Sir Edmund Hillary, explorer
July 20, 1919-

Triumph on Everest: A Photobiography of Sir Edmund Hillary by Broughton Coburn (National Geographic Children’s Books, reprint, 2003)
With Sherpa Norgay, Hillary climbed the highest mountain in the world. See the pictures. Read the words.
Photos of Hillary, facts about Everest, other world famous mountains, and info about the famous climb can be found at the Scholastic Teachers site.
Lena Horne, musician
June 30, 1917-

Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy (Charlesbridge, 2005)
Horne, best known for her hit song, Stormy Weather, sang and acted in several Hollywood musicals beginning in 1938.
PBS Online News Hour celebrated Horne’s 80th birthday. Read all about it here.
Helen Keller, writer and activist
June 27, 1880-June 1, 1968

A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David A. Adler, illustrated by John Wallner and Alexandra Wallner (Holiday House, 1990)
While the childhood of Keller, who was born with visual and hearing impairments is the focus of this biography, her accomplishments as an adult are also highlighted.
From the American Foundation for the Blind, The Helen Keller Kids Museum Online offers a biography of Keller.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias, athlete
June 26, 1911 (or 1914)-September 27, 1956

Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy (Charlesbridge, 2005)
Born in Texas, Zaharias was an accomplished golfer, basketball player and track and field star who won two gold medals and one silver in the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Sports Illustrated for Women.CNN features a bio of Didrikson Zaharias on their site.
Eric Carle, artist and writer
June 25, 1929-

Flora and Tiger: 19 Very Short Stories from My Life by Eric Carle (Philomel, 1997)
Peek into the life of renowned children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle via the stories he tells about his childhood and present day life.
Take a field trip to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA and explore the exhibits and resources.