Children's author Anne Bustard on her favorite picture book biographies and a few collected biographies, too, birthday by birthday.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
November 9 Birthday: Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker, mathematician and astronomer
Nov. 9, 1731-Oct. 9, 1806
Dear Benjamin Banneker by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Voyager, 1998)
Banneker, an 18th century free African American was passionate about learning. Aside from excelling professionally in the fields of math and astronomy, he published an almanac and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson about slavery. Brian Pinkney's hallmark style—scratchboard—illuminates this story.
Go to the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum in Baltimore to learn more about this multi-talented man.