Lucia Bun
Santa Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden and other countries. Girls put on white dresses, wear a crown of candles, and wake their families with coffee, Lucia Buns (lussekatter or saffron buns), and music. During the evening church service, processions of girls honor Saint Lucy. For a Lucia Buns recipe, children could visit: Lucia Buns.
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, an English explorer, began his trip in 1577 that would eventually circumnavigate the world. He left England with five ships and picked up another near the Cape Verde Islands. Actually Drake did not plan to sail around the world. He was a privateer intent on plundering Spanish ships. He returned to England September 26, 1580, with one ship loaded with treasure. Children find out more about his “sea dog” years by visiting: Sir Francis Drake. They could also experience a readers’ theater play at: Readers’ Theater.
Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand in 1642. At first the Dutch explorer thought New Zealand was part of a chain of islands off the coast of South America. The New Zealanders honored him by creating the Abel Tasman National Park. Children could learn more about him at: Abel Tasman.
Lucia Gonzalez (born Caimito, Cuba, 1957) is a children’s author, librarian, and storyteller. Her The Bossy Gallito received the 1995 Pura Belpré Literature Honor Award. She also wrote The Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos, a bilingual book about Pura Belpré. It earned the 2008 Pura Belpré Children’s Literature Honor Medal. Children could learn more at: Lucia Gonzalez.
Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln (born Lexington, Kentucky, 1818; died Springfield, Illinois, July 16, 1882) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1861 to April 14, 1865. She was the wife of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States. The attractive daughter of a rich and prominent southern family, she married the impoverished Lincoln in 1842. They had four sons. Most of her life seemed riddled with agitation. While First Lady, she was criticized for her extravagance. Her husband and three of her four sons died during her lifetime. Children could learn more at: Mary Todd Lincoln.
The Little Island
Leonard Weisgard (born New Haven Connecticut, 1916; died Denmark, January 14, 2000) was an author and/or illustrator of more than 200 books. He illustrated Margaret Wise Brown’s The Little Island and received the 1948 Caldecott Medal. Children could visit a website devoted to him and view the long list of books he illustrated at: Leonard Weisegard.