Birthdays

Mar 122025

Daniel Cohen (born Chicago, Illinois, 1936; died Cape May, New Jersey, May 6, 2018) wrote over 100 nonfiction books for children. His books include Allosaurus and other Jurassic Meat-Eaters and Civil War Ghosts.

Charles Cunningham Boycott (born Norfolk, England, 1832; died Suffolk, England, June 19, 1897) is famous because his last name is so much a part of our language. He owned a number of properties. He charged high rents, and he evicted those who could not pay the money. The tenants refused to rent from him, and thus the word boycott came into being. Idea: Brainstorm a list of words that have come from someone’s name.

Virginia Hamilton (born Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1936; died Yellow Springs, Ohio, February 19, 2002) wrote at least 41 books for children. She received many, many honors and awards, including the 1992 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the 1995 Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, and several Coretta Scott King Awards. Her book M. C. Higgins the Great received the 1975 Newbery Medal. She also wrote In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World which received a 1989 Newbery Honor Award. Children could visit a website devoted to her at: Virginia Hamilton.

Carl Hiaasen (born Plantation, Florida, 1953) writes books for children and young adults. His book Hoot received a 2003 Newbery Honor Award. Children can visit his website at: Carl Hiaasen.

Naomi Shihab Nye (born Saint Louis, Missouri, 1952) writes poetry and novels. Her book Sitti’s Secrets received the 1998 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award.

Jane Pierce

Jane Means Appleton Pierce (born Hampton, New Hampshire, 1806; died Andover, Massachusetts, December 2, 1863) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1853 to March 4, 1857. She was the wife of Franklin Pierce, fourteenth president of the United States. She did not want her husband to run for the office. Mourning the death of one of their sons, she was not a very active First Lady. Children could visit a website at: Jane Means Appleton Pierce.

Schirra is the first person in the first row

Wally Schirra (born Hackensack, New Jersey, 1923; died La Jolla, California, May 3, 2007) was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts. He was the first person to travel into space three times. In 1962 he piloted Mercury-Atlas 8 and orbited the earth six times. Then he was part of the crew of Gemini 6A. He was commander of Apollo 7. He and his crew spent eleven days in space, carrying out experiments. He received an Emmy for his transmissions from space to earth. After his NASA years, he became a television commentator regarding the space program. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Wally Schirra.

Andrew Young (born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1932) is a civil rights leader. He was a Congressperson from Georgia 1973 to 1977, United States ambassador to the United Nations in the Carter administration from 1977 to 1979, and mayor of Atlanta from 1982 to 1990, . Children could learn more at: Andrew Young.

Birthdays

Mar 132025

Diane Dillon (born Glendale, California, 1933) is a picture book illustrator. She and her husband Leo Dillon, who died in 2012, are the only people to have received two Caldecott Medals back to back. They illustrated, among other works, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale (1976 Caldecott Medal) and Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (1977 Caldecott Medal). They also received a 2005 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for The People Could Fly: A Picture Book.

Percival Lowell (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1855; died Flagstaff, Arizona, November 12, 1916) was an astronomer. Lowell instigated the research that ultimately found Pluto. The former planet was found fourteen years after he died. He created the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona Territory in 1894. The observatory is still in operation.

Abigail Fillmore

Abigail Powers Fillmore (born Stillwater, New York, 1798; died Washington, DC, March 30, 1853) was America’s First Lady from July 9, 1850 to March 4, 1853. She was the first wife of Millard Fillmore, thirteenth president of the United States. A teacher, she was the first First Lady to work before and after she was married. After they moved into the White House, she created its first library. She also had the first bathtub installed, and the first kitchen stove was added. Prior to that, food had been prepared over an open fireplace. Children could visit a website at: Abigail Powers Fillmore.

Joseph Priestley (born Fieldhead, England, 1733; died Northumberland, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1804) was a scientist and a cleric. While he is most famous for discovering oxygen, he actually isolated nine other gases, including carbon dioxide. He lived in the United States for ten years. Children can learn more at: Joseph Priestley.

Ellen Raskin (born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1928; died New York, New York, August 8, 1984) was a children’s author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated twelve picture books. She illustrated at least 25 books written by other authors, including Rebecca Caudhill and Aileen Fisher. She wrote four novels for children. She received a 1975 Newbery Honor Award for Figgs and Phantoms. One of her most well-known books is The Westing Game, which earned Raskin the well-deserved 1979 Newbery Medal. Children could visit a website at: Ellen Raskin.

Thomas Rockwell (born New Rochelle, New York, 1933; died Danbury, Connecticut, September 27, 2024) wrote books for children. The son of Norman Rockwell, he is known for his book How to Eat Fried Worms.

Birthdays

Mar 142025

Frank Borman (born Gary, Indiana, 1928; died Billings, Montana, November 7, 2023) was an astronaut. He was the Command Pilot of Gemini 7. He and his crew set an endurance record in 1962 by spending fourteen days in space. He was Commander of Apollo 8, the first vehicle to circle the moon. Children could learn more at: Frank Borman.

Eugene Cernan (born Chicago, Illinois, 1934; died Houston, Texas, January 16, 2017) was a test pilot and astronaut. He participated in Gemini 9A and Apollo 10. He was commander of Apollo 17. He was the eleventh man on the moon and the last person to walk on the moon. Children can learn more at: Eugene Cernan.

Marguerite de Angeli (born Lampeer, Michigan, 1889; died Detroit, Michigan, June 16, 1987) was a children’s author. She received a 1945 Newbery Honor Award for Yonie Wondernose. Her book The Door in the Wall received the 1950 Newbery Medal. De Angeli received a 1956 Newbery Honor Award for The Black Fox of Lome. Children could visit a website at: Marguerite de Angeli.

Albert Einstein (born Ulm, Germany, 1879; died Princeton, New Jersey, April 18, 1955) revolutionized theories about the universe. Children could read Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities and Thought Experiments by Jerome Pohlen.

Lucy B. Hobbs (born Constable, New York, 1833; died Lawrence, Kansas, October 3, 1910) became the first woman dentist when she graduated from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 21, 1866. She practiced dentistry for over 20 years. She then turned her attention to politics and women’s rights.

Casey Jones (born John Luther Jones near Cayce, Kentucky, 1864; died April 30, 1900 in a train wreck near Vaughn, Mississippi) is the subject of the ballad. Children can read the ballad at: Casey Jones.

Hank Ketcham (born Seattle, Washington, 1920; died Pebble Beach, California, June 1, 2001) created Dennis the Menace. Dennis was created in the early 1950’s. Ketcham retired in 1995, and other people draw Dennis today. Children can learn more at: Hank Ketcham.

Birthdays

Mar 152025

Barbara Cohen (Asbury Park, New Jersey, 1932; died November 29, 1992) wrote books for children. Her most famous book is Molly’s Pilgrim. She received the 1980 Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award. Children could learn more at: Barbara Cohen.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (born Brooklyn, New York, 1933; died Washington, DC, September 18, 2020) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She was the second woman to hold the office. She took the oath of office August 13, 1993 and remained on the bench until she died. Children could read No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Nancy Zhang. Older children could learn more at: Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson (born Waxhaw, South Carolina, 1767; died Nashville, Tennessee, June 8, 1845) was the seventh president (1829-1837) of the United States. He was nicknamed “Old Hickory” after his leadership in the War of 1812, especially in the Battle of New Orleans. He was the first president to be born in a log cabin, the first to travel by train, and the first to survive an assassination attempt. While he was not a polished man, he did care about the country’s economy and was able to pay off the entire federal debt. Children could visit a website at: Andrew Jackson.

Ruth White (born Whitewood, Virginia, 1942; died Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, June 8, 2017) wrote at least twelve books for children. Her books include Little Audrey and Sweet Creek Holler. She received a 1997 Newbery Honor Award for Belle Prater’s Boy.

Birthdays

Mar 162025

William Blount (Born Bertie, County, North Carolina, 1749; died Knoxville, Tennessee, March 21, 1800) represented North Carolina at the Constitutional Convention. Children can learn more at: William Blount.

George Clymer (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1739; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1813) was an American patriot. He was one of six men to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Later he served as a representative from Pennsylvania during the first term of the House of Representatives. Children can learn more at: George Clymer.

Sid Fleischman (born Brooklyn, New York, 1920; died Santa Monica, California, March 17, 2010) wrote at least 35 books for children. He received the 1987 Newbery Medal for The Whipping Boy. Another one of his excellent books is By the Great Horn Spoon! His son is writer Paul Fleischman. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Sid Fleischman. In 2003 the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators honored Fleischman by creating the Sid Fleischman Humor Award, rewarding authors who incorporate laughter into their books. Fleischman received the first award in 2003. Children can learn more about the award and the recipients at: Sid Fleischman Award. Children could read a biography of Fleischman and learn more about the Sid Fleischman Award by reading Children’s Book Award Handbook, by Diana F. Marks.

Caroline Lucretia Herschel (born Hanover, Germany, 1750; died Hanover, Germany, January 9. 1848) was an astronomer. Sister of famous astronomer William Herschel, she became a well-regarded astronomer in her own right. She was the first woman to discover a comet (comet 35-P/Herschel-Rigollet). She also produced Catalogue of Stars, an index of all stars that had been observed and cataloged. Children could learn more at: Caroline Lucretia Herschel. They could also read Caroline’s Comets by Emily Arnold McCully.

Eric P. Kelly (born Amesbury, Massachusetts, 1884; died January 3, 1960) was a journalist and writer of children’s books. He wrote at least fifteen books, and his book The Trumpeter of Krakow received the 1929 Newbery Medal.

James Madison

James Madison (born Port Conway, Virginia, 1751; died Montpelier, Virginia, June 28, 1836) was the fourth president (1809-1817) of the United States. He is known as the “Father of the Constitution” because he continually pushed and pulled the delegates into meeting and resolving differences. He also wrote the first draft of the Bill of Rights. He was a Congressperson for four terms. While he was president, he had to contend with the War of 1812. Children could visit a website at: James Madison. They could read Jean Fritz’s The Great Little Madison.

Patricia Nixon

Thelma Catherine Patricia Ryan Nixon (born Ely, Nevada, 1912; died Park Ridge, New Jersey, June 22, 1993) was America’s First Lady from January 20, 1969 to August 9, 1974. She was the wife of Richard M. Nixon, thirty-seventh president of the United States. She met Nixon when she was teaching in Whittier, California. During World War II, she worked as a government economist. Children could visit a website at: Thelma Catherine Patricia Nixon.

Georg Simon Ohm (born Erlangen, Germany, 1787; died Munich, Germany, July 6, 1854) was a physicist. He originated Ohm’s Law. The ohm, a measure of electrical resistance, honors him. Children could find out more about Ohm’s Law and electrical resistance. They could learn more at: Georg Simon Ohm.

Birthdays

Mar 172025

Jim Bridger (born Richmond, Virginia, 1804; died near Kansas City, Missouri, July 17, 1881) was a scout and pioneer. He built Fort Bridger in Wyoming as a fur trading post and rest station for settlers traveling on the Oregon Trail.

Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler (born Schorndorf, Kingdom of Wurttenberg, Germany, 1834; died Bad Cannstatt, Kingdom of Wurttenberg, German Empire, March 6, 1900) is known as the “Father of the Automobile.” He invented the internal combustion engine. Idea: Help students discover how a car engine actually works.

Ralph Fletcher (born Marshfield, Massachusetts, 1953) writes novels, picture books, and poetry books for children and young adults. His books include Fig Pudding and Moving Day.

One of Greenaway’s Illustrations

Kate Greenaway (born London, England, 1846; died London, England, November 6, 1901) wrote and illustrated children’s books. Children can read many of her works at: Project Gutenberg. The highly respected Kate Greenaway Medal is given each year to the best-illustrated book published in the United Kingdom. Children could learn more about Kate Greenaway and the Kate Greenaway Medal by consulting the Children’s Book Award Handbook, by Diana F. Marks.

Lilian Moore (born New York, New York, 1909; died Seattle, Washington, July 20, 2004) wrote about 50 poetry books and easy-to-read books for children. Her works included While You Were Chasing a Hat and I’ll Meet You at the Cucumbers. Children can learn more at: Lilian Moore.

Birthdays

Mar 182025

Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland (born Caldwell, New Jersey, 1837; died Princeton, New Jersey, June 24, 1908) was the twenty-second and twenty-fourth president of the United States. He was president from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Born a minister’s son, he was mayor of Buffalo and governor of New York. He was not a very popular president. He applied his veto power over 300 times, more than double the total vetoes of all previous presidents. Children could visit a website at: Grover Cleveland.

Rudolph Diesel (born Paris, France, 1858; died English Channel, September 29, 1913) invented the diesel internal combustion engine.

Douglas Florian (born New York, New York, 1950) writes books for children. His books include Insectlopedia and Laugh-eteria. Children can learn more at: Douglas Florian.

Susan Patron (born Los Angeles, California, 1948; died Los Angeles, California, October 24, 2023) wrote books for children. Her book The Higher Power of Lucky received the 2007 Newbery Medal. One of her recent books is Dear America: Behind the Masks.

Kaethe Zemach (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1958) writes and illustrates books for children. The daughter of writer Harve Zemach and illustrator Margot Zemach, she published her first book at age 14. Her books include The Character in the Book and Just Enough and Not Too Much.

Birthdays

Mar 192025

William Bradford (born Yorkshire, England, 1589; died Plymouth, Massachusetts, May 9, 1657) was the second governor of Plymouth Colony, serving from 1621 to 1657. He organized the first Thanksgiving. Much of what we know of Pilgrim life comes from his book Of Plimmoth Plantation. Young adults can read the book at: Project Gutenberg.

William Jennings Bryan (born Salem, Illinois, 1860; died Dayton, Tennessee, July 26, 1925) was known as the “Silver-Tongued Orator.” He championed causes such as the women’s right to vote and the plight of farmers. Children could learn more at: William Jennings Bryan.

Wyatt Earp (born Monmouth, Illinois, 1848; died Los Angeles, California, January 13, 1929) was a frontiersman and a deputy sheriff. At one time he was a buffalo hunter. He and his two brothers were responsible for the fight at the O. K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, in 1881.

David Livingstone (born Blantyre, Scotland, 1813; died Africa, May 1, 1873) was a physician, missionary, and the famous missing adventurer. He had been missing for six years. A search party, headed by Henry Stanley, found him near Lake Tanganyika, Africa, on November 10, 1871. Staley tried to convince him to return to Scotland, but Livingstone wanted to continue looking for the source of the Nile River.

Thomas McKean (born New London, Pennsylvania, 1734; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1817) signed the Declaration of Independence. A lawyer, McKean attended the Continental Congress. However, he immediately joined the army and battled the British before he returned around 1777 to sign the Declaration of Independence. After the war, he was chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Governor of Delaware, President of the Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Pennsylvania. Children could learn more at: Thomas McKean.

A Bad Hoss
by Charles M. Russell

Charles M. Russell (born St. Louis, Missouri, 1864; died Great Falls, Montana, October 26, 1926) was an artist. He was a shepherd and cowboy before he began to paint. His art reflects his interest in the West. Children can learn more at: Charles M. Russell.

Birthdays

Mar 202025

Ellen Conford (born New York, New York, 1942; died Great Neck, New York, March 20, 2015) wrote at least 35 books for children and young adults. Her books include the Annabelle series and the Jennie Archer series.

Mitsumasa Anno (born Tsuwano, Japan, 1926; died December 24, 2020) wrote and illustrated at least 40 books for children. He wrote among other works Anno’s Journey, published in 1977. He received the 1984 Hans Christian Andersen Award for his body of work.

Henrik Ibsen (born Skien, Norway, 1828; died Oslo, Norway, May 23, 1906) was a playwright. One of his most famous plays is Peer Gynt. Children can read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Lois Lowry (born Honolulu, Hawaii, 1937) has written close to 50 books for children. She wrote among other works Number the Stars, which earned her the 1990 Newbery Medal, and The Giver, which received the 1994 Newbery Medal. She is also the author of the Anastasia series and the Gooney Bird series.

Bill Martin, Jr. (born Hiawatha, Kansas, 1916; died Commerce, Texas, August 11, 2004) wrote over 300 books for children. His books include Knots on a Counting Rope and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Children can go to: http://www.storylineonline.net/ to see and hear Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels read Knots on a Counting Rope.

Fred Rogers (born Latrobe, Pennsylvania, 1928; died Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 27, 2003) was the producer and host of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The television show, produced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, debuted February 19, 1968, and closed on August 29, 2008. Children can learn more at: Fred Rogers.

Louis Sachar (born East Meadow, New York, 1954) has written at least 25 books for children. His book Holes won the 1999 Newbery Medal. He also wrote the Wayside School series. Children could visit his website at: Louis Sachar.

Birthdays

Mar 212025

Johann Sebastian Bach (born Eisenach, Germany, 1685; died Leipzig, Germany, July 28, 1750) was a composer of Baroque music. His work is very complex, so it was not popular during his lifetime. He became famous after his death. He created several hundred compositions, including almost 300 cantatas.

Peter Catalanotto (born Long Island, New York, 1959) is a children’s author and illustrator. He has written and illustrated about fourteen books. He has also illustrated books by other authors, including Cynthia Rylant and Susan Patron. One of his books is Dylan’s Day Out. Children can visit his website at: Peter Catalanotto.

Lisa Desimini (born Brooklyn, New York, 1964) writes and illustrates books for children. Her works include Moon Soup and My House. Children can learn more at: Lisa Desimini.

Michael Foreman (born Pakefield, England, 1938) is a British writer and illustrator of children’s books. He has written and/or illustrated over 180 books. He has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice, once in 1982 and again in 1989. Children can view a list of his works at: Michael Foreman.

Francis Lewis (born Wales, 1713; died New York, New York, December 31, 1802) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented New York. In his early life, he fought in the French and Indian War. The British imposition of the Stamp Act angered him, and he became politically active. After he signed the Declaration of Independence, he worked hard to strengthen the navy and the army. In the fall of 1776, the British seized and destroyed his home, and they imprisoned his wife for several months under deplorable conditions. She died two years later. His only daughter married an English officer and moved to England. Children can learn more at: Francis Lewis.

David Wisniewski (born Middlesex, England, 1953; died Alexandria, Virginia, September 11, 2002) was a children’s author and illustrator. He had an unusual method of illustration; he layered cut papers to create a kind of three-dimensional effect. One of his books, Golem, won the 1997 Caldecott Award. Children can learn more at: David Wisniewski.

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