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    On April 2, 1805, Hans Christian Andersen was born in a one-bedroom house in Odense, Denmark. His father was a shoemaker and his mother was a laundrywoman (洗衣女工). When he was 11, his father died. He had to leave school and began to work in a factory. When he was 17, he met a director. With the director's help, Andersen went back to school. He studied with children who were six years younger than him. He began writing at that time.

    Andersen's first book of fairy tales came out in 1835. The Princess on the Pea and The Tinderbox were included in it. His first book was a big success. From then on, he wrote almost a book every year. In his lifetime, he wrote about 168 fairy tales and his stories have been translated into about 150 languages. No matter how old we are, we are probably familiar with The Emperor's New Clothes, The little Match Girl and many other fairy tales of Andersen.

    Andersen always wanted to tell people not to judge (判断) people by their appearances. In 77ie Ugly Duckling, the character everyone makes fun of has inner (内在的) beauty.

    Andersen was also a gifted artist. He made thousands of paper cuttings of swans (天鹅), clowns and angels. These can be seen in the book The Amazing Paper Cuttings of Hans Christian Andersen.

    Because of his wonderful fairy tales, Andersen became known as the greatest writer in Denmark and one of the most beloved children's writers in the world. On April 2, people celebrate International Children's Book Day. That's because April 2 was Andersen's birthday.

For years I wanted a garden. I'd spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together.

    But then we had Mathew， and Marvin， and the twins -- Alisa and Alan， and then Helen. I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.

    Money was not enough. Neither was time. Often when my children were little， one of them would want something that cost too much， I'd have to say，"Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees， you know."

    Finally， all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own. I started thinking again about a garden.

    Then， one spring morning， on Mother's Day， I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly， I looked out of the window and there was a new tree， planted right in my yard. There were things blowing around on it. Then I put my glasses on and I couldn't believe what I saw. There was a money tree in my yard!

    I went out to look. It was true! There were dollar bills， one hundred of them， hanging all over that tree. There was also a note among them， "Thank you for your time， Mom. We love you!"

    Later， my children bought me tools， ornaments（装饰品）， a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books. A new page started in my life.

    That was three years ago. My garden is now very pretty， just like I wanted. When I go out and take care of my flowers， I don't seem to miss my children as much as I once did. It feels like they're right there with me. Now every year when winter comes， I look out of my window and think of the flowers I'll see next spring in my little garden. I think about what my children did for me， and I get tears in my eyes -- every time.

    I'm still not sure that money grows on trees. But I know love does!

    Fresh off his MasterChef Junior run, Evan Robinson, who is only 12 years old, is using his kitchen skills to raise money for Puerto Rico. The TV show contestant wanted to offer help after hurricanes(飓风) hit the country last September.

    “I've been seeing, all over the news, people struggling,” Evan said. “They can't get fresh water, electricity; they can't get really anything. I know I'm just a kid, but I think if a lot of people do something, a lot of things will get better.”

    He raises money by baking and taking online orders for homemade empanadas(馅 饼). He started cooking on a recent Friday night. By the next Sunday evening, he had filled orders for 420 empanadas — — roasted chicken, cheeseburger and vegetarian — — getting $18 for six empanadas and $30 for a dozen.

    His mom, Veronica Robinson, helped him send the empanadas around the city. “We've never done anything like this before,” she said. “But it's a great idea, so I want to help him make it work.”

    For Evan's out-of-town friends and supporters, he has set up a crowdfunding(众筹) page. Through it, he's hoping to raise $1, 500 in “virtual (虚 拟 的) empanadas”. This is because he heard on the news that it could take Puerto Rico years, maybe  even 10 years, to recover(复 原) from the hurricanes. And he said, “Fruit pies are up next. And my baking will continue as well.”

    It's a difficult job, especially for a kid with homework and Boy Scouts and friendships to tend to. But he doesn't seem worried.

    “It's what we're supposed to do.” he said. “I'm a human. They're humans. Why shouldn't I help them?”

    Indeed.

    The famous scientist and thinker, Charles Darwin, was born on February 12, 1809. His family lived not far from the River Severn, England.

    Darwin's father was a well-known doctor and the son of an still greater doctor and scientist. Darwin's father hoped that his son would also become a doctor.

    As a boy, Darwin liked to go for walks in the fields and forests. He watched nature, and compared what he saw with everything he had read in science books. He also liked collecting very much. He collected many things, birds, eggs, stones and leaves. His father did not like that, a Darwin not studying very well at school.

    At the age of sixteen, Darwin was sent to Edinburgh University to study in order that he could become a doctor. But he was interested in the history of nature.

    Then he was sent to study in Cambridge University. There he studied until 1831.

    Some time later he heard that the ship Beagle was going on a trip to South America and needed a centrist. His professor advised him to go. He said the trip would be just for Darwin, So when the ship left England in December 1831. Darwin was on it. He research lasted almost five years. The Beagle studied the waters in the sea near South America. It also visited New Zealand, Australia and islands in the Pacific. Darwin saw many new plants and animals. He collected all kinds of plants.

In 1842 Darwin went to live in Kent, where he continued his studies of changes in nature. Darwin understood that plants and animals are not always the same, and that they really change.

    By 1859 Darwin had finished his famous book "The origin of Spedes "（《物种起源〉）. It made a great hit in the world of science. He was opposed by the church and even by some scientists. But later, more and more scientists agreed with him.