
GOOD STORIES
GOOD STORIES FOR GREAT BIRTHDAYS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ILLUSTRATIONS
OCTOBER 12 COLUMBUS AND DISCOVERER’S DAY
OCTOBER 14 WILLIAM PENN THE FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA
OCTOBER 27 THEODORE ROOSEVELT AMERICA’S HERO
OCTOBER 30 JOHN ADAMS THE SON OF LIBERTY SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
NOVEMBER 15 WILLIAM PITT, EARL OF CHATHAM DEFENDER OF AMERICA
DECEMBER 2 DOM PEDRO THE SECOND THE MAGNANIMOUS THE BEST REPUBLICAN IN BRAZIL
A lively anthology of more than two hundred short tales brings history to life for young listeners. Each story is timed to a celebrated birthday of a founder, explorer or patriot, making the narratives feel like personal celebrations. The language is clear and engaging, perfect for reading aloud in a classroom or around a birthday cake.
The collection shines a spotlight on the human side of well‑known figures—Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and many brave women—alongside the daring heroes of South America such as San Martín and Bolívar. Rather than heavy dates and battles, the stories focus on courage, kindness and perseverance, showing how ordinary childhood experiences shaped extraordinary lives. Every detail is drawn from reliable sources, so the tales stay true to history while remaining vivid and accessible.
Organized to follow the school year, the selections begin in October with Columbus and move through the calendar, offering a ready‑made program for teachers and families. Their concise length keeps listeners interested without fatigue, making them ideal for birthday gatherings, storytime sessions or a quick historical adventure.
Full title
Good stories for great birthdays arranged for story-telling and reading aloud and for the children's own reading
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (531K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif, MFR and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2017-09-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1872–1963
A pioneering librarian and anthologist, she helped shape how children discovered stories in the early 20th century. Her books gathered folktales, poems, and reading guides that were meant to spark imagination and a lifelong love of reading.
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