August
August 1
Gail Gibbons
Gail Gibbons writes and illustrates picture books for children, most of which are non-fiction books that examine and/or explain a wide variety things.
August 7
Matthew Alexander Henson
As trail breaker for the Robert Peary Expedition, Henson was one of the first men, if not the first man, to stand on the Earth's north pole.
August 9
Perseid Meteor Shower
People have observed the "shooting stars" of the annual Perseid meteor shower for more than 2000 years.
August 20
Charles "Charlie" Parker, Jr.
Charlie Parker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was one of the most influential improvising soloists in jazz.
August 23
Mt. Vesuvius eruption destroys Roman cities
A violent volcanic eruption buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
August 28
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his "I have a dream" speech
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his now famous “I have a dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.
August 30
Donald Crews
Two-time winner of the Caldecott Honor Medal, author-illustrator Donald Crews has been creating picture books for over 40 years.