Anne Bustard: Children's Author

From the monthly archives:

December 2011

December 31 Birthday: Henri Matisse

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.

December 30 Birthday: Bo Diddley

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.

December 29 Birthday: Andrew Johnson

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.

December 28 Birthday: Woodrow Wilson

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.

December 25 Birthdays: Jesus

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.