April 29 Birthday: Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington, musician
Apr. 29, 1899-May 24, 1974

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Jump At The Sun, 1998)

This Caldecott Honor Medal winner hits just the right notes. The musical collaboration between Ellington and his band members is divine.

Duke Ellington-The Official Web Site hosts a biography, photos, fast facts, quotes and more.

April 28 Birthday: James Monroe

James Monroe, U. S. President
Apr. 28, 1758-July 4, 1831

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

One paragraph in this collective biography is devoted to our 5th president. The Monroe Doctrine was named for him. He was one of three presidents to die on July 4th.

The White House offers a profile of Monroe on their site.

April 27 Birthday: Betty Mae Jumper

Betty Mae Jumper, leader
April 27, 1923-

She Sang Promise: The Story of Betty Mae Jumper, Seminole Tribal Leader by Jan Godown Annino, illustrated by Lisa Desimini (National Geographic Society, 2010)

An avid learner as a child, Jumper grew up to be a storyteller, nurse, alligator wrestler, interpreter, advocate, and first female leader of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Learn more about the Seminole Tribe of Florida at their website, SemTribe.com.

April 27 Birthday: Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King, peacemaker
April 27, 1927-January 20, 2006

Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Katherine Tegen Books, 2009)

A poetic tribute to Scott King and her involvement in the civil rights movement that touched us all.

A biography of Scott King is posted at The King Center, a living memorial to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

April 27 Birthday: Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant, U.S. President
Apr. 27, 1822-July 23, 1885

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

A military man, Grant was the 18th president and one of few words.

Learn more about Grant at the PBS American Experience site about him.

April 26 Birthday: John J. Audubon

John J. Audubon, artist and naturalist
Apr. 26, 1785-Jan. 27, 1851

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Houghton Mifflin, 2004)

An astute observer of birds by 18, Audubon continued studying them and became “the greatest painter of birds of all time.”

The Audubon Society hosts a website dedicated to its mission of birds, conservation and education.

April 26 Birthday: I.M. Pei

I.M. Pei, architect
Apr. 26, 1917-

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

With an eye for the modern, Pei, a Chinese architect, has designed the Louvre Pyramid, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Javits Convention Center, and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art as well as many other breath-taking structures.

View images of Pei’s work at GreatBuildings.com

April 26 Birthday: Frederick Law Olmsted

Frederick Law Olmsted, architect
Apr. 26, 1822-Aug. 28, 1903

The Man Who Made Parks: The Story of Parkbuilder Frederick Law Olmsted by Frieda Wishinsky, illustrated by Song Nan Zhang (Tundra Books, 1999)

We have Olmsted to thank for New York City’s Central Park, the grounds at Niagara Falls and other top visitor spots. This is the story of his first love—the great outdoors.

The Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site "offers a variety of programs that interpret the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted."

April 26 Birthday: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, writer
Apr. 26, 1564 (baptism)-Apr. 23, 1616

Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley (HarperCollins, 1992)

A fitting introduction to the man who wrote some of our best-loved plays. Truly, a picture book biography for all ages.

A guide to the scholarly resources on Shakespeare can be found at a Palomar Community College site called Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet.

April 25 Birthday: Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald, musician
April 25, 1917-June 15, 1996

Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald by Roxanne Orgill, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Candlewick, 2010)

A poignant story of Fitzgerald’s youth and her determination to make a life with music. From “Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat” to “Rowdy-Dowdy High-Hat Baby,” Fitzgerald found much success.

The Official Website of Ella Fitzgerald offers a biography, achievements and fast facts about this First Lady of song.

April 23 Birthday: Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Prokofiev, musician
April 23, 1891-March 5, 1953

Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1993)

The Russian composer of Peter and the Wolf, dreamed of composing from an early age.

A collection of articles about Prokofiev can be found at The New York Times.

April 22 Birthday: Isabella I

Isabella I, political leader
Apr. 22, 1451-Nov. 26, 1504

Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 2000)

As Queen of Spain, Isabella I financed the travels of Christopher Columbus.

Learn more about Isabella of Castile at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

April 21 Birthday: John Muir

John Muir, preservationist
Apr. 21, 1838-Dec. 24, 1914

The Camping Trip that Changed America by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mordecai Gerstein (Dial, 2012)

An unlikely alliance rose from an unlikely adventure. President Theodore Roosevelt joined naturalist John Muir on a camping trip to Yosemite. Snow! Waterfalls! Bears! The environment had to be preserved and enjoyed by all for generations to come. Their trip laid the groundwork for the establishment of the National Parks.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea, a film by Ken Burns, features a biography of John Muir.

April 21 Birthday: Charlotte Bronte

Charlotte Bronte, writer
Apr. 21, 1816-Mar. 31, 1855

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

The author of Jane Eyre, was the eldest of the three Bronte sisters, all English writers.

A brief biography of Bronte can be found on the Victorian Web.org, a site about literature, history and culture in the age of Victoria.

April 20 Birthday: Tito Puente

Tito Puente, musician
Apr. 20, 1923-May 31, 2000

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

Known as “The Mambo King,” Puente played Latin jazz and mambo music.

Read more about the talented Puente on the Thomson/Gale site.

April 16 Birthday: Wilbur Wright

Wilbur Wright, aviator
Apr. 16, 1867-May 30, 1912

Into the Air: The Story of the Wright Brothers by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Bill Wylie (Silver Whistle Paperbacks, 2002)

Using comic-book style art, this book takes readers on a journey of the two brothers who were determined to fly.

NASA’s biography of Wilbur Wright has links to the invention process, researched flight, tested theories and other associated ideas.

April 15 Birthday: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci, artist
Apr. 15, 1452-May 2, 1519

Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley (HarperCollins, 1996)

An account of da Vinci’s life from birth to death with highlights of his celebrated art.

For a biography, portrait, and examples of da Vinci’s work, visit the Museum of Science.

April 15 Birthday: Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith, musician
Apr. 15, 1894-Sept. 26, 1937

The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World by Julius Lester, illustrated by Lisa Cohen (Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 2001)

Smith hit the road as a singer at the age of 17. She was known for her big voice. Her first record was called Downhearted Blues.

Read more about Smith on the PBS site about Ken Burns' film, Jazz.

April 13 Birthday: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President
Apr. 13, 1743-July 4, 1826

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

This author of the Declaration of Independence also was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson was the third president.

Jefferson’s accomplishments are summarized in this profile of him.

April 12 Birthday: Imogen Cunningham

Imogen Cunningham, artist
Apr. 12, 1883-June 24, 1976

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

Known for her photos of botanicals, nudes, and industry, Cunningham kept the shutter clicking until just before her death at 93.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston houses three of Cunningham's photos. Click on the titles for more detailed descriptions of the works.