Apr 282024
 

Lois Duncan (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1934; died Bradenton, Florida, June 15, 2016) wrote suspense novels for young adults. Her books include I Know What You Did Last Summer and Hotel for Dogs. She received the 1992 Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement. Children can learn more at: Lois Duncan.

Amy Hest (born New York, New York, 1950) has written close to 50 books for children. Her works include When Jessica Came across the Sea and Kiss Good Night. Children can visit her website at: Amy Hest.

Elena Kagan, Associate Justice

Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan (born New York, New York, 1960) became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on August 7, 2010. Prior to her Supreme Court appointment, she was the country’s first woman Solicitor General. Children could learn more at: Elena Kagan

Harper Lee (born Monroeville, Alabama, 1926; died Monroeville, Alabama, February 19, 2016) was a novelist. She is best known for her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The book received the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Literature. She also wrote Go Set a Watchman, published in 2015.

James Monroe

James Monroe

James Monroe (born Westmoreland County, Virginia, 1758; died New York, New York, July 4, 1831) was the fifth president (1817-1825) of the United States. He established the Monroe Doctrine, and he acquired Florida from Spain. Prior to being president, eh served at Minister to France. Also, Robert Livingston and he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. Children can visit a website at: James Monroe. Idea: Children could find out which capital city of an African country was named in honor of him.

Sir Terence David John “Terry” Pratchett (born Beaconsfield, United Kingdom, 1948; died Broad Chalke, United Kingdom, March 12, 2015 ) wrote fantasy books. His books include Pyramids and Night Watch. He received the 2011 Margaret A. Edwards Award for his body of works.

Marvin Terban (born Chelsea, Massachusetts, 1940) has written at least 28 wordplay books for children. His books include Your Foot’s on My Feet: And Other Tricky Nouns and Time to Rhyme. Children can view a video about him at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C7NF0FN5yw.

Jul 042024
 

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

James Monroe, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson all died on the Fourth of July. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died hundreds of miles apart but within hours of each other in 1826, and fifty years after the Declaration of Independence was made public. James Monroe died in 1831. Older children can read more at: Coincidence.

James Monroe

Dec 022024
 

James Monroe

Monroe Doctrine was established in 1823 in James Monroe’s address to Congress. He stated that the American continents were not to be further colonized by European nations. Older children could visit the State Department Historian website to understand more about the doctrine at: Monroe Doctrine. They can also read a transcript of the doctrine at: Monroe Doctrine Transcript.