by Anne on February 22, 2011
George Washington, U.S. President
Feb. 22, 1732-Dec. 14, 1799

A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler, illustrated by John Wallner and Alexandra Wallner
Washington and his times are featured in this simple biography about his life.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens offers a virtual mansion tour. Visit today.
by Anne on February 20, 2011

Joshua Slocum, navigator
Feb. 20, 1884-Nov. 14, 1909
Born in the Breezes: The Voyages of Joshua Slocum by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Walter Lyon Krudop (Orchard, 2001)
Sail the high seas with this story about Slocum’s life and his love of it.
The Joshua Slocum Society International website attempts to “maintain a complete record of all single-handed circumnavigators, to popularize the legendary first solo circumnavigator, Captain Joshua Slocum.”
by Anne on February 18, 2011

Toni Morrison, professor and writer
Feb. 18, 1931-
Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made a Difference by Joyce Hansen (Scholastic, 1998)
Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved in 1988 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Highlights of this extraordinary woman can be found in this collective biography.
Biographies, bibliographies, essays, interviews are posted on a site devoted to Morrison.
by Anne on February 17, 2011

Michael Jordan, athlete
Feb. 17, 1963-
Jump! From the Life of Michael Jordan by Floyd Cooper (Philomel, 2004)
Meet African-American basketball player Air Jordan as a child and young adult in this picture book biography about him. Hoops, anyone?
NBA.com offers a player profile of Jordan. Check it out.
by Anne on February 15, 2011

Galileo Galilei, astronomer
Feb. 15, 1564-Jan. 8, 1642
Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sis (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, reprint, 2000)
Winner of the Caldecott Honor Medal for its glorious artwork, this is the story of the scientist who was heralded and them condemned for his ideas.
For extensive resources on Galileo Galilei, visit The Galileo Project at Rice University.