December 31 Birthday: Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse, artist
Dec. 31, 1869-Nov. 3, 1954

A Bird or Two: A Story About Henri Matisse by Bijou Le Tord (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 1999)

This tribute to the French artist, known as the father of modern art, focuses on Matisse's later years, when he lived in Nice and was inspired by its extraordinary light.

View a collection of Matisse art and a bio at the WebMuseum, Paris.

December 30 Birthday: Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley, musician
Dec. 30, 1928-June 2, 2008

Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Founders of Rock and Roll by Holly George-Warren, illustrated by Laura Levine (Houghton Mifflin, 2001)

A double page spread in this collective bio is devoted to rocker, Bo Diddley. This artist played the violin as a child, and then switched to the guitar as a teen. He is credited with the invention of a thump-thump-a beat on the guitar.

Read more about Bo Diddley at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

December 29 Birthday: Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson, U.S. President
Dec. 29, 1808-July 31, 1875

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1998)

A tailor by profession, this was our only president who could quilt. He was number 17.

You can read Johnson's State of the Union Address on the Project Gutenberg site.

December 28 Birthday: Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson, U.S. President
Dec. 28, 1856-Feb. 3, 1924

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1998)

Our most educated president spent more money on books than clothes. His number? 28.

Read the official White House biography of President Wilson at Whitehouse.gov.

December 25 Birthday: Joseph Boulogne

Joseph Boulogne, musician
December 25, 1745-June 10, 1799

Before There was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome (Schwartz & Wade, 2011)

When Boulogne was born the midwife said, “One day this boy will meet the king and queen of France.” A bold prediction for a boy whose father was a white plantation owner in the West Indies and his mother a black slave. But it happened. And music was the reason.

AfriClassical.com provides a photograph of Saint-George along with an extensive biography.

December 25 Birthday: Jesus

Jesus
Dec. 25-

Jesus by Brian Wildsmith (Eerdmans, 2000)

Beginning with the birth of Jesus, Wildsmith highlights the rest of Jesus' life, death on the cross, resurrection and ascension. Merry Christmas!

The King James version of the Bible is available online.

December 25 Birthday: Anwar el-Sadat

Anwar el-Sadat, politician
Dec. 25, 1918-Oct. 6, 1981

Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World by Jane Breskin Zalben (Dutton, 2006)

Anwar el-Sadat, a former president of Egypt is featured in this book dedicated to sixteen celebrated individuals.

Read more about Sadat at the Jewish Virtual Library.

December 23 Birthday: Sarah Breedlove Walker

Sarah Breedlove Walker, philanthropist
Dec. 23, 1867-May 25, 1919

Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Nneka Bennett (Candlewick, 2000)

Born to former slaves, Sarah Breedlove Walker triumphed over numerous adversities to become the owner and operator of a hair products business which became one of the largest companies in America by 1912. Her generosity was legendary as she shared her wealth with others.

The Official Website of Madam C. J. Walker a.k.a Sarah Breedlove Walker offers a bio and more.

December 22 Birthday: Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson

Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, environmentalist and First Lady
Dec. 22, 1912-July 11, 2007

Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Joy Fisher Hein (HarperCollins, 2005)

One person can make our world a more beautiful place. Here's proof. Thank you, Lady Bird.

Visit The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.

December Birthday: Sarah Emma Edmonds

Sarah Edmonds, nurse, soldier, spy
December 1841-September 5, 1898

Nurse, Soldier, Spy: Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss, illustrated by John Hendrix (Abrams, 2011)

Sarah Emma Edmonds was an imposter. Posing as a man, she joined the Army of the Potomac. She fought as a solider in the Civil War, nursed the wounded and then helped the North by becoming a spy, disguising herself as a slave. What a woman!

The Handbook of Texas Online offers a biography of Edmonds, who ultimately moved to Texas with her family.

December 16 Birthday: Jane Austen

Jane Austen, writer
Dec. 16, 1775-July 18, 1817

Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1994)

The English author of Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and four other works was not famous until after her death.

Drop by Jane Austen's House Museum on the Web.

December 13 Birthday: Ella Josephine Baker

Ella Josephine Baker, civil rights worker
Dec. 13, 1903-Dec. 13, 1986

Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made a Difference by Joyce Hansen (Scholastic, 1998)

Baker, a civil rights worker was active in the NAACP and helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

Read a biography of Baker at a Law Library site.

December 13 Birthday: Emily Carr

Emily Carr, artist
Dec. 13, 1871-Mar. 2, 1945

Emily Carr: At the Edge of the World by Jo Ellen Bogart, illustrated by Maxwell Newhouse (Tundra Books, 2003)

A Canadian artist whose work focused mostly on the Native peoples of the Northwest is featured in this book about her life. From her childhood through her later years, Carr's incredible work is reproduced alongside the narrative.

See Emily Carr at home and at work on a website devoted to her.

December 11 Birthday: Annie Jump Cannon

Annie Jump Cannon, astronomer
Dec. 11, 1863-Apr. 13, 1941

How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Lee and Low Books, 2006)

Cannon was an astronomer and curator of photographs at Harvard Observatory. She was the person responsible for organizing stars into types (O, B, A, F, G, K, M), a classification that is still in use today.

Click on over to the Annie Jump Cannon Homepage at Wellesley.edu.

December 10 Birthday: Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, writer
Dec. 10, 1830-May 15, 1886

Emily by Michael Bedard, illustrated by Barbara Cooney (Doubleday, 1992)

This is a fictionalized account of a young girl's encounter with her Amherst, Massachusetts, neighbor—the reclusive poet, Emily Dickinson.

Visit The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts, for tours and information.

December 9 Birthday: Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper, naval officer and computer scientist
Dec. 9, 1906-Jan. 1, 1992

Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by  Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy (Charlesbridge, 2005)

A recipient of the National Medal of Technology and many other awards, Hopper helped revolutionize computers.

Grace Hopper.org celebrates women in computing.

December 8 Birthday: Diego Rivera

Diego Rivera, artist
Dec. 8, 1886-Nov. 24, 1857

Diego by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Jeanette Winter (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2007)

This bilingual biography about Diego Rivera, celebrates the life of the incredible Mexican muralist. Brilliant folk-art illustrations compliment the text.

Visit The Virtual Diego Rivera Web Museum and take a look at the work of one of the greatest muralists.

December 7 Birthday: Willa Cather

Willa Cather, writer
Dec. 7, 1873-Apr. 24, 1947

The Divide by Michael Bedard, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (Doubleday, 1997)

Moved from Virginia to Nebraska, young Willa Cather ultimately found the prairie home. And inspiring.

The Willa Cather Archive offers access to her writings, manuscripts & letters, and life.

December 7 Birthday: St. Columoille

Columoille, saint
Dec. 7, 521-June 9, 597

Across a Dark and Wild Sea by Don Brown, illustrated by Deborah Nadel (Roaring Brook, 2002)

This is a story of an Irish monk of the sixth century also known as St. Columba. He established a monastery and copied books and illuminated manuscripts.

The Catholic Encyclopedia posts a biography of St. Columa on its website.

December 6 Birthday: Patsy Mink

Patsy Takemoto Mink, politician
Dec. 6, 1927-Sept. 28, 2002

How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Lee and Low Books, 2006)

Mink, a strong civil rights advocate from Hawaii, was the first Japanese American woman to serve in Congress.


For an overview of her accomplishments, read Mink's biography in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

December 5 Birthday: Bill Pickett

Bill Pickett, cowboy and rodeo performer
Dec. 5, 1871-Apr. 2, 1932

Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Gulliver Books, 1996)

Born in Travis County, Texas, Pickett invented the rodeo sport of bulldogging. Yahoo!

Pickett was included in The National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1971. He was the first African American inducted into this elite group.

December 5 Birthday: Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren, U.S. President
Dec. 5, 1782-July 24, 1862

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1998)

A brief description of the 8th, one-term president who loved to sing.

Read more about Van Buren at a site devoted to American Presidents.

December 5 Birthday: Little Richard

Little Richard, musician
Dec. 5, 1932-

Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Founders of Rock and Roll by Holly George-Warren, illustrated by Laura Levine (Houghton Mifflin, 2001)

Little Richard was one of the earliest rockers. This deluxe showman from Georgia made his first record at 18 and found fame in 1955 with his hit called "Tutti Fruitti."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Little Richard in 1986.

December 2 Birthday: Georges-Pierre Seurat

Georges-Pierre Seurat, artist
Dec. 2, 1859-Mar. 29, 1891

Seurat and La Grande Jatte: Connecting the Dots by Robert Burleigh (Abrams, 2004)

Focused on a single painting by the French painter Seurat, the author weaves in the story of the artist's life.

Seurat's masterpiece, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte was the subject of an exhibition at The Art Institute of Chicago.