by Anne on February 6, 2010
Ronald Reagan, U.S. President
February 6, 1911-June 5, 2004

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1998)
A movie actor turned president, Regan loved to ride horses and tell a good story. He was the 40th president of the United States.
Read a bio of Regan on the White House site.
by Anne on January 1, 2010
Hank Greenberg, athlete
Jan. 1, 1911-Sept. 4, 1986
Hammerin’ Hank: The Life of Hank Greenberg by Yona Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Malcah Zeldis (Walker Books for Young Readers, 2006)
First baseman and outfielder, Greenberg was a American Hall of Famer with an incredible slugging percentage. Born to Orthodox parents, who were not thrilled by his choice of profession, he became the first Jewish baseball star. His heritage was sometimes a source of ridicule on and off the field but as this book shows, it informed the choices he made.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame site offers highlights of Greenberg’s career.
by Anne on October 26, 2009
Mahalia Jackson, musician
Oct. 26, 1911-Jan. 27, 1972
The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World by Julius Lester, illustrated by Lisa Cohen (Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 2001)
Renowned gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson “brought the blues feeling into church music.” Born in New Orleans, she moved to the city of Chicago when she was a teenager. It was there that Jackson found her voice.
America’s Library has a small feature on Mahalia Jackson with photos that would be of great interest to children.
Robert Leroy Johnson, musician
May 8, 1911-Aug. 16, 1938

The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World by Julius Lester, illustrated by Lisa Cohen (Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 2001)
Johnson, a gifted guitar player and singer died young. However, his legacy lives on in the likes of Dylan, the Stones and Clapton.
The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation site features an article from the LA Times about this famous bluesman.
by Anne on February 6, 2009
Ronald Regan, U.S. President
February 6, 1911-June 5, 2004

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1998)
A movie actor turned president, Regan loved to ride horses and tell a good story. He was the 40th president of the United States.
Read a bio of Regan on the White House site.