Aside from parenting styles, pineapple on pizza, and whether or not Ross and Rachel were on a break, one of the biggest controversies out there is <deep breath> what is your go-to tumbler? We weren’t planning on getting so provocative, but it needs to be discussed. With all the water tumbler choices out there (and our deep need for a tumbler with straw, please) it just makes sense that our picks have a little something to do with our personalities, right? Afterall, that Emotional Support Water you keep by your side at all times (we have one, too) has to be kept in something you love to use. Are you a Zak lover, a Stanley tumbler enthusiast, or something else entirely? We’re here to help you figure it out.
We’re firm hydration supporters. And we’ve actually tried every popular vessel out there. So we’re pretty sure we’ve become experts on what mom personality matches your tumbler choice. You’re toting it around. It’s with you everywhere. It’s pretty much an accessory at this point. We’ve figured out which one you should choose to carry with pride from school drop-off, the office, and everything in between. BrüMate with a handle, Stanley tumbler with a straw? We have them here for you to pick from.
Stanley Tumbler Mom Style
Stanley 1913
Mom Style: You're about all things on-trend. Your Instagram feed is filled with fashion, pop culture, and influencers you love (even though you don't believe they actually sit around on white couches with their kids). If your friends need advice, you're the first one they call. And all that talking means a lot of water drinking.
Luckily, the Stanley 40oz tumbler delivers on everything it says it will. You're looking at 11 hours of cold sips and can stay iced up to 2 days (though we're hoping you refill your water a lot more frequently than that). They're also made out of recycled stainless steel and come in a ton of different colors (make sure to check out their newest tie-dye collection!).
Mom Style: You're an absolute classic. Nothing if not yourself, always. Maybe you love neutrals and have a closet full of mix-and-match, low-maintenance pieces that fit perfectly. You'd rather take your kids camping or sit in the warm sun at baseball practice than a spa day. Oh and that year-round tan? It's natural (but you never forget the SPF, either).
Yeti made its mark by being the outdoor adventurer's go-to, and although lots of different people love them, they've stayed true to their roots. Their tumblers are durable, machine-washable, and reliable (just like you. Well, not the machine-washable part.). One of their newest goodies includes a handle and straw.
Mom Style: Follow the crowd? Not you. Never. You'll set your own trends and march to the beat of your own drum. It's probably not unusual for you to show up somewhere with a new hair color or wild nails. You'll get down on the floor with your kids, fingerpaint, bake—messes are meant to be made.
Owala has a great wide opening, especially for those of us who will never be without ice. The lid can be used with a straw or as a sipper, and it adjusts to accommodate either left-handed or right-handed moms. It's a fab car companion (and moms spend a lot of time in the car, we know).
Mom Style: Life of the party has entered the chat. You're always more than happy to host your kid's friends, book club, or put together last-minute potlucks. You're a social butterfly and people can't get enough of your energy. Your laugh is completely infectious, so keep doing that a lot.
It takes a lot of energy to shine this bright, so it's a good thing that BrüMate can hold both hot (coffee, anyone?) and cold beverages. One of the best parts of BrüMate? Their leakproof design keeps spills at bay, so you have more time to socialize and less time doing laundry.
Mom Style: Beachy, thy name is you. Even if you don't live near water, your laid-back, breezy style exudes serious coastal vibes. Natural fabrics, light hues, and open windows are your whole aesthetic. Your kids know they can look forward to nature walks and road trips.
The Hydro Flask was the original choice of the Vsco Girl, but that’s not their whole business. They're super comfy to tote around, and their different lid options let you customize your drinking experience. Hot or cold, Hydro Flask can handle both.
Mom Style: If vintage was a person, they'd be you. You adore thrifting for the coolest finds (which you're totally notorious for) and whether you're sporting a 50's fit-and-flare dress for brunch or an oversized sweatshirt and leg warmers for an 80's vibe for class party volunteer duty, you can literally wear anything. You've already introduced your kiddos to classic movies (Goonies, anyone?) and are always, always up for a dance party.
Corkcicles newest 40oz Cruiser keeps drinks cold for up to 20 hours! It features an exclusive dual-function sip + straw spill-proof lid, a comfy soft-grip handle, and a stay-put silicone bottom to keep it upright on just about any surface. And the color options? Obsessed over here.
We should definitely mention, though, that you should drink out of whatever tumbler you darn well please, no matter what kind of mom you are. As long as you’re a hydrated one.
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There’s no doubt about it: kids are sponges when it comes to learning (and picking up on swear words, turns out). We’ve rounded up some fun facts for kids that will entertain and wow them (and you!). For those in search of trivia for teens, we’ve got you covered as well! Try to stump your kids at the dinner table or go all in for a family trivia night. In the mood for even more fun? Try out these hilarious jokes for kids, the best minute to win it games, and some selections from the 100+ movies every kid needs to see before they grow up.
6. Even in an airplane, a trip to Pluto would take about 800 years.
7. Ham the Astrochimp was the first hominid in space, launched on Jan. 31, 1961.
8. Neptune’s days are 16 hours long.
9. It takes eight minutes and 19 seconds for light to travel from the sun to Earth.
10. The footprints on the moon will be there for 100 million years.
11. A neutron star can spin 600 times in one second.
12. Jupiter is the fastest-spinning planet in the solar system (it only takes about 10 hours to complete a full rotation on its axis).
13. Sound does not carry in space.
14. The Earth's core is as hot as the surface of the sun.
15. The very first animals in space were fruit flies...they were sent up in 1947 and recovered alive.
16. In 2011, ten-year-old Kathryn Aurora Gray discovered a supernova (a star that has run out of energy, explodes and then collapses before it dies) that no one else had seen before.
17. Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, has saltwater geysers that are 20x taller than Mt. Everest.
18. Saturn's rings are made from trillions of chunks of orbiting ice.
19. Alpha Centauri isn't a star, but a star system. It is 4.22 light years away.
20. One day on Venus is almost 8 months on Earth.
21. Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a storm that has been raging for over 200 years.
22. There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on Earth.
2. Garlic bulbs are full of Vitamin C, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and more. It also has 17 amino acids.
3. On the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, potatoes were once used as currency.
4. The strawberry is the only fruit that bears seeds on the outside.
5. According to Tori Avey, coffee became a popular drink in America after the Boston Tea Party of 1773: Making the switch from tea to coffee was considered a patriotic duty.
6. The double coconut palm produced the biggest seed in the world: 45 pounds.
7. Ice cream was once called “cream ice.”
8. Pound cake is so-called because the recipes once called for a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, a pound of eggs, and a pound of flour.
9. Peanuts aren't nuts! (They're legumes.)
10. Carrots weren't always orange: they were once exclusively purple.
11. Cherries are a member of the rose family (Rosaceae) as are quince, pears, plums, apples, peaches, and raspberries!
12. Lima beans have an amazing ability to command wasps as a defense. If insects are eating the lima bean's leaves, the plant gives off a substance that acts as a signal to parasitic wasps to swoop in and destroy their enemy (i.e. the leaf-eating insects).
13. Apples float because they are one-quarter air!
14. Ripe cranberries will bounce like a ball. (Go on, try it!). They also float.
15. German chocolate cake is not from Germany. German is the last name of the man who invented a kind of baking chocolate (Sam German).
16. Cilantro and coriander are considered to be the same.
17. SPAM is a mash-up of the words "spice" and "ham."
Amazing Facts for Students About History
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1. The Wright Brothers only flew together once (though both piloted the planes individually): on May 25, 1910, they took a six-minute flight piloted by Orville with Wilbur as his passenger.
2. Regardless of their size, naval tradition declares submarines to be called “boats” rather than “ships.”
3. Hedy Lamar was a famous Hollywood film actress who also invented what became modern-day Wi-Fi.
8. Before European contact (which caused populations to diminish rapidly ) California indigenous tribal groups spoke more than 200 unique dialects.
9. Amelia Earhart first saw a plane at the age of 10 but didn't take an airplane ride until 1920 when she was 23 years old.
10. Abe Lincoln was a professional wrestler long before he became the 16th President of the United States.
11. After landing in Ireland after her first solo Atlantic flight, a farmer asked Amelia Earhart where she was from. When she said America, he almost didn't believe her!
12. Frederick Douglass's birth name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey. When he married he chose the last name Douglass after the hero clan in Sir Walter Scott's famous poem, Lady of the Lake.
13. Frida Kahlo created 143 paintings. Of these, 55 were self-portraits.
14. Babe Ruth was the first baseball player to hit a home run in the All-Star game, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1933.
1. Some tornadoes can be faster than Formula One race cars!
2. There are 2,000 thunderstorms on Earth every minute.
3. The wind is silent until it blows against something.
4. There are ice caves in Iceland that have hot springs.
5. The fastest recorded raindrop was 18 mph!
6. The US gets over 1200 tornadoes a year.
7. Lightning can strike twice.
8. Clouds look white because they are reflecting sunlight from above them.
9. Yuma, Arizona gets over 4000 hours of sunshine a year, making it the sunniest place on Earth. The least sunny place is the South Pole, where the sun only shines on 182 days a year. (Which would you rather live in?)
10. Rain contains vitamin B12.
11. A bolt of lightning is five times hotter than the sun.
12. A hurricane releases enough energy in one second to equal that of 10 atomic bombs.
13. It can be too warm to snow, but never too cold.
14. Tropical storms and hurricanes started getting "named" in 1953.
15. You can tell the weather by counting a cricket's chirps!
16. Worms wiggle up from the ground when a flood is coming.
1. Many people believe that early mermaid sightings can be attributed to dehydration + manatees.
2. Sloths cannot shiver to stay warm, and so have difficulty maintaining their body temperature on rainy days.
3. In the wild, some reindeer travel more than 3000 miles in a single year.
4. Only half of the dolphin’s brain goes to sleep when asleep and the other half stays awake.
5. Other than humans, emperor penguins are the only warm-blooded animals to stay in Antarctica for the winter.
6. The biggest fossil of a spider was found in China. It is one inch long and 165 million years old.
7. The largest living animal is the blue whale, which can measure as much as 100 feet.
8. Nearly 10% of all of a cat's bones are in its tail.
9. In the wintertime reindeer grow their facial hair long enough to cover their mouths, which protects their muzzles when grazing in the snow. Beard-os!
10. Dolphins have been seen wrapping sea sponges around their long snouts to protect them from cuts while foraging for food.
11. Shrimp's hearts are in their heads.
12. While pandas sometimes eat fish or small animals, 99% of their diet is bamboo.
13. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
14. A fox uses its tail to communicate with other foxes.
15. Dogs have wet noses because they secrete a thin layer of mucus, which helps dogs smell!
16. The female hummingbird builds the world's smallest bird's nest (approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, around the size of a walnut!). She weaves it from spiderwebs which allows it to expand as the chicks grow.
17. The largest land animal in Antarctica is an insect: the columbola (which looks like an earwig). Penguins are considered marine animals.
18. There are 222 owl species in the world. Most are nocturnal, but a few are active during the daytime, such as the Barred Owl.
19. Sloths are strong swimmers, especially good at the backstroke.
20. Sharks do not hunt humans or consider humans food. Shark incidents occur when sharks are hunting for seals, dolphins, or other "human-sized" prey. It's a case of mistaken identity!
21. A koala's fingerprints are so similar to human fingerprints that they could taint a crime scene.
22. The loudest animal in the world is the Pistol Shrimp. It can collapse its jaws so fast that creates a bubble that collapses and creates a sonic blast.
1. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA basketball game. No one has broken this record (not even Steph Curry!).
2. Babe Ruth began his career as a pitcher: Ruth was both a left-handed pitcher and a left-handed batter.
3. The record for the long jump is held by Mike Powell: 29 ft. + 4 inches. That’s like jumping the length of two minivans!
4. The most medals won for Olympic basketball (male or female) are both held by women: Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie with four gold medals each.
5. Wilma Rudolph (who set the world record in 1960 for 100, 200, and 4x100-meter relay) had polio, scarlet fever, and pneumonia as a child, leading doctors to believe she’d never walk again.
6. NFL Super Bowl referees also get Super Bowl rings.
7. In 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning in the middle of the 9th inning. He kept playing!
8. The 'G' on the Green Bay Packers helmet stands for "greatness" not Green Bay!
11. Golf is one of only two sports ever played on the moon. In 1971, Alan Shepard hit a ball with a six-iron while on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission. The other sport was a javelin toss, during the same visit.
12. The shortest player in the National Hockey League (NHL) was goaltender Roy Waters who measured 5 ft. 3 in. tall.
13. The tallest player in the NHL is Zdeno Chara, who is 6 ft. 9 in. tall.
Know someone born in the 7th month? They’ve got a few advantages
If you were born in July or have a little one with a July birthday, keep reading because summer babies, particularly people born in July, are good leaders, creative, and often left-handed. July babies also share a birth month with Princess Diana, Robin Williams, Jennifer Lopez, and so many more.
People born in July are either Cancer or Leo.
People born June 21-July 22 are born under the sign of Cancer. They are highly intuitive and like their celestial animal, the crab, tend to have a hard outer shell that can be hard to penetrate, so they can be slow to open up to others. People born July 22-Aug 22 are born under the sign of Leo. Full of passion and vivacity, Leos love to be in the spotlight. They are known for their ambition and bravery.
They are funny—and super-devoted to their families.
Astrologically speaking, babies born in July are known to be devoted family members, especially if they are Cancer. You know what that means, Mom and Dad? Your darling baby bundle will grow up to be a caring kid… and a loyal adult child. They’ll always be there to help you (and their siblings) out, even when they have a family of their own.
They may not see you, though.
Get your vision insurance plans in order. An Israeli study of 300,000 military applicants found that June and July babies have a higher risk of suffering from short-sightedness. According to the study, the more sunlight a newborn is exposed to, the higher the risk of myopia (short-sightedness). But it’s not all bad news. Lead researcher Michael Belkin of Tel Aviv University said there’s a simple solution to help summer-born eyes: Sunglasses (which are, by the way, totally adorable on babies).
They’re happier.
Summer baby = happy grown-up? Possibly, according to a Vanderbilt University study that suggests babies born in the summer are less likely to be depressed than their winter-born counterparts. Researchers believe the happy quotient may have to do with a newborn’s “biological clock” being permanently stamped by the summer’s light cycle. In other words: They start sunny… and stay that way!
They are good leaders.
People who are Leos are known for their strength, optimism, and refusal to accept. They often inspire others and tend to take charge in the workplace, all traits of a good leader.
The July birthstone is Ruby.
Rubies are one of the gemstones that are often read about in history. They symbolize wealth and prosperity, and passion. Medieval Europeans often wore rubies, as they were seen as a sign of prosperity. Ancient Hindus would offer rubies to the god Krishna in hopes of being reborn as an emperor.
July babies are often left-handed.
Of the 10% of left-handed people in the world, according to this study, many of them are born in July. The reason? They aren’t quite sure.
Spiral notebooks, scissors, keyboards. Just a few of the “tools” you’ve mastered twice as well as any right-hander. Being a lefty is something to be proud of: did you know that according to MENSA 20% of all geniuses are left-handed? So, for International Left-Handed Day, celebrate the southpaws in your life, and enjoy these hilarious left-handed memes. If you’re looking for more laughs, check out our mom memes, our Halloween parenting memes, and potty training memes.
1. Stupid scissors.
2. Because being left-handed is totally right.
3. Funny, but true.
4. No one believes you.
5. Your parents kept putting your pencil/spoon/baseball bat in your other hand.
6. Because you rejoiced when you discovered stores like this really do exist.
7. If you had a nickel…
8. I can wave with my left hand, too!
9. ‘Nuf said.
10. Sigh.
11. Because you still have to “special order” what you need at the office.
Your little kids will love the two from Brad Meltzer’s I Am series
Did you know that African American inventors are responsible for the modern-day supermarket and for cell phone microphones? Or that a nine-year-old was arrested at a Civil Rights protest in 1963? Here are 35 Black History books for kids that celebrate the rich history of Black people in the United States. Enlighten, encourage, and inspire your kids with these titles.
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
If you want to talk about Black History with your kids, this book will take you back to the beginning. Told from the point of view of a 100-year-old African-American woman, Heart and Soul takes kids on a journey through the history of slavery to Jim Crow laws to the quest for equality and freedom in our schools and beyond. It shows them the reality and the inspiring truth about the men, women, and children of all colors who rallied to change education laws and end segregation and who fight still for truth, justice, and the American way. Kadir Nelson is an award-winning author and illustrator whose honors include the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Award.
Do your young ones know the story of Juneteenth? Originating in Texas, this holiday marks the day slaves were finally free: June 19. Told in a simple poetic style and coupled with beautiful illustrations, this is the perfect Black history book for little kids.
A poem about the reality of slavery and all of its trauma, the power of the civil rights movement, and the determination of some of our country's greatest heroes, this historical book is a must for your bookshelf. Kids will get a deeper insight into an integral period of our nation's history and learn the words of change-makers like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gwendolyn Brooks.
Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
It was Dec. 5, 1955, and Georgia Gilmore no longer had to boycott Montgomery, Alabama busses alone. After Rosa Parks was kicked off a local bus, things had to change. With her cooking skills by her side, Georgia uses her love of justice (and her friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) to make sweeping changes for integration. This book by Mara Rockliff is accompanied by stunning illustrations by Caldecott Honor Winner R. Gregory Christie.
In Brad Meltzer's Ordinary People Change the World series, we learn the story of Harriet Tubman and her bravery as she fought to abolish slavery. She helped hundreds of African Americans escape slavery and find freedom through the Underground Railroad and is and this is one book that will inspire your kids to become heroes themselves.
Segregated Skies: David Harris’s Trailblazing Journey to Rise Above Racial Barriers
After serving for years in the United States Air Force as a B-52 bomber pilot, David Harris began applying to be a commercial airline pilot. He was turned down until, in 1964, American Airlines hired him, making him the first African American commercial pilot in history. The story itself discusses a lesser-known hero in the fight for justice, and perhaps most importantly, the book itself is exquisitely written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and renowned journalist Michaelell H. Cottman, who spent more than two years researching, interviewing, and getting to know David E. Harris.
Speak Up, Speak Out!: The Extraordinary Life of Fighting Shirley Chisholm
Coretta Scott King Honor Winner Tonya Bolden introduces kids to the first Black woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives: Shirley Chisholm. Expertly researched, this story follows Shirley on her journey of speaking up and out.
Before there was Misty Copeland, there was Aesha Ash, Debra Austin, Raven Wilkinson, and so many more. Copeland's book, filled with stunning illustrations by Salena Barnes, shares how each Black ballerina who came before her influenced the dance community, and how Misty herself has changed the world for Black dancers.
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth
Alice Fay Duncan shares the straightforward and inspiring history of Opal Lee and her journey of advocating for this important day to become an official holiday. She was 94 years old when Juneteenth was finally acknowledged as a holiday and has no plans to stop fighting until everyone is free. Illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo.
The New Black West: Photographs from America's Only Touring Black Rodeo
While this is not a children’s book per se, this stunning collection of photographs is both about Black history and Black history in the making. It belongs on every bookshelf (or coffee table) in America. The collections of full-color photographs by Gabriela Hasbun showcase the modern Black cowboys of the annual Black rodeo in Oakland, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. Simultaneously it brings to life the legacy of Black cowboys, including Bill Pickett, in America.
The beloved My Little Golden Book series celebrates the history-maker Kamala Harris, the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first Indian American woman elected as Vice President. The simple format is ideal for young children.
This collection from Tamara Pizzoli celebrates Black womanhood with Monica Ahanonu's 50 different gorgeous illustrations of 50 different Black activists, leaders, and artists, all accompanied by powerful quotes.
This picture book is a kid-appropriate version of the New York Times' groundbreaking 1619 project. Created by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, bestselling author Renée Watson, and Artivist Nikkolas Smith, it chronicles the consequences of slavery in America.
In this gorgeous picture book by award-winning Author Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrator Laura Freeman, kids are introduced to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The story follows the life of Franklin as she overcomes shyness as a child to become a legend, and of course, as she earned a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T along the way.
The summer of 1963 was an important time in America. Not only did Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington take place, but the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Maryland became desegregated and open to everyone. As the first African-American child to ride the carousel at the park that day, co-author Sharon Langley shares her story about how a community came together for positive change.
When debut author Angela Joy set out to teach her children their first Black History lesson she was not expecting her preschooler to say, "But Mama, we're not black, we're brown." It was then that she realized that she wanted her children, and all children, to understand that being Black was about culture as much as color. Vibrant, stained-glass-like artwork by Coretta-Scott King Award-winning illustrator Ekua Holmes accompanies Joy's poetic text as we join a little girl on a journey to discover all the wonderful things that Black is. It's an exceptionally designed, written, and thoughtful new book appropriate for kids of all ages and ethnicities.
Recommended age: Suggested age, is 4-8, but we think even older kids can benefit from this book due to the important historical talking points at the back of the book.
Celebrate the life and voice of poet Gwendolyn Brooks with this thoughtful story that combines Brooks' legacy with her life story. Known for being one of the foremost poets on the Black experience and the role of women in society, Gwendolyn Brooks went from a young child writing all the time to become the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize and authoring 20 books of poetry, two autobiographies, and one novel. Celebrated author and children's librarian Alice Faye Duncan makes Brooks come to life on the page for the young reader.
Written by Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Brenda Woods, The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA, tells the story of a unique friendship between a young white boy and a black WWII veteran. Mr. Meriwether Hunter returns to Jim Crow South in 1946; when he saves little Gabriel’s life during a bike accident, Gabriel’s father offers Meriwether a job as a mechanic at their family garage. Gabriel and Meriwether form a friendship that endures despite the extreme prejudices in the world around them. A beautiful read.
Little Alta is the quickest kid in Clarksville, Tennessee, and tomorrow is the big parade where three-time Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph will be riding on a float. Just like Alta, Wilma was once the quickest kid in Clarksville, and just like Alta, Wilma once had holes in her shoes. What will happen when a new girl comes to town, a new girl with shiny brand new shoes, and challenges Alta to a race? This clever story teaches kids about Wilma Rudolph and the power of dreams and grit, in a manner that they'll get (and remember).
This little book packs a big punch! Featuring forty trailblazing women in African-American history, each entry is accompanied by a beautiful illustration. From pilot Bessie Coleman to crooner Nina Simone to poets, inventors, athletes, and more, this book will inspire children of any gender to be bold, and beautiful, and make history.
Recommended ages: 3 and up, but we think you should read it to your baby.
Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson was starstruck when he first visited his local planetarium in New York City as a young boy. His quest for knowledge knew no bounds, and this is the story of how young Neil went from stargazer to one of the most respected astrophysicists in the world. Beautifully illustrated and excellent for young readers.
We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders
Sixteen award-winning children's book artists illustrate the civil rights quotations that inspire them in this amazing book. With an introduction by Harry Belafonte, words from Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the book includes illustrations by Selina Alko, Alina Chau, Lisa Congdon, Emily Hughes, Molly Idle, Juana Medina, Innosanto Nagara and many, many more.
Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten
Chronicle Books
Singer-songwriter Laura Veirs brings the story of the folk singer Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten to life in this beautiful book illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. Libba, best known for the song g Freight Train, taught herself to play guitar as a child: upside down and backward no less (Libba was left-handed and did not have a left-handed guitar). She wrote the song Freight Train when she was just 13 but wasn’t really “discovered” until she was in her 60s. Learn about the woman behind the song and teach your children that creativity and productivity are important no matter your age.
Who was Katherine Johnson? This book will tell you: she is said to be one of the greatest minds of all time! She worked in the 1950s for the NASA space program and was such a brilliant mathematician that she figured out the math needed to send a rocket to the moon in her head. She didn't even use a computer or a calculator. This book will teach kids about her early life as a child growing up in a small town in Virginia that didn't have a high school for African Americans (schools were segregated then), how her family moved to a town with a high school she could attend, and her incredible career as a scientist and mathematics marvel.
Afro-Puerto Rican immigrant and hero Arturo Schomburg was a law clerk with a passion: he collected books, letters, art, and music from Africa and the African diaspora. When the collection got too big for his shelves, he turned to the New York Public Library where, in 1905, he curated a collection known then as the "Negro Division." Not only does this book take you through the life and times of Schomburg, but it also details critical and often overlooked African Americans and African American history throughout events in the forming of the United States of America, including revolutionaries, the woman who wrote poems in praise of George Washington, the writings of Frederick Douglass and the whitewashing of African history.
Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans
This heartwarming book tells the story of a New Orleans sanitation worker who would often dance down the streets along his route, inspiring other native New Orleanians to follow along. Find out how this humble man made a lasting impact in the aftermath of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
42 Is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero
Jackie Robinson was an all-star from a young age: in baseball, basketball, and football, he excelled. Jackie joined the Negro Leagues, setting records and impressing the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1946, Jackie became the first African American EVER to play in MLB. He faced cruelty, protests, and violence. But he persisted: he displayed courage, determination, restraint, and an incredible ability to win the game. This detailed chapter book will help parents and kids to remember never to give up.
Written by President Barack Obama as a letter to his own daughters, this is the story of 13 key players in American history. From Jackie Robinson to Georgia O’Keefe to George Washington, Obama illustrates how his own children—and all kids—have these heroic traits in themselves. Uplifting and encouraging, your kids will gain an understanding of the history of the United States and know that “yes!” they can. Illustrated by Loren Long.
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Both a picture book and a biography, this intro to the life, times, and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a bestseller for a reason. Illustrated with stunning, lush pictures by Bryan Collier, author Doreen Rappaport has hit the sweet spot by telling the true history, making a book kids won’t want to put down.
Like the “I Am” series, the Little People, Big Dreams series explores amazing men and women of history, from artists to scientists to activists, teaching kids that one person can make a difference. This book covers the inspiring Maya Angelou’s journey, from a traumatic childhood to one of the world’s best-loved authors. If you thought you knew who Maya Angelou is, you are in for a treat: this book will leave you even more in awe than you already were. Written by Lisbeth Kaiser and illustrated by Leire Salaberria.
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist
Cynthia Levinson brings this true tale of the youngest known child to be arrested at a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama. Kids will cheer for Audrey, equality, and the rights of all children. Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton.
What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors
Co-authored by NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, learn about 16 inventors who not only broke the color barrier but created some of the most widely used and extraordinary things in the world. From refrigerated trucks to the ice cream scoop to open-heart surgery, join Kareem and his team as you explore the history you use every day. Co-authored by Raymond Obstfeld and illustrated by Ben Boos and A.G. Ford.
You are never too young to learn about real-life heroes and Brad Meltzer’s “I Am” series proves it. I Am Rosa Parks shows kids how Rosa Parks dared to stand up for herself by staying seated and refusing to give up her seat. Not only will they learn about her courage and her role in helping to end bus segregation and fight for Civil Rights, but they will also be empowered with the idea that one person, one small act, can change the world. Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. Also in the collection are I Am Jackie Robinsonand I Am Martin Luther King Jr.
Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case
This Black history book for older readers tells the story of a landmark civil rights case. Richard and Mildred Loving met in 1955 in Caroline County, Virginia, during a time when segregation, prejudice, injustice, and cruelty were the norm. They fell in love and their love was at the heart of the Supreme Court case that legalized marriages between races.
This historical fiction novel for young adults chronicles the story of the last African slaves brought illegally over the Atlantic to America in 1860. Their journey includes being hidden in swamplands near the Alabama River, being divided among plantations, and finally, creating a community called African Town, which still exists today. Told from the point of view of 14 different characters, this novel is a gripping tale of Black history.
If your kids have heard of Babe Ruth but aren’t sure if it’s a kind of candy, don’t worry! We know kids love fun facts, and from facts about Wilma Rudolph to the actual diameter of a basketball hoop, we’ve rounded up some fun sports trivia for kids.
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1. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA basketball game. No one has broken this record (not even Steph Curry!).
2. Babe Ruth began his career as a pitcher: Ruth was both a left-handed pitcher and left-handed batter.
3. The record for the long jump is held by Mike Powell: 29 ft. + 4 inches. That’s like jumping the length of two minivans!
4. The most medals won for Olympic basketball (male or female) are both held by women: Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie with four gold medals each.
5. Here's some amazing sports trivia for kids: Wilma Rudolph (who set the world record in 1960 for 100, 200 and 4x100-meter relay) had polio, scarlet fever and pneumonia as a child, leading doctors to believe she’d never walk again.
11. Golf is one of only two sports every played on the moon. In 1971, Alan Shepard hit a ball with a six-iron while on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission. The other sport was a javelin toss, during the same visit.
When it comes to baseball there are a few names that ring out louder than the sound of the ball hitting the bat. Arguably one of the most famous is Babe Ruth. Read on for some interesting history about the Sultan of Swat.
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1. Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, as George Herman Ruth.
2. But for decades he thought his actual birthday was February 7th, 1894. He only discovered his real birthday after applying for a passport for a trip to Japan in 1934.
3. Ruth was sent to a Catholic Boys Reformatory school at the age of 7. Each child was trained with an industrial career. Ruth was trained to be a shirt maker.
4. Young George Ruth played baseball at the school, thanks to encouragement by the monks.
5. For a time, young Ruth lived above what is now Camden Yards in Baltimore, above one of his father's saloons.
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6. He was signed to the major leagues at the age of 19.
7. He is the only baseball player in history to have the last name Ruth.
8. He was the first baseball player to hit a home run in the All-Star game, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1933.
9. Why Babe? Some say it’s because Ruth was so young when signed to MLB he required legal guardianship and was “adopted” by one of the monks. Others say it was just because he was still merely a babe.
10. His other nicknames included Bambino, the Home Run King and The Sultan of Swat.
11. He began his career as a pitcher: Ruth was both a left-handed pitcher and a left-handed batter.
12. He was the first highest plaid player when in 1930, his salary hit the $80,000 mark.
13. Ruth played for the Boston Red Sox (1914-1919), the New York Yankees (1920-1934) and briefly the Boston Braves (1935).
14. In six seasons with Ruth, the Red Sox won three World Series titles. In 107 seasons without him they have won four.
15. Babe Ruth had what many consider to be his finest season in 1921. He hit .378/.512/.846 with 59 home runs, 171 RBIs and 177 runs scored. The home run and RBI totals were single-season records.
17. At an exhibition game (a “for fun” or charity game) on April 2, 1931, a 17-year-old female pitcher named Jackie Mitchell struck Ruth out (Mitchell then went on to strike out Lou Gehrig.)
18. Babe Ruth was knocked unconscious during a game at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. He hit a concrete wall trying to catch a foul ball.
19. Although many believed him past his prime, on May 25, 1935, Babe Ruth played one of his final games in the major leagues hitting 3 home runs in a single game. He retired the next week.
20. In 1914, he married Helen Woodford, a coffee-shop waitress he met on his first day in Boston.
21. Babe Ruth only had one child in his lifetime. He had a daughter named Dorothy Ruth with Juanita Jennings.
22. Babe Ruth retired in 1935 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He was one of the first five players to be inducted. The Yankees retired his famous number 3.
23. Upon his retirement, he was the career record holder in home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks and strikeouts.
24. The Sultan of Swat played 2503 games in his Major League career. During that time he had 2174 runs and stole 123 bases. Of his runs, 714 were home runs. In 1927 alone he scored 60 home runs. (This was the world record until Hank Aaron hit 755 in 1974 and Barry Bonds reached 762 in 2007 for the all-time record.)
25. In 1922, you could get chocolate-covered ice cream balls called Babe Ruth Home Runs. They cost 10 cents.
26. The candy bar, Baby Ruth, is most likely named for Babe Ruth. The bar was formerly called Kandy Kake but the name was changed right around Ruth’s rise to popularity. Because “official” permission was not requested, the company (then the Curtiss Candy Co.) denied that Babe Ruth was the namesake. However, in 1995, the Babe Ruth estate licensed his name and likeness for use in a Baby Ruth marketing campaign with Nestle.
27. Babe Ruth appeared as himself in four different movies. In one, he lost 40 pounds in order to play a younger version of himself.
29. Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923. Ruth hit the first home run there, earning it the name “The House that Ruth Built.” In 1947, Happy Chandler declared April 27 officially Babe Ruth Day, and Ruth addressed the crowds at Yankee Stadium. At the time, Ruth had already been diagnosed with throat cancer.
29. Babe Ruth died at the age of 53 in 1948. For two days, his coffin was laid in state (open casket) at Yankee Stadium for fans to pay their final respects. More than 100,000 people attended.
How do you hold your baby? According to new research from Ruhr-University Bochum, it’s likely you cradle your kiddo on the left.
The study, which was published in the journal Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews, reviewed past research—looking at which side parents prefer to hold their infant with and what that might mean. Armed with 40 studies starting in 1960, the researchers found a connection between handedness, emotions and baby cradling.
So which side do parents prefer? As it turns out, most of us are lefties when it comes to cradling preference. Between 66 and 72 percent of parent use their left hand to hold their infant, and it’s not just left-handed parents who favor their left side. Right-handed adults tend to use their opposite hand when cradling more often. The stats in this study show a 74 percent rate of left-sided cradling for right-handed parents. But the rate drops to 61 percent for left-handed parents.
While the study didn’t find a conclusive connection between handedness and baby holding, the researchers did propose a possible link to emotions. The right side of the brain, which is linked to the left side of the body, is primarily responsible for processing emotions. The researchers believe this right side of the brain to the left side of the body connection may have something to do with how parents, especially mothers, hold their babies.
My mother is disabled. She has been paralyzed since she was 42 when her light-blue VW bus was struck by another vehicle while stopped at an intersection. Her body flew through the front windshield, and she was declared dead at the scene. She wasn’t. She had seven children all under 14 and we needed her. I was three.
I don’t remember much from that time, just a string of well-meaning neighbors and relatives and a lot of frozen lasagna. I do remember visiting her in the hospital on her birthday later that summer. My father had to sneak me in because no children were allowed in the ICU, and I hid under his trench coat so that no one would see me. When I saw her, she was immobilized in a hospital bed and was dressed from head to toe in pale green hospital apparel. She looked shockingly weak. I remember her smiling at me. I was afraid that she would never come home.
After months of hospitalization and rehabilitation, she did come home. The accident caused her to permanently lose the use of her right arm, left leg, diaphragm and neck mobility. Breathing was difficult, and she often became out of breath just from trying to read out loud to me. She couldn’t walk. She couldn’t cough. She couldn’t write. She couldn’t kneel. She couldn’t carry things. She couldn’t do many of the many activities that had comprised her life. And she had seven children, did I mention that?
Against all odds, as time passed, she started walking. I am not sure how it was possible, but my understanding is that she retrained different muscles in her body to compensate for those that could no longer work. At first, the walks were short, but they got progressively longer until eventually, she could poke along for several blocks. She learned to write left-handed. She learned to knit with one hand and has created countless beautiful pieces. She relearned to drive with a special knob on the steering wheel. She relearned to swim by holding on to little floaties. She is a fantastic cook and learned to utilize all manner of cool, one-handed contraptions to help her navigate her way in the kitchen. She seemed to refuse to give anything up. But all this was lost on me because I couldn’t remember her any different.
By the time I was six, I had become well-versed in pushing her wheelchair, and I would torment her by pushing her over grates that opened to the subway far below and laugh and laugh as she would shriek in fear. Sounds mean, right? But, to me, there was nothing wrong with her. I was just teasing, and she seemed to be playing along. Her disability was as normal as any mother’s slightly annoying, but endearing habit. As I got older I would push that wheelchair down bumpy, forested paths up and over all manner of tree roots and gravel. She would groan good naturedly and hold on tight with her good hand. She has been launched from that thing several times and is always trying to find a wheelchair more suitable for all-terrain travel. Just last year I pushed her through a jungle in Mexico so that we could see Mayan ruins. It can’t be comfortable, all that jostling and jarring, but she always wants to go.
I cut her no slack. She cuts herself no slack. Today she is 87.
I only have one memory of my mother before her accident. I am sitting on a metal folding seat, attached to the back of my mother’s black, clunky Schwinn. The seat is covered with a blue-plaid vinyl. It has little metal armrests and a small backrest. Not at all safe by today’s standards. My legs dangle freely below. I kick them forward and back. My mother’s legs are pedaling up and down, and her butt is in my face. It swishes a little, side to side. I don’t mind. Her efforts are creating a nice breeze, and the landscape whizzes by. Green grass, suburban lawns, huge maple trees. She is talking and laughing with my father who is on a matching bike.
I know there must be some connection between my mother’s internal drive and my quest to remain physical and engaged with life. She could have given up so many times, but she didn’t. She still doesn’t. She is hauling herself up to an island in Maine from Philadelphia for a visit again this summer. The trip involves a lot of logistics and not everything is handicapped-accessible in the little cottages she rents. Her mobility is decreasing and little tasks are getting more difficult, but she’ll be damned if she is going to stay home and sit around. She doesn’t want to miss out!
Beginning in August 2019, my son Oakley and I will cycle across America over the course of three months. Oakley is a spirited 15-year-old boy who has always struggled to fit into the confines of mainstream culture. I am Leah, his mother—and we are ready for adventure.
One sunny fall morning, I watched my daughter tear open a birthday present, eager to unearth the mysterious goodies hidden inside.
“Here,” she said, tossing the card in my direction. “Could you read this to me?”
I paused for a moment. This exact scene had played out numerous times across birthdays, holidays, even reading penpal letters.
I shook my head. “No. Read it yourself.”
“I can‘t understand it,” she replied.
I studied the card once again. What? Was it written in Greek?
For years, like many parents do, I focused on making sure my daughter’s handwriting was straight, clean and as legible as possible. We perfected every descender and closed every ‘a’ so it wouldn’t resemble a ‘u’ and so on. After that we progressed to cursive but quickly gave our attention to typing skills. After all, schools across the country had started dropping cursive from their curriculums entirely.
Nearly every state in America has adopted the Common Core State Standards Initiative from 2010, which seeks to establish consistent educational standards across the U.S. and ensure high school graduates are prepared to enter college. The standards for English Language Arts include core topics of reading, writing and language and a modern section called “media and technology”. This component includes keyboard skills, but does not mandate cursive handwriting.
Spencerian script was the standard cursive writing style in the U.S. from the mid 1800s through the early 1900s. It was then simplified into the Palmer Method around the 1920s, followed by D’Nealian cursive, which students learn today. Yet the use of cursive declined overall as people first shifted to typewriters and then to personal computers. Public school instruction of cursive in the U.S. has steadily declined since the 1970s, but handwriting, penmanship and cursive continue to remain hot topics among educators and lawmakers across the nation.
Some applauded the Common Core’s move into modern times while others lamented the death of decorative penmanship. But recently, in 2016, Alabama and Louisiana passed laws mandating cursive proficiency in public schools. By doing so, they became the newest of over a dozen states now requiring cursive for 3rd graders and up.
What changed? Are parents and teachers growing sentimental about their own upbringing? Are we rebelling against the current digital shift in a grassroots back-to-basics swing to simpler, more analog times? Even if nostalgia spurred the changes, science is there to back it up.
An article published in Psychology Today says “…learning cursive is an important tool for cognitive development.” Brain scans reveal activated neural circuitry when children print letters and then read them out loud, but the same effect does not occur when the letters are typed. The swoopy, connected style of cursive is even more demanding than printing and creates a greater neural response in both hemispheres of the brain due to it’s artistic nature.
“Cursive is also more likely to engage students by providing a sense of personal style and ownership,” the Psychology Today article explains. More and more often, today’s youngest generations struggle with hand writing correspondence and creating their own personalized signatures. As today’s youth grew up without writing in cursive, they lost the ability to read it as well. Could the decline of handwriting sever our ties to the past, to our history, to ourselves?
My daughter never had trouble reading typed materials, but if I put a handwritten document in front of her, her eyes would glaze over. The perfect schoolteacher handwriting from our cursive tracing books had done little to prepare her for real handwriting from real people.
I simply couldn’t fathom a future in which my daughter would be incapable of understanding Great Grandma Vi’s apple pie recipe, family genealogy or the Declaration of Independence. But what could we do?
A Google search for “cursive handwriting” gave dozens of search results for tracing workbooks. Another search for “cursive instruction” produced YouTube tutorials for calligraphy. Adding specific keywords such as “how to practice reading people’s handwriting” prompted solutions for ADHD kids and how to effectively teach writing skills. A proper resource didn’t seem to exist.
Thanks to the global community that is Facebook, I rallied friends, family and even strangers to contribute samples of their everyday handwriting for our cause. Using my daughter as a sounding board, we combed through nearly 200 writing images to select our favorite five dozen based on their legibility (or lack thereof), uniqueness and beauty. The short paragraphs came to us from all corners of the world, from Japan to Peru and from right- and left-handed writers, all genders and all ages.
These samples, along with a sprinkling of history and terminology, have been organized into Handwriting: A Study of Penmanship in the Digital Age, an easy-to-read, fact-filled supplement for classroom instruction and home-based reading practice. The content is entirely comprised of animal facts and is suitable for all ages.
Maggie lives with her husband and "old soul" tween daughter in the Pacific Northwest. She shares their travel adventures, field trips, and homeschool ideas from a city-based homestead. Maggie's first book, Handwriting: A Study of Penmenship in the Digital Age, is available on Amazon.
