Dear Parent, TumbleBooks' November Newsletter is here! Big things are happening this month! There are many author birthdays near the end of the month! Did you know that the top 3 women writers for young adults in the 19th and early 20th centuries are born at the end of the month? Yes! Louisa May Alcott, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Lucy Maud Montgomery have more than three names in common! They're all Sagittarius! (They're all in TumbleBooks too, but that's kind of a given!) |
| November 1: National Family Literacy Day | |
 | Why do libraries matter? That is a simple question to answer, but there are so many reasons you can list, it would be hard to write them all down!! But write them we did - some of them, anyway! On Family Literacy Day, read all about WHY LIBRARIES MATTER and how they are a core resource, and form the backbone of community literacy. |
| November 4: King Tut Day | |
 | King Tutankhamun - or "Tut" for short - was an Egyptian Pharaoh who lived c.1341-1323 BCE. Crowned at age 9, he ruled until his death at 18. He was buried hastily in a smaller-than-average tomb for a ruler of his stature, and was lost to history for several millennia. Until, November 4th, 1922, when archaeologist Howard Carter discovered Tut's tomb in the Valley of the Kings! *Note that "Kids Who Rule" is available in TumblePremium subscriptions only. |
| November 13-17: World Nursery Rhyme Week | |
 | There are many reasons why we're called TumbleBooks. One big reason is that we don't do things like everyone else! This is perfectly illustrated in J. Otto Seibold's classic "Other Goose"! You want Nursery Rhymes? We have Nursery Rhymes that will curl your hair and make you spit milk out of your nose! (The good thing about ebooks is that you can wipe your screen after!) |
| November 8: National STEM Day | |
 | STEM stands for "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math." There are MANY different fields of study encompassed in these 4 areas. Like microbiology! Read "A Moldy Mystery" and find out what happens when a hapless younger brother makes a mistake with his elder brother's science experiement and does everything he can to make it right. |
| November 11: Remembrance Day (CAN) / Veteran's Day (USA) | |
 | Every year on November 11th, the world pauses to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives, and their youth for their country and the world. We wear poppies over our hearts to honour WWI and WWII vets in particular. In addition to honouring those who fought, we also honour people like Hana: people whom the Nazi regime imprisoned for no reason other than that they were "different". Millions of Jewish people - like Hana and her family - were killed during the war, as well as other non-Aryan Eastern Europeans, Romani, disabled people, and LGBT people. |
| November 13: Born this day... Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) | |
 | Happy Birthday, Robert Louis Stevenson! If he were alive today, he'd be 168 years old! Treasure Island is one of the most beloved adventure tales of all time. Enjoy! |
| November 13: World Kindness Day | |
 | It doesn't take much to show kindness to another. A kind word, subtle encouragement, a pat on the back. Ramon, in "Ish" is discouraged because even though he LOVES to draw, something his brother says stops him cold. That is, until his little sister Marisol shows kindness and reignites Ramon's inspiration with a single word. |
| November 14: Born this day... Claude Monet (1840-1926) | |
 | Happy Birthday, Claude Monet! If he were alive today he'd be 188 years old! Monet was a prolific painter in his time, finding the beauty in nature, and capturing a moment in time as big as a scenic vista, or as small as a pond full of water lilies. Join him as he paints a day! |
| November 16: National Day for Tolerance | |
 | There's a lot to be said for Tolerance. To tolerate something or someone, it's best if you learn more about them, try to put yourself in their shoes, and show them the respect you would like shown to you. In Enemy Pie, one little boy learns how to tolerate and to make friends with the least likely person. |
| November 19: World Toilet Day | |
 | At first glance, it's got a funny name, but World Toilet Day is more about addressing and raising awareness for a global crisis: waste water and sanitation issues around the world. What can you do at home? You could try to conserve water by flushing only solid waste. Or, you could install high efficiency toilet that uses less waste. While you're considering what you can do to help, read "Toilet Tales" and imagine what it would be like if the animal kingdom used toilets like we do! |
| November 20: National Child Day (CAN) | |
 | Commemoration of National Child Day began in 1993 in honor of the United Nations' two declarations for children's protection and rights. We're presenting "When I Was Eight" for this day, as a reminder of how far we've come. Olemaun is an indigenous child who was sent to a residential school many years ago, and just as many other indigenous children experienced, Olemaun was mistreated while she was there. The people who ran the school tried to erase and replace her cultural heritage, and caused great suffering in the process. While celebrating the steps we've taken to prevent things like this from ever happening again, we must still work towards reconciliation and healing. |
| November 21: First Free Balloon Flight | |
 | On November 21, 1783, the first free balloon flight took place in Paris, France! Though not to the same scale, we hope you enjoy this tale of a wayward balloon and its far-flung adventure. |
| November 22: Thanksgiving (USA) | |
 | Happy Thanksgiving, USA! Today is a day to give thanks for the privileges and good fortune (no matter how big or small) we have in our lives. So, enjoy your turkey, your mashed potatoes, stuffing, and sweet potato pie! But remember to help out the chef! Otherwise, who knows... they may eat dinner all alone! |
| November 24: Origin of Species first published (1859) | |
 | After finishing his journey to the Galapagos Islands on a ship called "The Beagle", Charles Darwin had many new - and controversial - ideas! In one word? Evolution! He published "Origin of Species" on November 24, 1859. Today, you can learn more about his journeys and go exploring through the natural world with him in "One Beetle Too Many"! |
| November 24: Born this day... Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) | |
 | Happy Birthday, Frances Hodgson Burnett! If she was alive today, she'd be 169 years old! She wrote many beloved children's books, including "The Secret Garden", and "A Little Princess". |
| November 27: Happy Birthday Kevin Henkes! (1960) | |
 | Happy Birthday, Kevin Henkes! Born in 1960, Kevin is an award winning, and best selling author of several children's books, including TumbleBook favourite "The Year of Billy Miller"! *Note that "The Year of Billy Miller" is available in TumblePremium subscriptions only. |
| November 28: Red Planet Day | |
 | Red Planet Day honours Mars! Next to the moon, Mars is our closest celestial neighbour. Mars has long held humans' interest: inspiring more than science, it's found its place in literature, film, music, art, and more! Check out TumbleBooks' National Geographic video on Mars! |
| November 29: Born this Day... Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) | |
 | Happy Birthday, Louisa May Alcott! If she was alive today, she'd be 186 years old! She wrote many beloved young adult books, including "Little Men", and "Little Women". |
| November 30: Happy Birthday, Tony Fucile! (1964) | |
 | Happy Birthday, Tony Fucile! Born in 1964, Tony is an award winning, and best selling author and illustrator! |
| November 30: Born this Day... Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) | |
 | Happy Birthday, Lucy Maud Montgomery! If she was alive today, she'd be 144 years old! Montgomery is the author of Canada's most beloved heroine: Anne Shirley!
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