This Month in History: July

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picture of a globe in the foreground, shelves in the background

 

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black and white picture of Joe DiMaggio

Four years later, he had a 57 game hitting streak (meaning he hit the ball and made it to a base during every one of those games in a row). The majority of his career was playing for the New York Yankees, and he won 9 World Series playing for them (4 of which were during his first 4 seasons).

 

If you'd like to read about Joe DiMaggio:

Joltin' Joe DiMaggio by Jonah Winter - In the golden age of baseball, sports announcers ruled the radio, winning and losing was front-page news, and just about every young boy wanted to grow up to wear Yankee pinstripes, including Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, Jr., a first generation Italian from San Francisco. "Baseball is not a job", said young Joe's dad, but through hard work and dedication, Joe grew up to make headlines as a top centerfielder and ace hitter, "Joltin' Joe", the Yankee Clipper. And when the paychecks started rolling in and the newspaper reporters wouldn't stop calling, you can bet Pop was mighty proud! During the Depression and WWII the country needed something to cheer for, and Joe was the star player who outshone the rest, even marrying movie star Marilyn Monroe - all by keeping his mouth shut and his eye on the ball. - (Simon and Schuster)

Something to Prove: the Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe Dimaggio by Robert Skead - An account of the dramatic 1936 face-off between the New York Yankees and the amateur African-American team, Satchel Paige's All Stars, describes how the game helped launch the career of rookie Joe DiMaggio while raising awareness about the injustice of segregated baseball. - (Baker & Taylor)

Streak: How Joe Dimaggio Became America's Hero by Barb Rosenstock - Chronicles the story of the legendary baseball star, his favorite bat, Betsy Ann, and the longest hitting streak in baseball history, which united the country on the brink of World War II. - (Baker & Taylor)

 

If you'd like to read about baseball:

Play Baseball Like a Pro: Key Skills and Tips by Hans Hetrick - There’s more to baseball than slamming big home runs. Pro players use many skills to help their teams on the field, such as throwing curveballs, stealing bases, and turning double plays. Follow the advice inside to play baseball like a pro! - (Capstone Press)

Stars in the Shadows: the Negro League All-Star Game of 1934 by Charles R. Smith Jr - In 1934, Chicago was the setting for one of the most fascinating ballgames in history: the second annual East-West Games. Come step back in time to see the best of the best Negro League players take each other on in this All-Star Game. This exhilaratingplay-by-play is a tour de force: a complete imagining of the radio broadcast of that thrilling game. You'll meet the legendary players, step into the stands with the fans, and even hear the radio commercials! - (Baker & Taylor)

Who Got Game: Baseball: Amazing but True Stories by Derrick Barnes - An illustrated book of true sports stories about baseball for middle grade readers by award-winning author Derrick Barnes, Who Got Game?: Baseball collects the coolest and most surprising tales about a favorite sport, from unsung heroes to priceless stories, stats, and amazing comebacks. - (Baker & Taylor)

 

 

 

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a picture of a red bikini floating in water

Bathing suits at the time were a lot more demure. There were two-piece suits, but they showed only a little bit of skin. Compared to those, the bikini was practically lingerie (which is what it was inspired by). This original suit was advertised as being able to fit inside a matchbox (different size one than what you might be used to). The public was scandalized and it was banned in many places. The bikini didn't really start to get popular until much later in the 1960s.

 

If you'd like to read about fashion:

How to Draw Like a Fashion Designer by Celia Joicey - The book begins by looking at the sketchbooks of past and present designers to see how they developed their signature drawing styles. Then there are sections that show how to create a fashion template or croquis, including fashion proportions and how to turn a stick figure into a full figure; how to draw skirts, pants, jackets, and dresses on your fashion template; and how to develop your own collection, including the creation of complete outfits and seasonal looks. There's a section that looks at the design process from creating a mood board and following a brief to developing a collection as well as a reference section with lists of technical terms, garment styles, and fabric types. - (WW Norton)

Killer Style: How Fashion has Injured, Maimed, & Murdered Throughout History by Sreah-Marie McMahon - A STEAM-supporting tour of the harmful history of fashion includes profiles of garments, accessories and fabrics that have injured or even killed their wearers, accounts of modern factory accidents and discussions of the issue of workplace safety in the textile and garment industries. - (Baker & Taylor)

Planet Fashion: 100 years of Fashion History by Natasha Slee - Shares one hundred years of fashion history, from the turn of the century to the new millennium, and explains the fashion choices of flappers, hippies, and punks. - (Baker & Taylor)

Virtual Apprentice: Fashion Designer by Don Rauf - Provides a behind-the-scenes look at fashion design and the duties, training, and technology involved, and profiles designers. - (Baker & Taylor)

 

If you'd like to read about swimming:

Dive In by David Sabino - It's game day, and readers of Dive In are given a pool-side view of the flips and kicks that make up swimming and diving in the summer Olympics. Along the way, they&;ll get to know all about the incredible physical capabilities of the athletes! A special section in the back of the book is chock-full of even more facts about the sport and its storied history and participants. It is perfect for the child who loves all things swimming! - (Simon and Schuster)

How to Improve at Swimming by Paul Mason - A guide to competitive swimming demonstrates such skills and techniques as freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and racing starts and turns, and includes information about warming up, diet, and water safety. - (Baker & Taylor)

The Science of Swimming by Emilie Dufresne - Is this a manual of swimming tips? A series of suggested science demonstrations with brief explanations? Yes and yes! As she promises with the title, Dufresne uses basic swimming and diving techniques to guide readers through an exploration of scientific concepts such as force, buoyancy, gravity, density, the effect of surface area on floatation, friction, drag, and more. The scientific and swimming aspects are woven together neatly, providing basic explanations for different techniques and effects in the water. (-Booklist Reviews)

 

 

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a picture of a large flying saucer with lights

Later, reports came out that it was really a weather balloon, but some people believe a conspiracy theory that the balloon was just a cover story, and that the military had posession of an actual alien spacecraft. In 1994 - 47 years after the incident - a report that debunked a lot of theories was published by the US Air Force after a probe into the incident was initiated by a member of Congress. Of course, if you visit Roswell, New Mexico's official site, they make no mention of this report, as they have a lot of tourism in the area because of the incident.

 

If you'd like to read about UFOs/aliens:

Mysterious UFOs and Aliens by Karen Latchanna Kenney - Have you ever seen a mysterious glowing light in the sky? Or wondered if there is life on other planets? Explore alien and UFO sightings—from ancient Egypt to Roswell, New Mexico. Find out about famous fakes and explore the evidence behind strange incidents that even scientists can't quite explain. It's an adventure beyond our world! - (Baker & Taylor)

UFO Sightings by Katie Chanez - People often see foreign-objects fly across the sky. Are those objects satellites? Are they meteorites? Or is there something else in outer space? Read to find out more about UFO sightings. - (Capstone Press)

What Happened at Area 51 by Barbara M. Linde - Discusses Area 51, including its history and the many conspiracy theories that it has inspired. - (Baker & Taylor)

What Really Happened at Roswell?: Just the Facts (Plus the Rumors) about UFOs and Aliens by Kathleen Krull - Looks into the 1947 crash in New Mexico of an object which many people believe was an alien spacecraft, providing reports of what people claim to have seen and the government cover-up that followed. - (Baker & Taylor)

 

If you'd like to read about the science of flight:

Jet Plane: How It Works by David Macaulay - It weighs as much as 100 elephants, but it can fly for hours. How does a jet do that? From the engine that provides the power and wings that lift the plane off the ground to the cockpit controls and passenger cabin, see how these modern marvels work and what makes them stay in the air. - (McMillan Palgrave)

Let's Fly a Plane: Launching into the Science of Flight with Aerospace Engineering by Chris Ferrie - Red Kangaroo sees a plane in the sky and wants to fly just as high! Once she's learned about the four forces needed for flight-weight, lift, thrust, and drag-Red Kangaroo earns her wings! In this new series, Chris Ferrie answers all the questions Red Kangaroo has about what things are made of and how things work using real-world and practical examples. Young readers will have a firm grasp of scientific and mathematical concepts to help answer many of their "why" questions. - (Baker & Taylor)

The Science of Flight: the Air-mazing Truth About Planes and Helicopters by Ian Graham - Did you know that we can fly planes at supersonic speeds, and have been since 1947? Or that airliners must go 160 mph for their wings to produce enough lift for the plane to take off? Yet for most of human history, people gazed at birds in awe of their mastery of flight. The secret of flight wasn’t cracked until the beginning of the twentieth century. This book explores how our understanding of the science of flight has improved, creating aircraft that are bigger and faster than the Wright brothers ever dreamed of. It covers helicopters, jet-planes, rocket-planes, planes big enough to carry hundreds of people, planes that can fly faster than the speed of sound, and even flying machines small enough to strap on your back. - (Scholastic)

 

 

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pink ice cream scoops and a cone

Who actually invented the ice cream cone and when/where is a *very* contentious story. That's why I chose where it was popularized. Before the ice cream cone, street vendors sold ice cream in things called "penny licks", which were essentially fluted glass cups that were returned to vendors after you were done. However, as this was on the street, the cleanliness of the glass was a little dubious after the first customer to use it.

 

If you'd like to read about ice cream:

From Milk to Ice Cream by Bridget Heos - A child wonders where ice cream comes from and learns about the jobs of a dairy farmer, a sugarcane farmer, and factory workers in an ice cream factory. This illustrated narrative nonfiction book includes a world map of where dairy cows and sugarcane are raised, glossary, and further resources. - (Baker & Taylor)

Ice Cream Cones for Sale by Elaine Greenstein - Who invented the ice cream cone? Ernst Hamwi, a wafflemaker at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, claimed it was his idea. But Arnold Fornachou said his cones inspired Ernst's! David Avayou reported that he brought the cone back from Paris. And Charles Menches announced that his sweetheart created the dessert. Only one man holds the patent for the first cone-making machine, though, and his claims top them all... In this picture book, Elaine Greenstein shows young readers that history is made by ordinary dreamers -- and it can be just as cool and delicious as a fresh cold ice cream cone. - (Scholastic)

The Scoop on Ice Cream by Catherine Ipcizade - Dig in! Vanilla may be a favorite, but there are thousands of ice cream flavors. Read more to get the scoop on this icy dish. Check out the recipe at the end of the book too! - (Capstone Press) Simple text and photographs present facts about ice cream, including information on its history, how it is made, and favorite flavors. - (Baker & Taylor)

 

If you'd like to read about inventors/inventions:

Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh - In kitchens and living rooms, in garages and labs and basements, even in converted chicken coops, women and girls have invented ingenious innovations that have made our lives simpler and better. What inspired these girls, and just how did they turn their ideas into realities? Retaining reader-tested favorite inventions, this updated edition of the best-selling Girls Think of Everything features seven new chapters that better represent our diverse and increasingly technological world, offering readers stories about inventions that are full of hope and vitality, empowering them to think big, especially in the face of adversity. - (Houghton)

Inventions That Could Have Changed the World - But Didn't by Joe Rhatigan - The fascinating stories of inventions that could have changed the world, should have made a difference, or would have astounded us all, but for one reason or another, didn’t. Some inventions were too wacky, weird, or unwieldy. Other simply didn’t work. And still others may be the next big thing . . . some day. Learn about the inventors, what they thought they would accomplish, and what--if anything--they did accomplish. - (Random House, Inc.)

The 12 Most Amazing American Inventions by Rebecca Rowell - Describes twelve important American inventions, from the cotton gin and blue jeans to kevlar and the personal computer, and discusses their inventors, the circumstances under which they were developed, and their impact on society. - (Baker & Taylor)

Originally Posted by StephanieT on June 29, 2021

By Blogger on August 9, 2021