Monday, February 04, 2008

February 4 Birthdays: Charles Lindbergh, Rosa Parks and Alexis Soyer

Charles Lindbergh, aviator
Feb. 4, 1902-Aug. 26, 1974

Flight by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Mike Wimmer (Putnam Juvenile paperback, 1997)

This is one of my all-time favorite picture book biographies. It is the dramatic account of Lindbergh’s solitary flight across the Atlantic in 1927 with picture-perfect artwork.

Information about the flight, flight timeline, Spirit of St. Louis, photos, documents, articles, and biographies can be found at CharlesLindbergh.com.


Rosa Parks, civil rights advocate
Feb. 4, 1913-Oct. 24, 2005

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier (Holt, 2005)

The story of the seamstress and African-American civil rights leader who refused to give up her sit on the bus is told in this compelling picture book biography of a true heroine.

The Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development offers a biography and timeline of Mrs. Parks.


Alexis Soyer, chef
Feb. 4, 1810-Aug. 5, 1858

The Adventurous Chef: Alexis Soyer by Anne Arnold (FSG, 2002)

French chef Soyer organized a soup kitchen during the Irish potato famine and worked with Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War.

To read more about Soyer, visit the Victorianweb.org site.