Out of Ideas for Remote Learning? This “Who Was?” Calendar Will Help Teach & Inspire Your Kids — and You!
As the 2020–21 school year kicks off, it’s clear that many kids’ lessons will continue to include distance-learning. Whether this is an opportunity to continue a method that has worked well for your kid, or an unexpected challenge, we can all agree that the more engaging learning materials we have to work with, the better.
As we live through what can often seem like one monumental moment after another, it’s vital to contextualize events for kids — both to teach them, and so that they can see that they too are a part of history. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top titles from Penguin Young Readers’ beloved Who Was? collection, to help get your young learner engaged with, and excited about, history!
- Read: Who Was Sitting Bull? by Stephanie Spinner on January 1
Talk about: The Dakota War, which began over the treatment of the Sioux people, and how Native Americans are treated in the U.S. today. (January 1, 1862)
No one knew the boy they called “Jumping Badger” would grow to become a great leader. Born on the banks of the Yellowstone River, Sitting Bull, as he was later called, was tribal chief and holy man of the Lakota Sioux tribe in a time of fierce conflict with the United States. As the government seized Native American lands, Sitting Bull relied on his military cunning and strong spirituality to drive forces out of his territory and ensure a future homeland for his people.
4. Read: Where is the Congo? by Megan Stine on January 17
Talk about: The Nyiragongo Volcano eruption, the destruction of homes and a gorilla conservation Center, and why preserving the Congo is important (January 17, 2001)
Running through six countries in the middle of Africa, the Congo Basin contains some of the largest tropical rainforests in the world. Dealing with present-day issues of climate change, it is home to bonobo apes, mountain gorillas, forest elephants, and more. With details about the exploration (and exploitation) by the European colonialists and the aftermath of their arrival in the Congo, this book will give readers a better understanding of the second largest rainforest in the world.
17. Read: Where is the Serengeti? by Nico Medina on February 1
Talk about: The unique biosphere of the Serengeti, including the gazelles that have their calving season in the short grass plains of the southeast in February
Each year, over 1.5 million wildebeest make a harrowing journey (more than one thousand miles!) between Tanzania and Kenya. They are in search of new land to graze. Even if these creatures avoid vicious attacks from lions and crocodiles, they could still fall prey to thirst, hunger, and exhaustion. This book not only follows the exciting Migration, but also tells about the other creatures and peoples that co-exist along these beautiful landscapes of the Serengeti.
6. Read: Where is Hollywood? by Dina Anastasio on February 1
Talk about: How Hollywood has changed since its early days, when the name “Hollywood” first appeared on construction plans, foreshadowing the iconic sign! (February 1, 1887)
Developed in the 1880s by Midwesterners looking for a sunny winter getaway, Hollywood was a small housing development outside still-small Los Angeles. But everything changed in the early 1900s when filmmakers from New York flocked to the area, where they could make movies without having to pay Thomas Edison’s patent fee. It didn’t hurt that the weather was perfect, too. Readers will take a journey from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the present-day film industry, learning all about what turned lush farmland into Tinseltown.
7. Read: Who Was Ida B. Wells? by Sarah Fabiny on February 12
Talk about: Ida Wells’ crucial activist work, and how she helped to found the NAACP (February 12, 1909)
Born into slavery in 1862, Ida Bell Wells was freed as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. Yet she could see just how unjust the world she was living in was. This drove her to become a journalist and activist. Throughout her life, she fought against prejudice and for equality for African Americans. Ida B. Wells would go on to co-own a newspaper, write several books, help cofound the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and fight for women’s right to vote.
8. Read: Who is Dolly Parton? by True Kelley on February 13
Talk about: Dolly Parton’s dedication to children’s literacy — and listen to her first album, “Hello, I’m Dolly”! (February 13, 1967)
Born in a little cabin in Tennessee, Dolly Parton always dreamed big. She wrote her first song at age five and became a country music star by the time she was in her early twenties. Her success didn’t stop there. Dolly Parton is also an actress, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist whose “Imagination Library” reading initiative reaches children throughout the US, Canada, and the UK.
Read: Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet B. Pascal on March 2
Talk about: The silly rhymes and more serious moral stories we know and love, created by Dr. Seuss — and, celebrate his birthday! (March 2, 1904)
Ted Geisel loved to doodle from the time he was a kid. He had an offbeat, fun-loving personality. He often threw dinner parties where guests wore outrageous hats! And he donned quirky hats when thinking up ideas for books-?like his classic The Cat in the Hat. This biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout, brings an amazingly gifted author/illustrator to life.
10. Read: Who Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg? by Patricia Brennan Demuth on April 14
Talk about: Justice Ginsburg’s work for gender equality, both before and after she was nominated to the Supreme Court (April 14, 1980)
A baton-twirling teenager who performed at school football games.
The second woman appointed to the US Supreme Court.
A tireless fighter for gender equality and civil rights.
All of the above!
9. Read: Who Was Maria Tallchief? by Catherine Gourley on April 28
Talk about: Maria Tallchief’s revolutionary contributions to ballet, and how they led to her winning the Dance Magazine award (April 28, 1961)
Born in 1925, Maria Tallchief spent part of her childhood on an Osage reservation in Oklahoma. With the support of her family and world-renowned choreographer George Balanchine, she rose to the top of her art form to become America’s first prima ballerina, and the first Native American prima ballerina. Black-and-white illustrations provide visual sidebars to the history of ballet while taking readers through the life of this amazing dancer.
11. Read: Who Is Gloria Steinem? by Sarah Fabiny on May 22
Talk about: Gloria Steinem’s vital and ongoing contributions to feminism, including Ms. Magazine, first published in 1972 (May 22, 1972)
As a field reporter in the 1960s, Gloria Steinem worked hard to dig up important stories. She went undercover to expose the grim realities of gender inequality in America. As her message continued to grow, she became the spokeswoman of the women’s liberation movement and created the feminist publication, Ms. magazine. Steinem continues to speak and write about women and women’s roles in media and politics.
12. Read: Where is the Amazon? by Sarah Fabiny on May 28
Talk about: How the acres of Amazon rainforest contain many beautiful and important sites, including Jaba Tañiwashkaka, which was officially declared to be under a unique conservation category by the Colombian Government (May 28, 2013)
Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the “population” of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life — animal and plant alike. It’s a rainforest that is home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees, 2.5 million species of insects, and hundreds of amazing creatures and plants that can either cure diseases, or, like the poison dart frog, kill with a single touch. Where Is the Amazon? reveals the amazing scale of a single rainforest that we are still trying to understand today and that, in many ways, supports our existence on this planet.
13. Read: Who Was Amelia Earhart? by Kate Boehm Jerome on June 1
Talk about: How Amelia resisted the sexist standards of her time, and undertook her ultimately ill-fated trip around the world (June 1, 1937)
Amelia Earhart was a woman of many “firsts.” In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1935, she also became the first woman to fly across the Pacific. From her early years to her mysterious 1937 disappearance while attempting a flight around the world, readers will find Amelia Earhart’s life a fascinating story.
14. Read: Who Was Anne Frank? by Ann Abramson on June 6
Talk about: Anne Frank’s record of her experience after her family went into hiding during the Holocaust, and the incredibly insidious danger of fascism and anti-Semitism (July 6, 1942)
In her amazing diary, Anne Frank revealed the challenges and dreams common for any young girl. But Hitler brought her childhood to an end and forced her and her family into hiding. Who Was Anne Frank? looks closely at Anne’s life before the secret annex, what life was like in hiding, and the legacy of her diary. An easy-to-read biography written in a way that is appropriate and accessible for younger readers.
15. Read: Who Was Marie Curie? by Megan Stine on July 18
Talk about: Women in science, and how Marie Curie broke barriers with her work, including when she introduced the word “radioactivity” to the world for the very first time (July 18, 1898)
Born in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Together they discovered two elements and won a Nobel Prize in 1903. Then Marie won another Nobel award for chemistry in 1911. She died in Savoy, France, on July 4, 1934, a victim of many years of exposure to toxic radiation.
16. Read: Where is Machu Picchu? by Megan Stine on July 24
Talk about: The way in which Machu Picchu was “rediscovered,” the history of this important historical site, and its significance to Inca people (July 24, 1911)
Built in the fifteenth century and tucked away in the mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu was abandoned after the Spaniards conquered the Incan empire in the sixteenth century. It remained hidden until 1911 when Hiram Bingham uncovered the marvelous complex and shared his discovery with the world. Today, hundreds of thousands of people visit the site to climb the 3,000 stone steps, explore the towering monuments, and see the numerous species that call these famous ruins home.
20. Read: Where Is Mount Rushmore? by True Kelley on July 3
Talk about: The monument’s other, original identity as The Six Grandfathers, a sacred site to the Lakota Sioux, who continue to raise awareness about the colonialist origins of Mount Rushmore through statements and protest today (July 3, 2020)
It was world-famous sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s dream to carve sixty-foot-high likenesses of four presidents on a granite cliff in South Dakota. Borglum faced a lot of opposition and problems at every turn; the blasting and carving carried out through the years of the Great Depression when funding for anything was hard to come by. Yet Mount Rushmore now draws almost three million visitors to the Black Hills every year. This is an entertaining chronicle of one man’s magnificent obsession, which even today sparks controversy.
18. Read: Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.? by Bonnie Bader on August 28
Talk about: Dr. King’s revolutionary work and politics, and the ideas contained in his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech (Aug 28, 1963)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was only 25 when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was soon organizing black people across the country in support of the right to vote, desegregation, and other basic civil rights. Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened, King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice until his death, from an assassin’s bullet in 1968.
5. Read: Who Was Helen Keller? by Gare Thompson on September 14
Talk about: Helen Keller, her activist work on behalf of deaf and blind people, and her receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (September 14, 1964)
At age two, Helen Keller became deaf and blind. She lived in a world of silence and darkness and she spent the rest of her life struggling to break through it. But with the help of teacher Annie Sullivan, Helen learned to read, write, and do many amazing things. This inspiring illustrated biography is perfect for young middle-grade readers.
21. Read: Who Is Malala Yousafzai? by Dinah Brown on October 9
Talk about: Malala’s advocacy to make education available to everyone, especially young girls and women, and why that missions faces resistance, including an attempt on her life (Oct 9, 2012)
Malala Yousafzai was a girl who loved to learn but was told that girls would no longer be allowed to go to school. She wrote a blog that called attention to what was happening in her beautiful corner of Pakistan and realized that words can bring about change. She has continued to speak out for the right of all children to have an education. In 2014 she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
19. Read Who Was Frida Kahlo? by Sarah Fabiny on November 1
Talk about: Frida Kahlo’s significant cultural contributions, especially her striking art, the first solo display of which opened at the MOMA in New York (November 1, 1938)
You can always recognize a painting by Kahlo because she is in nearly all–with her black braided hair and colorful Mexican outfits. A brave woman who was an invalid most of her life, she transformed herself into a living work of art. As famous for her self-portraits and haunting imagery as she was for her marriage to another famous artist, Diego Rivera, this strong and courageous painter was inspired by the ancient culture and history of her beloved homeland, Mexico. Her paintings continue to inform and inspire popular culture around the world.
3. Read: What Is A Presidential Election? by Douglas Yacka on November 3
Talk about: The 46th Presidential Election of the United States, and the importance of voting (whether it’s in-person, or by mail!) (November 3, 2020)
Who can run for president? What’s the difference between America’s two major political parties? Why do candidates spend so much time in Iowa and New Hampshire? And is the Electoral College really a college? From stump speeches to catchy slogans, debates to nominating conventions, and finally to Election Night and Inauguration Day, readers will learn all about what it takes to run for–and win–the most powerful job on earth.
22. Read Who is Michelle Obama? by Megan Stine on November 7
Talk about: How Michelle made history when she became the first Black First Lady of the United States, and her advocacy work in that role and beyond (November 7, 2008)
Born into a close knit family in Chicago, Michelle Robinson was a star student who graduated from Princeton and Harvard Law. Then in 1992, she married another promising young lawyer and the rest, as they say, is history. It is undeniable that President Barack Obama has changed the United States but so has Michelle Obama, the self proclaimed “Mom in Chief.”
23. Read: Who Was Harvey Milk? by Corinne A. Grinapol on November 8
Talk about: Harvey Milk’s legacy as as an activist, community leader, and the first openly gay man elected to California Office (November 8, 1977)
Harvey Milk started out as a teacher without aspirations to be an activist or politician, he would eventually make history of his own by becoming the first openly gay elected politician in California. While in office, Harvey Milk advocated for equal rights for the gay community. Harvey is still seen by many as one of the most famous and most significantly open LGBT officials ever elected in the United States. His life and legacy continue to inspire and unite the community.
24. Read: Who Was Louis Armstrong? by Yona Zeldis McDonough on November 12
Talk about: Louis Armstrong’s foundational contributions to jazz music, and listen to his wide library of music, including the albums from the group The Hot Five, which began recording in 1925 (November 12, 1925)
If not for a stint in reform school, young Louis Armstrong might never have become a musician. It was a teacher who gave him a cornet, promoted him to band leader, and saw talent in the tough kid from the even tougher New Orleans neighborhood called Storyville. But it was Louis Armstrong’s own passion and genius that pushed jazz into new and exciting realms with his amazing, improvisational trumpet playing. His seventy-year life spanned a critical time in American music as well as Black history.
2. Read: Who Was Rosa Parks? by Yona Zeldis McDonough on December 1
Talk about: Rosa Parks’ bravery in refusing to give up her seat to a white man, breaking segregation laws (December 1, 1955)
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This seemingly small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned Rosa Parks the title “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”
25. Read: Where is Antarctica? by Sarah Fabiny on December 14
Talk about: The unique and sensitive biome of Antarctica, and the very first Antarctic Expedition (Dec 14, 1911)
Antarctica, the earth’s southernmost continent, was virtually untouched by humans until the nineteenth century. Many famous explorers journeyed (and often died) there in the hope of discovering a land that always seemed out of reach. This book introduces readers to this desert–yes, desert!–continent that holds about 90 percent of the world’s ice; showcases some of the 200 species that call Antarctica home, including the emperor penguin; and discusses environmental dangers to the continent, underscoring how what happens to Antarctica affects the entire world.
*Bonus* Read: Who Is (Your Name Here)? The Story of My Life by Paula K. Manzanero on your kid’s birthday!
Talk about: How we’re all a part of history!
This fun and interactive journal prompts kids to record their own life stories. Each illustrated spread focuses on different topics — from birth and the toddler years up to the present and dreams for the future. Create your own family tree, list your BFFs, pets, and favorite subjects, food, and hobbies. When completed, readers will have an up-to-the-minute autobiography that is right at home among our other legendary Who Was…’ titles.
