrier in 1947.

Birthdays

Feb 142025

Original Ferris Wheel at World’s Columbian Exposition

George Washington Gale Ferris (born Galesburg, Illinois, 1859; died Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1896) invented the Ferris wheel. He created the first Ferris wheel for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. It was made to rival the Eiffel Tower.

Adam Gidwitz (born San Francisco, California, 1982) writes books for children. He received a 2017 Newbery Honor Award for The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and their Holy Dog. Children could visit his site at: Adam Gidwitz.

Margaret E. Knight (born York, Maine, 1838; died Framingham, Massachusetts, October 12, 1914) was a most accomplished woman inventor. One of her most-famous inventions produced flat-bottom paper bags. She received at least 27 patents, perhaps as much as 30. Children could read Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor, by Emily Arnold McCully.

George Shannon (born Caldwell, Kansas, 1952) writes books for children. His books include Frog Legs and Heart to Heart. Children can visit his website at: George Shannon.

Paul O. Zelinsky (born Evanston, Illinois, 1953) is a children’s book author and illustrator. His Rapunzel won the 1998 Caldecott Award. He has illustrated books by other authors, including Beverly Cleary and Jack Prelutsky. Children could visit his interesting website at: Paul O. Zelinsky.

Birthdays

Feb 152025

Susan B. Anthony

Susan Brownell Anthony (born Adams, Massachusetts, 1820; died Rochester, New York, March 13, 1906) fought for women’s rights. She was arrested in 1872 for voting, illegal for women at that time. A dollar coin has her image imprinted on it. Children could learn more about her at: Susan B. Anthony.

Norman Bridwell (born Kokomo, Indiana, 1928; died Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, December 12, 2014) wrote and illustrated books for children. He is perhaps best known for his Clifford the Big Red Dog Series. He created at least 40 books; over 126 million copies of his books have been printed in at least 13 languages.

Abraham Clark (born Roselle, New Jersey, 1726; died Rahway, New Jersey, September 15, 1794) signed the Declaration of Independence. A surveyor and lawyer, he was known as the ‘poor man’s councilor’ because he often took cases when his clients could not pay him. Representing New Jersey, he was active after the Revolutionary War. He was twice elected to the US House of Representatives. Children could learn more about him at: Abraham Clark.

Galileo

Galileo Galilei (born Pisa, Italy, 1564; died near Florence, Italy, January 8, 1642) was a scientist. Although he did not invent the refracting telescope, he was the first person to put it to good use. By using the telescope, he found that the moon is not smooth but covered with mountains and valleys. In 1610 he located four moons around Jupiter. He was accused of being a heretic by the Catholic Church in 1633 because he believed that the earth revolved around the sun. He was placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life. Idea: Students could play with different kinds of lenses and find out how telescopes work. They could also read Starry Messenger, by Peter Sis. The book received a 2001 Caldecott Honor award. Children could learn more at: Galileo.

Cyrus H. McCormick (born Rockbridge County, Virginia, 1809; died Chicago, Illinois, May 13, 1884) invented the mechanical reaper, an invention that harvested grains. Prior to his invention, farmers had to harvest the grains with scythes. Children can learn more at: Cyrus H. McCormick.

Doris Orgel (born Vienna, Austria, 1929; died August 4, 2021) wrote over 50 books for children. Her books include The Devil in Vienna and Button Soup.

Birthdays

Feb 162025

Robert Joseph Flaherty (born Iron Mountain, Michigan, 1884; died Dummerston, Vermont, July 23, 1951) is known as the “Father of Documentary Motion Pictures.” He started out making silent films, including the 1922 Nanook of the North. Later he made sound films. The Land demonstrated erosion effects.

Carol Gorman (born Iowa City, Iowa, 1952) has written at least 25 books for children. Her books include The Miraculous Makeover of Lizard Flanagan and Chelsea and the Green-Haired Kid.

Birthdays

Feb 172025

Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec (born Quimper, France, 1781; died Quimper, France, August 13, 1826) was a doctor. He also invented the stethoscope. Idea: Children could make stethoscopes by following the directions at: Stethoscope.

Andre Norton (born Cleveland, Ohio, 1912; died Murfreesboro, Tennessee, March 17, 2005) is sometimes called the Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy. She is best known for her Witch World series. Children can learn more at: Andre Norton.

Still Life with Cake
Raphaelle Peale
Brooklyn Museum

Raphaelle Peale (born Annapolis, Maryland, 1774; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1825) was an artist and a member of the famous Peale family. He is most known for his still life works. Children can view some of his works at: Raphaelle Peale.

Robert Newton Peck (born Vermont, 1928; died Longwood, Florida, June 23, 2020) was a children’s author. He wrote over 50 books. One of his books is A Day No Pigs Would Die. He was also the author of the Soup books. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Robert Newtown Peck.

Virginia Sorensen (born Provo, Utah, 1912; died Hendersonville, North Carolina, December 24, 1991) wrote books for both adults and children. She received the 1957 Newbery Medal for Miracles on Maple Hill.

Aaron Montgomery Ward (born Chatham, New Jersey, 1844; died Chicago, Illinois, December 7, 1913) was one of the first people to sell mail order. He started Montgomery Ward in 1872 with George R. Thorne. Their first business was located in a loft of a livery stable.

Birthdays

Feb 182025

Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta (born Como, Italy, 1745; died Como, Italy, February 18, 1827) developed the voltaic pile, an early battery. The unit of electrical measurement, the volt, is named after him. Idea: Children could find out more about volts and electrical current. They could read more about Volta at: Volta.

Toni Morrison (born Lorain, Ohio, 1931; died New York, New York, August 5, 2019) was an author. Her books include The Bluest Eye and Beloved. She received the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature and the 1998 Pulitzer Prize. Older children could learn more at: Toni Morrison.

Birthdays

Feb 192025

Nicolaus Copernicus (born Torun, Poland, 1473; died Fromborck, Poland, May 24, 1543) was an astronomer and priest. He caused great upheaval among authorities when he proposed that the sun and not the earth was the center of our planetary arrangement. Children could learn more at: Copernicus.

Jeff Kinney (born Fort Washington, Maryland, 1971) is a cartoonist, game designer, and author of children’s books. He writes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Children can visit his website at: http://www.wimpykid.com/.

Louis Slobodkin (born Albany, New York, 1903; died Miami Beach, Florida, May 8, 1975) was a sculptor, writer, and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated over 20 books. He and his wife, Florence, collaborated on five more books. In addition, he illustrated books by other authors, including Eleanor Estes and Mabel Leigh Hunt. He received the 1944 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations of Many Moons, written by James Thurber. Children can learn more at: Louis Slobodkin.

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