Even a monarch needs a best friend and Queen Elizabeth II found one in a corgi pup she named Susan. From princesshood to queendom the pair forged an unbreakable bond, with Susan even participating in Elizabeth’s wedding day and joining her on honeymoon with Prince Philip. Over the course of her remarkable seventy-year reign the Queen had more than thirty corgi companions, and almost all were direct descendants of her cherished Susan. 6-9 years
Little Elizabeth: The Young Princess Who Became Queen
By Valerie Wilding, Illustrated by Pauline Reeves
The incredible true story of a young and brilliant Princess who grew up to become our Queen. Once, a very long time ago, there was a little Princess called Elizabeth (or Lilibet as her family liked to call her) who loved to play and have fun with her horses, dogs and little sister, Margaret. But when she was ten years old, her life changed forever.
From growing up during the Second World War and training as an army mechanic, to celebrating VE day with the people of Britain and marrying Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh – the man she truly loved – this is the amazing true story of a little girl who became Queen Elizabeth II. 6-8 years
Queen Elizabeth II: A Little Golden Book Biography
By Jen Arena, Illustrated by Monique Dong
Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about Queen Elizabeth II! The perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers! This Little Golden Book about Queen Elizabeth II who sat on the throne for more than 70 years and was the longest ruling monarch of the United Kingdom is an inspiring read-aloud for young girls and boys. 4 years+
Queen Elizabeth: The Queen Who Chose to Serve
By Alison Mitchell, Illustrated by Emma Randall
Princess Elizabeth never expected to be Queen. But when she was ten, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated and everything changed… Her father took over as King, but after 15 years on the throne, he died. So when she was just 25 years old, Elizabeth was crowned Queen and became the longest-serving monarch in British history.
This children’s biography of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) chronicles key moments in her life. It also highlights her Christian faith, in particular what she has said in her Christmas Day speeches. 4-7 years
The Queen’s Wardrobe: The Story of Queen Elizabeth’s Clothes
By Julie Golding, Illustrated by Kate Hindley
The story of Queen Elizabeth II, who famously said ‘if I wore beige, no one would know who I was’, told through her clothes and jewelry. The Queen’s Wardrobe is a gorgeous gift to treasure, celebrating a long life devoted to service.
This book tells the story of a young princess who grew into one of the world’s best-loved and longest-serving royals, touching on wartime truck-fixing, ration-book wedding dress making, splendid gowns, the Crown Jewels, and her trusty wellies. 7-11 years
Our Queen Elizabeth: Her Extraordinary Life from the Crown to the Corgis
By Kate Williams
Discover everything there is to know about the life and the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II in this illustrated book. Readers will learn all about Elizabeth II’s youth growing up during the Second World War, how she came to the throne and what it really means to be the Queen. Along the way, they’ll see her sparkling crown jewels and magnificent palaces. They will meet her beloved corgis, horses and of course, her very famous family. Plus they’ll discover lots of amazing facts – such as why she has two birthdays, always wears bright clothing, and is a world record breaker! 6-8 years
Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II
By David Chung, Illustrated by Farimah Khavarinezhad
Explore the life of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch – an introduction for children. In this picture book, you’ll find full-page color illustrations sharing some of the key moments in Queen Elizabeth’s life. Readers will learn about her family and her ascension to the crown as well as her love for corgis. The book also includes fun facts about the queen to share with young readers. 3-6 years
Who Was Queen Elizabeth II
By Megan Stine, Illustrated by Laurie A. Conley
In 1936, the life of ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth of York changed forever. Although she was a member of the British Royal Family, she never expected to become queen. But when her uncle Edward gave up the throne, suddenly her father was the new king, which meant young Elizabeth was next in line!
Queen Elizabeth reigned for seventy years, and while there were palaces galore, the crown jewels, and trips around the world, her life was one of strict discipline and duty. 8-12 years
Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration
By DK Publishing
In honor of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee 2022, this book for kids tells the story of a young princess who grew up to become our longest reigning monarch, and celebrates the achievements, people and places that have become part of her remarkable legacy.
There is a treasure box hidden away in Great Granny Joyce’s home, bursting with all kinds of things… A photo of a young woman wearing a crown, a map of the world, newspaper clippings, and so much more that reveal the great wonders of the last 70 years. Little Isabella doesn’t even know where to begin! Did you know that Princess Elizabeth was only 27 when she became Queen? Or that she made an appearance at the opening ceremony of the 2010 London Olympics alongside James Bond? And that the most astonishing inventions like the World Wide Web, as well as historic milestones like the first female Prime Minister of the UK happened under our Queen’s watch? 5-9 years
The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, The First Paleontologist
By Linda Skeers, Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguéns
Mary Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for shells and fossils. She fearlessly climbed over crumbling cliffs and rocky peaks, searching for new specimens. One day, something caught Mary’s eye.
Bones. Dinosaur Bones.
Mary’s discoveries rocked the world of science and helped create a brand-new field of study: paleontology. But many people believed women couldn’t be scientists, so Mary wasn’t given the credit she deserved. Nevertheless, Mary kept looking and learning more, making discoveries that reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world. Grades 1-4
Mary Anning’s Curiosity
By Monica Kulling, Illustrated by Melissa Castrillon
Mary Anning, considered the world’s greatest fossilist, discovered her first big find at the age of twelve. This novel is an imaginative recreation of her childhood in early nineteenth-century Lyme Regis. Grades 2-7
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life
By Cheryl Blackford
Mary Anning grew up on the south coast of England in a region rich in fossils. As teenagers, she and her brother Joseph discovered England’s first complete ichthyosaur. Poor and uneducated, Anning would become one of the most celebrated paleontologists ever, though in her time she supported herself selling by fossils and received little formal recognition. Her findings helped shape scientific thinking about extinction and prehistoric life long before Darwin published his famous work on evolution.
With photographs, and paleoart, Fossil Hunter introduces this self-taught scientist, now recognized as one of the greatest fossilists the world has ever known. Grade 5+
The Fossil Girl
By Catherine Brighton
It’s 1811. Ten-year-old Mary Anning, her brother Joe, and their widowed mother are eking out a meager existence running a little fossil shop in the seaside town of Lyme Regis. After a storm wipes out most of the shop’s merchandise, Mary and Joe begin the slow work of restocking the shelves. They search high and low for fossils, and one day Mary spots a huge eye in a cliff face high above the town. She resolves to bring the creature down no matter the risk. The exciting discovery and recovery of the first complete fossil of an Ichthyosaurus is told in a graphic novel format, perfect for reluctant readers. Grades K-3
Rare Treasures: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries
By Don Brown
Before the word “dinosaur” was even coined, a young girl discovered a remarkable skeleton on the rocky beach at Lyme Regis in England. Thus began a lifelong passion for an extraordinary woman who became one of the first commercial fossil collectors. Born in 1799, Mary Anning spent a lifetime teaching herself about fossils and combing the rugged ribbon of shore near her home. Her work yielded an astounding treasure trove: fossils of long-extinct creatures that thrilled customers in her shop and excited early paleontologists.
Blind to the dangers of fossil-hunting and to the limitations imposed on women of her era, Mary Anning was a singular scientist who used her sharp eyes and clear mind to compose a picture of ancient life from the bones she unearthed. With his trademark prose and lyrical watercolors, Don Brown distills the life story of this rare treasure of a scientist. Grades Preschool-3
Stone Girl Bone Girl
By Laurence Anhot, Illustrated by Shelia Moxley
Mary Anning, a young girl found a fossilized sea monster, the most important prehistoric discovery of its time. This spectacular tale of a little girl who dared to be different and who followed her dreams will inspire young children. Learn how Mary discovered new fossils – and how her observations rocked the natural history world. Be inspired by Mary’s work as a woman in the field of science – especially as her achievements weren’t recognized until after her death. Grades K-3
History VIPs: Mary Anning
By Kay Barnham
‘She sells sea shells on the sea shore’ – and she really did! This rhyme is thought to have been written about Mary Anning, an amazing fossilist and dinosaur expert, who was almost unknown at the time she lived. This biography explores the life of Mary Anning, from her first fossil finds at the age of ten to her sales of important discoveries to wealthy scientists. Mary’s fossil finds made a great contribution to what scientists understood about pre-historic life.
Through the story of Mary Anning, readers learn about life and society in Victorian Britain. We learn what it was like to be born into a poor family and about the roles of women in society and in the field of science. Grades 4-6
Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon
By Jeannine Atkins, Illustrated by Michael Dooling
Mary Anning loved to scour the shores of Lyme Regis, England, where she was born in 1799, for stone sea lilies and shells. Her father had taught her how to use the tools with which she dug into the sand and scraped at the stones that fell from the cliffs. And he taught her how to look hard for “curiosities.”
One day, when she was eleven, Mary Anning spotted some markings on a wide, flat stone. She chipped at it with her hammer and chisel until the lines of a tooth emerged–and then those of another tooth. Weeks of persistent effort yielded a face about four feet long. But what creature was this? Her brother called it a sea dragon.
Many months later, Mary Anning still had not unearthed what she only then learned was called a fossil. But she found out that her discovery was precious and that the painstaking effort to uncover traces of ancient life was profoundly important. Jeannine Atkins’s engaging portrait is illustrated by Michael Dooling, whose paintings capture young Mary Anning’s devotion to her work, and all the joy she found in it. Grades K-4
The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs
By Shirley Raye Redmond, Illustrated by Simon Sullivan
There once was a little dog named Tray. He lived in England with his owner, Mary Ann Anning. Besides Mary Ann, Tray loved one other thing: He loved to dig for dinosaur bones. Together he and Mary Ann found small bones, big bones, and even entire skeletons! People came from all around the world to see the bones they found. This is the true story of Tray, the dog that dug for dinosaurs. Grades 1-3
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers. You will notice that there is a discrepancy in Mary’s age when she found the dinosaur.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or commenting below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
When Stephen Hawking was a little boy, he used to stare up at the stars and wonder about the universe. Although he was never top of the class, his curiosity took him to the best universities in England, Oxford and Cambridge. It also led him to make one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century, Hawking radiation. This book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the brilliant physicist’s life. 4-7 years
Stay Curious: A Brief History of Stephen Hawking
By Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Paul Brewer
As a young boy, Stephen Hawking loved to read, stargaze, and figure out how things worked. He looked at the world and always asked, Why?
He never lost that curiosity, which led him to make groundbreaking discoveries about the universe as a young man. Even being diagnosed with ALS didn’t slow Stephen down. Those questions kept coming. As his body weakened, Stephen’s mind expanded allowing him to unlock secrets of the universe and become one of the most famous scientists of all time.
Stephen always approached life with courage, a sense of humor, and endless curiosity. His story will encourage readers to look at the world around them with new eyes. 4-8 years
Who Was Stephen Hawking?
By Jim Gigliotti, Illustrated by Gregory Copeland
Stephen Hawking was born exactly three hundred years after the death of the scientist Galileo, so maybe it was written in the stars that he would become a famous scientist in his own right. Although he was diagnosed with a neurological disease at age 21, Stephen did not let the illness define his life.
Known for his groundbreaking work in physics, and identified by his wheelchair and computerized voice system, Stephen continued his research until his death in 2018. He is best known for his black hole theories and his best-selling book A Brief History of Time. Stephen Hawking is an example of a person who had a great mind, but an even greater spirit. 8-12 years
Stephen Hawking: Cosmologist Who Gets a Big Bang Out of the Universe
By Mike Venezia
Meet renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. This book presents the life and work of the British physicist who overcame the challenges of ALS to become one of the foremost scientists of the twentieth century.
This book combines a mix of historical reproductions, photos, and cartoon-style illustrations that bring to life Stephen Hawking’s work and contributions. 6-10 years
All About Stephen Hawking
By Chris Edwards, Illustrated by Amber Calderon
As an Oxford student, Stephen Hawking never expected that people across the world would know his name, or that his hobby of stargazing would lead him to be one of the world’s greatest scientists. Stephen Hawking made cosmology, or the study of the universe, accessible to everyone.
He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of twenty-one, but didn’t let that stop him from receiving a graduate degree from Cambridge and going on to be an expert in the scientific origin of the universe and black holes. Hawking is best known for writing A Brief History of Time, which explained cosmology in non-scientific terms so that non-scientists could understand it. 10-12 years
The Living Einstein: The Stephen Hawking Story
By Dissected Lives
Despite his debilitating illness, Stephen Hawking found ways to share his knowledge of the universe. He was a bright man who was always hungry for knowledge. He experimented, studied and explored anything and everything from the physical world to the cosmos. Be inspired by his story. Learn from his discoveries. 8-12 years
Stephen Hawking: A Life Beyond Limits
By Alex Woolf
In 1974, Stephen Hawking shook the world of physics. His theory on black holes went against everything the science community accepted as fact. How did he make such revolutionary discoveries? From a childhood spent building model airplanes to recognition as one of the greatest scientists of his time, Stephen’s genius and endless curiosity powered his work. Find out how this boy who loved science became one of history’s greatest trailblazers! 8-13 years
The Extraordinary Life of Stephen Hawking
By Kate Scott, Illustrating by Ester Mols
Stephen Hawking was: a physicist, a cosmologist, an author and one of the cleverest people who ever lived. While studying at Oxford University, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which meant that eventually he was completely paralyzed, and could only talk via a computer.
But that never held him back, and because of his work on time and space, he changed the way the world thinks about the universe.
Discover more about the life of a man who is known for his incredible contribution to science. 7-12 years
Little Guides to Great Lives: Stephen Hawkings
By Isabel Thomas, Illustrated by Marianna Madiz
Stephen Hawking was one of the world’s most renowned scientists and cosmologists. His ground–breaking research into black holes and the Big Bang has helped to explain the beginnings of our universe and his book A Brief History of Time has sold over 10 million copies. Diagnosed with a form of motor neuron disease when he was a young man, Stephen was inspired to achieve his goals as fast as possible. Through incredible determination and skill, he became a legendary scientist, a best–selling author, and the man that changed the way we think about the universe.
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Guy Haydon raised and trained Midnight from the time she was a foal. The two had such a strong bond that when World War I broke out, Lieutenant Haydon slipped away from the frontlines of Gallipoli on an Egypt-bound ship to reunite with his horse. There, in the city of Beersheba, on October 31, 1917, two regiments of the Australian Light Horse Brigade took part in one of the last great cavalry charges in history. Among the first to leap the enemy trenches was Lieutenant Guy Haydon, riding Midnight—who succumbed to a bullet that might have otherwise killed her rider. In a new story from an award-winning duo, luminous illustrations and lyrical narration bring a sad moment in history to life. 5-9 years
Winnie’s Great War
by Lindsay Mattick and Josh Greenhut, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Here is a heartwarming imagining of the real journey undertaken by the extraordinary bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. From her early days with her mama in the Canadian forest, to her remarkable travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, and all the way to the London Zoo where she met Christopher Robin Milne (and inspired the creation of the world’s most famous bear,) Winnie is on a great war adventure.
This story is a blending of deep research and magnificent imagination. Infused with Sophie Blackall’s renderings of an endearing bear, the book is also woven through with entries from Captain Harry Colebourn’s real wartime diaries and contains a selection of artifacts from the Colebourn Family Archives. The result is a one-of-a-kind exploration into the realities of war, the meaning of courage, and the indelible power of friendship, all told through the historic adventures of one extraordinary bear. 8-11 years
Stubby The Dog Soldier: World War I Hero
By Blake Hoena, Illustrated by Oliver Ian Hurst
A stray dog named Stubby braves the World War I battlefields alongside Private J. Robert Conroy. See the story unfold as this brave little canine makes a big difference in the lives of many World War I soldiers. 5-7 years
Knit Your Bit! A World War I Story
By Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by Steven Guarnaccia
Mikey’s dad has left home to fight overseas during World War I, and Mikey wants to do something BIG to help. When his teacher suggests that the class participate in a knitting bee in Central Park to knit clothing for the troops, Mikey and his friends roll their eyes—knitting is for girls! But when the girls turn it into a competition, the boys just have to meet the challenge.
Based on a real “Knit-In” event at Central Park in 1918, Knit Your Bit shows readers that making a lasting contribution is as easy as trying something new! 5-8 years
Stubby the War Dog: The True Story of World War I’s Most Famous Dog
By Ann Bausum
Move over, Rin Tin Tin. Here comes Sgt. Stubby! That German shepherd, Rin Tin Tin, star of the silver screen may have been born behind enemy lines during World War I, but Stubby, the stump-tailed terrier, worked behind enemy lines, and gained military honors along the way.
Private Robert Conroy casually adopted the orphan pup while attending basic training on the campus of Yale University in 1917. The Connecticut volunteer never imagined that his stray dog would become a war hero. He just liked the little guy. When Conroy’s unit shipped out for France, he smuggled his new friend aboard. By the time Stubby encountered Conroy’s commanding officer, the dog had perfected his right-paw salute. Charmed, the CO awarded Stubby mascot status and sent him along with Conroy’s unit to the Western Front. 10-13 years
DK Findout! World War I
By Brian Williams
Did you know that the Allied powers used 33,000 camels in desert warfare? Or that more than 500,000 pigeons carried messages to the war’s front lines? Find out why!
Perfect for young history buffs and fans of the Axis & Allies board games, DK findout! World War I is a highly visual world-history book sure to inspire the next amazing school project or report. Inside, author Brian Williams breaks down why the war began, how it was fought, and what brought it to an end. 6-9 years
Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood
By Nathan Hale
World War I set the tone for the 20th century and introduced a new type of warfare: global, mechanical, and brutal. Nathan Hale has gathered some of the most fascinating true-life tales from the war and given them his inimitable Hazardous Tales twist. Easy to understand, funny, informative, and lively, this series is the best way to be introduced to some of the most well-known battles (and little-known secrets) of the infamous war. 8-12
Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of Confusion
By Chris Barton, Illustrated by Victo Ngai
During World War I, British and American ships were painted with bold colors and crazy patterns from bow to stern. Why would anyone put such eye-catching designs on ships?
Desperate to protect ships from German torpedo attacks, British lieutenant-commander Norman Wilkinson proposed what became known as dazzle. These stunning patterns and colors were meant to confuse the enemy about a ship’s speed and direction. By the end of the war, more than four thousand ships had been painted with these mesmerizing designs.
Author Chris Barton and illustrator Victo Ngai bring to life this little-known story of how the unlikely and the improbable became just plain dazzling. 7-11 years
Where Poppies Grow: A World War I Companion
By Linda Granfield
When World War I began in 1914, no one knew that millions of young people would die in the agonizing years ahead. No one imagined the effect it would have on family life, or that whole villages would disappear, or that entire nations would be changed forever. They believed their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers would be home by Christmas. They were tragically mistaken.
With photos, memorabilia, and anecdotes, Linda Granfield brings us face-to-face with people from all walks of life who risked everything for their country. These painstakingly-gathered bits and pieces are remnants of conflict on a scale never before witnessed. Hastily-penned letters, notes written in code, and prayers for deliverance form an eloquent portrait of humanity, and a startling comment on the devastation of war. 11 and up
World War I For Kids: A History with 21 Activities
By R. Kent Rasmussen
One hundred years after the start of the “Great War,” World War I for Kids provides an intriguing and comprehensive look at this defining conflict that involved all of the world’s superpowers. Why and how did the war come about? What was daily life like for soldiers in the trenches? What roles did zeppelins, barbed wire, and the passenger ship Lusitania play in the war? Who were Kaiser Wilhelm, the Red Baron, and Edith Cavell? Young history buffs will learn the answers these questions and many others, including why the western front bogged down into a long stalemate; how the war ushered in an era of rapid military, technological, and societal advances; and how the United States’ entry helped end the war.
Far from a dry catalog of names, dates, and battles, this richly illustrated book goes in depth into such fascinating topics as turn-of-the-20th-century weaponry and the important roles animals played in the war, and explains connections among events and how the war changed the course of history. Hands-on activities illuminate both the war and the times.
Kids can: Make a periscope, teach a dog to carry messages, make a parachute, learn a popular World War I song, cook Maconochie Stew and much more. 9 and up
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author!
Phillis Wheatley was the first African American published poet. Born in West Africa in 1753, she was captured and sold to slave traders at age seven or eight years old. She traveled aboard the slave ship, The Phillis, in wretched conditions. Reaching Boston in 1761, John Wheatley, a tailor, bought her as a servant for his wife, Susanna. They named her Phillis after the slave ship. And gave her their last name as was customary. Now she was Phillis Wheatley.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The Wheatleys soon recognized Phillis’s exceptional intelligence. Their children, Mary and Nathaniel, taught her to read and write. She first became fluent in English and then learned to read Greek and Latin. She studied geography, history, astronomy, and literature.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Inspired by English poets, especially Alexander Pope, Phillis began to write poetry. The Newport Mercury printed her first published poem in 1767 when she was thirteen or fourteen. The poem described the sea voyage of Mr. Hussey and Mr. Coffin that ran into a horrific storm. Phillis had heard them tell their story.
Her most famous poem, “On Being Brought from Africa to America” was published in 1768. This poem reveals her feelings on slavery and racial injustice. But it was her poem “On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitfield” that brought her into the nationalspotlight in 1770.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Phillis tried to have a book of her poetry printed in Boston. But the printers refused to believe that an African America had written the poems. She went to court to testify that she was the author. Eighteen men, including John Hancock, gave her an exam. Following the exam, the men agreed that she had written the poems. They signed a document that later appeared in her book.
Courtesy of flickr.com
Phillis and Nathaniel Wheatley sailed to England in 1773. With the financial help of a English countess, Phillis’s first and only book of poetry was published in England. Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral included “On Being Brought from Africa to America.”
Sometime after the publication of her book, Phillis became a free woman. She continued to write poetry and in 1778 married a free African America, John Peters. They struggled to meet expenses and after Peters was imprisoned for debts, Phillis worked as a scullery maid in a boarding house. She tried to publish a second book of poetry, but was unsuccessful.
Courtesy of flickr.com
In 1784, Phillis wrote “Liberty and Peace,” her last poem. Sadly, on December 5, Phillis died in Boston at age 31. Many of her poems were lost. In 2003, Phillis was honored with a statue at the Boston Women’s Memorial.
Phillis Wheatley led the way for African America women to write and publish great literature.
Images Courtesy of Wiki Commons
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Ada Lovelace is considered to be the world’s first computer programmer.
Ada was born in England on December 10, 1815, the daughter of the famous and reckless poet Lord Byron. Soon after she was born, her parent’s marriage ended. Ada never saw her father again.
Her mother, Anne Isabella Milbanke had a great interest in mathematics. Byron called her the Princess of Parallelograms. Anne Isabella steered her daughter away from poetry and into mathematics and science.
Ada Lovelace
Ada had a wonderful imagination. She decided that she would learn how to fly by studying birds’ anatomy. Ada made a set of wings. She wrote and illustrated her own book called Flyology and designed a flying mechanical horse.
Lord Byron
In 1829, Ada became temporarily paralyzed after having measles. She improved her math and science skills while bedridden. At age sixteen, restored to health, Ada was introduced to English society. She met famous scientists and became friends with the engineer Charles Babbage.
Babbage invented a machine called the Difference Engine. It worked like a giant calculator. He then designed a more complex machine he called the Analytical Engine. Babbage thought it would solve difficult mathematical calculations. The machine would then store these calculations. And it would also print them.
The Analytical Engine
Ada translated an article written about the Analytical Engine into English. She added her own notes. These notes contained an algorithm that would allow the machine to work. Ada’s algorithm is considered to be the first computer program.
The Analytical Engine was too expensive to build. But it is considered to be the first computer. And Charles Babbage is acknowledged as the “father of the computer.”
Charles Babbage designed his Analytical Engine to be capable of working with numbers. But Ada thought the machine had much greater possibilities. She envisioned it producing music, art, and writing, like modern computers.
Sadly, Ada died at age 36. Although she never met her father, she requested to be buried next to his grave in England.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell
[The following post contains the books And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street; and If I Ran the Zoo. As of March 2021, Dr. Seuss Enterprises will no longer publish these books.]
On March 2, 1904, a boy was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He lived on Fairfield Street a hop and a skip from Mulberry Street. When he grew up, he wrote his first published book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. His name was Theodor Geisel. His family called him Ted. We know him as Dr. Seuss.
Growing up, Ted Geisel loved animals, doodling, reading, and his mother’s nonsense rhymes. He named the stuffed dog she gave him, Theophrastus — a very Dr. Seuss sounding name.
Ted lived six blocks from Springfield’s zoo and enjoyed drawing the zoo’s animals. When his father became the Springfield Parks superintendent, he in a sense ran the zoo. Ted later wrote the Caldecott Award winning If I Ran the Zoo.
When he was twelve years old, Ted won first prize in a drawing contest. He had a unique way of drawing, one that his high school art teacher didn’t appreciate. She believed that art had rules. Ted ignored her rules and continued to draw in his own distinctive style.
While studying literature at England’s Oxford University, Ted met his future wife, Helen Palmer. She appreciated Ted’s whimsical drawings and poems. With her encouragement, he left England, moved back to Springfield, and submitted his cartoons to New York publishers.
His first cartoon was published on July 16, 1927, in The Saturday Evening Post. Ted received $25.00 for the cartoon and decided to move to New York City. He worked for a humor magazine writing and illustrating. In 1928, he began signing his work, Dr. Seuss. Seuss was his mother’s maiden name.
On a trip across the Atlantic Ocean, Ted dreamed up his first book for children: And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. The manuscript was rejected by multiple publishers. Ted thought of destroying it. Fortunately, he met a college friend one day while walking in New York City. His friend published the book.
Ted Geisel continued to write his whimsical books for children, 43 in all. Only four are written in prose instead of rhyme. They have sold over 600 million copies. Everyone has their favorites from: Horton Hears a Who!; to The Cat in the Hat; to Green Eggs and Ham; to his last book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! His books have been turned into movies, television specials, and a Broadway musical.
Ted Geisel, the boy who grew up drawing zoo animals in his own unique way and listening to his mother’s nonsense rhymes, became Dr. Seuss, an American treasure.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Christopher Robin Milne, the son of A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, first met London Zoo’s famous bear Winnie when he was three or four years old. According to his father, Christopher Robin ran right up to Winnie and said, “Oh, Bear!” while hugging her. “The bear hugged Christopher Robin,” his father said. “They had a glorious time together rolling about and pulling ears and all sorts of things.”
Christopher Robin and the Real Winnie
Winnie was a very tame bear. She played with London’s children by giving them rides on her back. The children fed her oranges and a “Winnie cocktail” — sweet milk mixed with golden syrup. Winnie rocked back and forth to say thank you. Winnie even had her own “signed” publicity photo.
Sometime after meeting Winnie, Christopher Robin decided to rename his teddy bear, from Edward Bear (similar to the generic Teddy Bear) to Winnie-the-Pooh. He combined the name Pooh, the name he had given to a swan, with Winnie, the bear’s name, to create the original name Winnie-the-Pooh, a name known throughout the world.
Winnie, an American black bear, was found at a train station by Lt. Harry Colebourn, a Canadian Veterinary soldier, when she was about seven months old. He traveled to England for training in WWI and when sent to the front in France, temporarily gave Winnie to London Zoo. In December 1919, he decided to donate Winnie to the zoo in gratitude for the excellent care she received.
If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Books For Kids:
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
By Lindsay Mattick, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Winnie:
The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh
By Sally M. Walker, Illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss
