Book for Kindergartners 2003 - Bells Goes to the Fair

From Orange City in the northwest to Columbus Junction in southeast Iowa, Christie Vilsack received dozens of “leg hugs” and “kids say the darndest things” comments as she delivered the “Bells Goes to the Fair” book to kindergartners around the state.

With the help of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies and volunteer organizations, Mrs. Vilsack personally delivered the first of 41,000 paperback books written by Iowa author Susan Knapp. The book is based on the real-life adventures of the Knapps’ golden retriever who wandered off during a visit to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.

Each of John Whitehurst’s illustrations is accompanied by text that is on two levels—one for beginning readers and one for more advanced early readers.

Mrs. Vilsack visited schools in all 15 Area Education Agencies in May to distribute the books and talk about the importance of reading with children. The AEAs have distributed the books to all the elementary schools in the state.

Making Iowa the best state in the nation to get an education is a primary goal of the Vilsack-Pederson administration. The Vilsacks want to help parents become their children’s first and best teachers. By giving this book in the spring when children and their parents are excited about the idea of the coming summer months, Mrs. Vilsack hopes to encourage family literacy and reading when school is not in session.

"This is an opportunity for reading to become an experience families can share together," Mrs. Vilsack said.

A packet accompanying the book included information about the State Fair, handouts that encourage visits to local public libraries, a HAWK-I “Does Your Child Need Health Insurance?” bookmark, and information specially prepared by the Department of Education to encourage parents on how to read to their children.

In addition to the Area Education Agencies, the book’s sponsors included Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Pattee Enterprises in Perry, the Iowa Farm Bureau, Sigler Companies, Verizon and its Good Government Club, Hy-Vee Food Stores, David and Liz Kruidenier, the Des Moines Register, District 6000 Rotary, Anne and Bill Riley, Casey’s General Stores, Wells’ Blue Bunny, McAninch Corporation, Maytag Corporation, Oaks Development Company, and Cookies Food Products.