cryptography
Beatrix Potter's Greatest Work Was a Secret, Coded Journal She Kept as a Teen
It took a dedicated superfan 13 years to translate it.
All Stories
children's literature week
The Artful Precision of the Creator of 'Harold and the Purple Crayon'
After a long career as a cartoonist and illustrator, Crockett Johnson spent his final decade painting mathematical equations.
children's literature week
The Spirited Life and Sad End of the First Indian-American Children’s Book Author
Dhan Gopal Mukerji was a prolific writer and an early cultural ambassador between East and West.
space
Algae Are Painting the Black Sea With a Huge, Turquoise Swirl
You can see it from space.
silent film
This Bizarre 1911 Film Warns of the Perils of Self-Driving Cars
Robot chauffeurs will truly take you out of this world.
children's literature week
How Hobo Nostalgia Inspired the 'Boxcar Children' Book Series
In the 1920s, trampdom was romanticized.
minor threats
Germany Plans to Crush 35 Tons of Fidget Spinners
To keep kids safe.
children's literature week
The ABCs of WWI, a British Wartime Alphabet Primer
D stands for dreadnought.
wine
Found: A Hidden Request on the Back of an Ancient, Rare Pottery Shard
It’s one guy asking another to send some wine and food over.
color
A 257-Year-Old Coloring Book Was Discovered in St. Louis
It was intended for "Gentleman and Ladies."
happenings
L.A. Will Light the Bat-Signal to Honor Adam West
The iconic spotlight will honor the late actor's role as the "Bright Knight."
space exploration
A Worm Went to Space and Came Back With Two Heads
Nothing to see here.
volcanoes
Found: Never-Developed Photos of Mount St. Helens Erupting
Photographer Kati Dimoff found the film at a Portland Goodwill.
children's literature week
The History of Movable Paper in One Massive, 9,000-Book Collection
Pop-ups, harlequinades, and Meggendorfers, oh my!
children's literature week
A Look Back at Shel Silverstein's Adults-Only Children's Book
Uncle Shelby's ABZs teach a lot more than the alphabet.
jobs
Perhaps You'd Like to Work as a Nanny in This Haunted Scottish Home
The gig may include ghosts, but it also comes with a $63,000 salary.
children's literature week
The Artful Propaganda of Soviet Children’s Literature
In 1920s Russia, children read about sugar beets, hydroelectric plants, and five-year plans.
children's literature week
The Highbrow Struggles of Translating Modern Children's Books Into Latin
What's the best way to translate Dr. Seuss to a dead language?
