National Hummingbird Day is today! Celebrated on the first Saturday of September, the day honors our smallest types of birds. About 336 species of hummingbirds exist, and they are native to the Americas. These small birds can quickly stop midair, and they are the only birds that can fly backward. Their needle-like bills allow them to extract flower nectar. Their eggs are about the size of a pea. They are called hummingbirds because their wings beat so many times in a second that they produce a low hum.
National Grandparents’ Day is today, the first Sunday following Labor Day. It was made a holiday by Presidential Proclamation by Jimmy Carter in 1978.
International Vulture Awareness Day is today! Designated for the first Saturday in September, the day recognizes vultures, birds that may be unattractive but are vital to the world’s ecology. Vultures eat carrion, dead animals. These scavengers help rid our planet of dead matter. Ornithologists list 23 species of vultures living today. Unfortunately several of the species are endangered or even critically endangered. Children could learn more at: Vultures.
Brazil celebrates Independence Day. It became free from Portuguese rule in 1822, but Portuguese is still the official language. This South American country is only slightly smaller than the United States. Over 200 million people live in Brazil, and Brasilia is the capital. It exports coffee and soybeans. Idea: Children could compare and contrast the Portuguese language and the Spanish language. Children could learn more at: Brazil.
“Uncle Sam” symbol was used for the first time in 1813. It appeared in a Troy, New York, newspaper. Sam Wilson, a meat packer from New York, was supplying beef to the troops during the War of 1812. He marked the beef barrels with the letters US, meaning the meat was for US soldiers. However, the soldiers began interpreting the letters US as Uncle Sam.
Raggedy Ann dolls were patented by John Gruelle in 1915. He received patent D47,789. He wrote at least 50 Raggedy Ann and Andy books to accompany the dolls.
Elizabeth I (born Greenwich Palace, 1533; died Richmond, England, March 24, 1603) was queen of England from 1558 until her death. Her parents were Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. During her reign England became a leading power. Idea: Children could read from the Royal Diaries series, Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor England, by Kathryn Lasky.
Elmer Hader (born Pajaro, California, 1889; died Nyack, New York, September 9, 1973) was a writer and illustrator of children’s books. He and his wife Berta Hader collaborated on more than 100 books. They received the 1948 Caldecott Medal for The Big Snow.
Eric Hill (born Holloway, United Kingdom, 1927; died Templeton, California, June 6, 2014) wrote children’s books. He is most known for his books about Spot, a puppy always getting into trouble. More than 60 million copies of his books have been sold. Children can learn more at: Eric Hill.
Buddy Holly (born Charles Harden Holly in Lubbock, Texas, 1936; died in a plane crash near Mason City, Iowa, February 3, 1959) was a leader of rock ‘n’ roll. One of his most famous songs was “Peggy Sue.”
Jacob Lawrence (born Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1917; died Seattle, Washington, June 9, 2000) was an African American painter and illustrator. He received the Spingarn Medal. Children can visit a website at: Jacob Lawrence.
LeUyen Pham (born Saigon, Vietnam, 1973) writes and illustrates books for children. Her illustrations of Bear Came Along, written by Richard T. Morris, earned her a 2020 Caldecott Honor Award.
Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses (born Greenwich, New York, 1860; died Hoosick Falls, New York, December 13, 1961) was a contemporary primitive artist. She began painting when she was 78 years old. Children could view some of her work at: Grandma Moses.