by Anne on December 31, 2011
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.
by Anne on December 30, 2011
Bo Diddley, musician
Dec. 30, 1928-June 2, 2008

Shake, Rattle & Roll: The Founders of Rock & 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.
by Anne on December 29, 2011
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.
by Anne on December 28, 2011
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.
by Anne on December 25, 2011
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 at Verse Link.