Rosh Hashanah, New Year in the Jewish calendar, begins today at sundown and concludes at sundown on October 4th. The days are spent in worship and with family. Yom Kippur begins on October 11 at sundown and concludes on September 12 at sundown. Children could learn more by reading Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, by Howard Greenfield.
Guinea celebrates Independence Day. France relinquished control in 1958. Located in western Africa, the land was the site of ancient caravan routes. The country is slightly bigger than the state of Utah, and Conakry is the capital. About eleven million people live in Guinea. Children could learn more at: Guinea.
Camel first appeared in the United States in Boston in 1721. It stood seven feet high and twelve feet long. Children could learn some interesting facts about camels at: Camel Facts.
Redwood National and State Parks were created in 1968. Located along the northern coast of California, the parks encompass over 100,000 acres and preserve the remaining giant redwood trees. Children could visit the park’s website at: Redwood.
Thurgood Marshall was sworn into the Supreme Court in 1967. He was the first African American Supreme Court Justice. He retired on June 27, 1991. Idea: Children learn more at: Thurgood Marshall. They could find out how Supreme Court Justices are appointed. Children could also read Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary by Juan Williams.
Jeanne Betancourt (born Burlington, Vermont, 1941) writes books for children. She is best known for her Pony Pals series. Children can visit her website at: Jeanne Betancourt.
Charlie Brown and Snoopy (born 1950) are the creations of Charles Schulz. Their last comic strip was published on February 13, 2000.
David Diaz (born Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1960) has illustrated at least 35 books for children and has received many awards. He earned a 1997 Jane Addams Award for Wilma Unlimited, the 1995 Caldecott Medal for Smoky Night, a Pura Belpre Honor Award in 2004 for The Pot that Juan Built, a Pura Belpre Honor Award in 2006 for César: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can!, and a Pura Belpre Honor Award in 2010 for Diego: Bigger Than Life.
Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi (born Porbandar, India, 1869; died New Delhi, India, January 30, 1948) led India’s fight for independence from Great Britain. Trained as a lawyer in England, Gandhi stressed the use of nonviolence. He was assassinated in his garden by a Hindu who resented Gandhi’s views about Moslems. Children could read Demi’s book, Gandhi.
Groucho Marx (born Julius Henry Marx in New York, New York, 1890; died Los Angeles, California, August 19, 1977) was an actor. He and his brothers formed the Marx Brothers. Two of their most famous movies are Animal Crackers, produced in 1930, and Duck Soup, premiering in 1933. He was also the host of an early television show, You Bet Your Life.
Dirk Zimmer (born Goslar, Germany, 1943; died Poughkeepsie, New York, September 26, 2008) illustrated children’s books. His works include In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories and Weird Wolf.