🎂 1920 – Born: Ray Bradbury
He was a renowned American science fiction, fantasy, and literary writer and poet (1920–2012). He is hailed as “the poet and writer who brought modern science fiction into the mainstream literary canon.” His works are known for their highly lyrical and poetic language, profound philosophical reflections on the loneliness of the human soul and the alienation of technology, and his recollections of mysterious summer memories from childhood.
- Representative works and content passed down through generations:
- Fahrenheit 451 (Fahrenheit 451(1953) — Listed in “1001 Children’s Books” and a classic of world literature. The story is set in a dystopian future society where reading is forbidden and books are considered heretical and are burned. The protagonist, Montag, is a “firefighter” (whose job is not to put out fires but to burn books). After meeting Clarice, a girl next door who loves nature and thinking, he has an awakening of his mind. He risks his life to secretly hide and read books, and eventually escapes the city to join a “mobile library” composed of scholars who recite classics from memory. He passionately praises the eternal dignity of human civilization and reading.
- Opening the Night (Switch On the Night(1955, Leo & Diana Dillon/Norman Winthrop illustrations) — A classic heartwarming picture book: It tells the story of a little boy who is afraid of the dark and only likes daytime and lights. After a chance encounter with a mysterious little girl named “Blackie”, he learns to understand the night from a different perspective—the night does not turn off the light, but rather “turns on the stars, turns on the crickets, turns on the moon and the frogs’ singing”.
- His representative works also include the poetic children’s fantasy novel *The Halloween Tree* (The Halloween Tree), the science fiction epic *Chronicles of Mars*The Martian Chronicles).
| Birth | Ray Bradbury | Ray Bradbury (Wikipedia) |
⚰️ 2012 – Passed away: Nina Bawden
British children’s author and novelist (1925–2012). She was a key figure in 20th-century British realist children’s literature, known for her extremely delicate and realistic portrayals of children’s psychology, observations of family ethics, and depictions of social realities. She was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.
- Representative works and content:
- Kelly’s War (Carrie’s War(1973) — Listed in “1001 Children’s Books,” a classic British historical fiction for children. Based on the author’s personal experiences during World War II, the story tells of 12-year-old Kelly and her brother who were evacuated to a mining town in Wales during the Blitz of London. They stay with the strict and old-fashioned grocer, Mr. Ifans. In the remote mansion, Kelly meets a mentally challenged young man and a kind old woman, but an unintentional curse and fire leave her burdened with years of guilt. Ultimately, she returns to her old home to resolve her inner turmoil. The work profoundly portrays the psychological trauma and resilience of children growing up under the shadow of war.
- Peppermint Pig (The Peppermint Pig(1975) — Awarded 1976 Guardian Children’s Fiction PrizeIt tells a heartwarming story of a family whose father is forced to go to America, and how the children survive poverty and the cold winter by raising a cute little pink pig.
- Other representative works include “Grandma Pag” (Granny the Pag), The Summer of Escape (The Runaway Summer).
| Passed Away | Nina Bawden | Nina Bawden (Wikipedia) |
🎂 1902 – Born: Robert Bright
American children’s picture book author, illustrator, and news correspondent (1902–1988). He was known for his extremely light and gentle pencil lines and humorous story structures, pioneering unconventional and humorous picture books for young children.
- Representative works and content:
- ““Little Georgie” series（Georgie (Series, the first in the series, 1944) — tells the story of a shy, timid, yet kind little ghost named Georgie who lives in the attic of Mr. Whittaker’s house. Every night, Georgie makes the stairs creak and the door hinges rattle to signal it’s time for everyone to go to bed. When the owners fix the stairs and door hinges, Georgie thinks he’s no longer needed and leaves to find a new place, ultimately triggering a series of hilarious and heartwarming reunions. The work uses the contrast between his personality and his character to completely dispel young children’s fear of “ghosts and monsters.”
| Birth | Robert Bright | Bright, Robert (Wikipedia) |
🎂 Born 1938: Keith Ward
A renowned British/American commercial illustrator and animal painter (1938).
- Representative works and content:
- Black Steed (The Black StallionWalter Farley (1941) — listed in “1001 Children’s Books”. Ward illustrated the classic first edition cover and illustrations for this wildly popular children’s novel. The story tells the moving tale of a young boy named Alec and a wild, untamed Arabian black horse who, after a shipwreck, are stranded on a desert island and rely on each other for survival. Upon returning to civilization, they train together and win the national championship. Ward vividly portrays the black horse’s heroic and agile figure.
| Birth | Keith Ward | Keith Ward (Wikipedia) |
🎂 Born 1931: Maurice Gee
A renowned New Zealand novelist and children’s author (1931–2025). He was a key pioneer of contemporary New Zealand children’s fantasy and science fiction literature.
- Representative works and content:
- “Under the Mountain” (Under the Mountain(1979) — Listed in “1001 Children’s Books”. A New Zealand national-level children’s science fiction novel: It tells the story of twin siblings Rachel and Theo, who have telepathic abilities. While on holiday in Auckland, they discover that an ancient alien species lurks beneath a group of dormant volcanoes, attempting to turn the Earth into a muddy wasteland. Guided by a mysterious guardian, the siblings embark on a thrilling adventure to save the world using the power of ancient stones.
| Birth | Maurice Gee | Maurice Gee (Wikipedia) |
🎂 Born 1948 – by Kyosuke Chinai, brother-in-law
Japanese painter and contemporary Japanese-style oil painter and printmaker (1948). He was adept at blending the texture of traditional Japanese washi paper and the lines of ukiyo‑e with Western classical realist oil painting techniques, creating paintings full of profound poetic beauty with a strong sense of Eastern aesthetics.
- International Awards and Representative Works:
- The picture book “The Sound of My Birth” created by Kondo et al.Sounds, sounds, sounds / The beautiful illustrations drawn by the Japanese name “ぼくがうまれた音”) won the Plaque Award, 2009 Bratislava International Biennial of Illustration (BIB)It presents the perception of the world’s sounds and nature at the beginning of life with a highly spiritual vision.
| Birth | Kyosuke Chinai, brother-in-law | Zhi Nei Xiong Zhu (Wikipedia) |
