Flag of Chad
Chad celebrates Its Independence Day from France. Chad became a sovereign country in 1962. It is a landlocked country, about three times the size of California. This African country’s arid climate allows some farming and some pastoral activity. It has huge oil reserves. Over eleven million people live in Chad. N’Djamena is the capital. Idea: Children could make a map of Chad and its neighbors. Older children can learn more at: Chad.
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run in 1929. The first baseball player to reach this milestone, he was playing in League Park in Cleveland, Ohio. He went on to hit 714 home runs during his career. Only 28 baseball players have hit more than 500 home runs. Children could view a list of those players at: 500 Homerun Club.
Joanna Cole (born Newark, New Jersey, 1944; died Sioux City, Iowa, July 12, 2020) was a children’s author. She wrote over 250 books that were published in thirteen countries. One of her enterprises was the Magic School Bus Series.
Don Freeman (born San Diego, California, 1908; died New York, New York, February 1, 1978) was a painter, cartoonist, author, and illustrator. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 20 children’s books, including the classic Corduroy. His book Fly High, Fly Low received a 1958 Caldecott Honor Award. Children could learn more about him at: Don Freeman.
Alex Haley (born Ithaca, New York, 1921; died Seattle, Washington, February 13, 1992) was a writer. One of his most famous works is Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The book, a Pulitzer Prize-winner in 1975, has been translated into 37 languages. He also wrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
Steven Kroll (born New York, New York, 1941; died New York, New York, March 8, 2011) wrote at least 96 books for children. His works include Jungle Bullies and Sweet America. Children can learn more at: Steven Kroll.
George Sullivan (born Lowell, Massachusetts, 1927) has written at least 100 nonfiction books for children and young adults. His works include Matthew Brady: His Life and Photographs and Trapped.
Catherine Woolley (born Chicago, Illinois, 1904; died Truro, Massachusetts, July 23, 2005) wrote children’s books. Often using the pen name Jane Thayer, she wrote 86 books. She is best known for The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy and Sandy and the Seventeen Glasses.