Special Days in January

Snow and ice aren't the only things January is known for. January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, gates, doorways and time. He is often depicted as having two faces, one looking at the past and one into the future.

Word of the month Bemuse: to cause to be bewildered; to confuse. The bank of strange traffic signs on the road near Jeremy's school always left him with a bemused feeling. What did they all mean?

4 It's Jacob Grimm's birthday. Read a fairy tale!

5 It's National Bird Day. Read a book about birds.

8 On this day in 1935, rock and roll singer Elvis Presley was born. Check out a musical CD from the library to celebrate.

11 Amelia Earhart completed her solo flight from Honolulu to Oakland, Calif. in 1935.

15 In 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on this day.

17 Today is Benjamin Franklin's birthday.

19 It's poet and author Pat Mora's birthday.

24 Gold was discovered in California in 1848. Read a book about the Gold Rush.

27 Today is the birthday of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland.

29 Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven was published in 1845.

31 Baseball giant Jackie Robinson was born on this day in 1919.

Q: Why did the snowman send his father to Siberia?

A: Because he wanted a frozen pop!