Book for Kindergartners 2004 - Sweet Corn and Sushi: The Story of Iowa and Yamanashi
Christie Vilsack brought a taste of Japanese culture to Iowa children in May as she distributed the third in her series of books to kindergartners around the state.
Had you walked into the classroom in Hospers Elementary School in northwest Iowa, for example, you would have seen dozens of youngsters wearing paper origami hats.
At Hawthorne Elementary School in Keokuk, Mrs. Vilsack wrapped two youngsters in child-size kimonos. (The boys at the schools were often less eager than the girls to don the traditional Japanese attire until Mrs. Vilsack related how the kimonos were worn by Samurai warriors).
A kindergartner at Nora Springs Elementary School bravely sampled his first taste of sushi. Mrs. Vilsack's comment that part of the sushi consisted of seaweed prompted a chorus of “Yuck,” from the assembled 5-year-olds.
In Keokuk, Mrs. Vilsack convinced two kindergartners to try on traditional Japanese kimonos.
Along with the fashion and the cuisine, Mrs. Vilsack also brought a history lesson along with her third book for Iowa’s 41,000 kindergartners, part of her literacy foundation, Iowa Stories 2000.
A Nora Springs kindergartner finds his first taste of sushi, dished out by Christie Vilsack, to be somewhat of a culture shock.
This year’s book, Sweet Corn and Sushi: The Story of Iowa and Yamanashi, recounts the story of the Iowa hog lift of 1960, when 35 hogs were flown to Yamanashi, Japan, to help the region’s livestock industry recover after two devastating typhoons.
Led by Iowan M/Sgt. Richard Thomas, the gesture helped to modernize Japanese agriculture and began a friendship between the people of Iowa and Yamanashi that continues to this day.
A few years after receiving the gift of hogs, the people of Yamanashi sent Iowa a “Bell of Friendship” and bell house which currently sits south of the State Capitol.
“This is a valuable book for every family in Iowa because it’s about the power of friendship,” Mrs. Vilsack said.
“The book shows children that friends don’t have to be just like you or look just like you. It also emphasizes our Iowa values of helping others and feeding people.” Mrs. Vilsack cited the book’s themes of friendship, diversity, and sharing.
Mrs. Vilsack personally handed out the book to kindergartners from 22 schools. The books were delivered to the schools by the Area Education Agencies.
Sweet Corn and Sushi was written by Lori Erickson after she and Mrs. Vilsack visited Yamanashi as part of a delegation organized by the Iowa Sister States. Mrs. Vilsack said the book is intended to be read to kindergartners by parents, older children, or grandparents. “Everyone in the community has a role in helping children to read,” Mrs. Vilsack said.
The book was illustrated by Iowan Will Thomson and contains a Japanese translation by Shinji Yoda and Yasuo Ohdera. Hardcover copies of the book will be sent to every public school and library in Yamanashi.
Funding for the book was provided by: Iowa Area Education Agencies, Freddie Mac, Verizon, Iowa Farm Bureau, Hy-Vee Food Stores,
Tom Vilsack, Christie Vilsack & Clair McCloy from Firestone Agricultural Tire handing out books to students.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Firestone Agricultural Tire, Rotary District 6000, Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, Casey’s General Stores, Inc., Day-Lee Foods, Inc., First Data, Kikkoman Foods Foundation, Inc., Nippon Life Insurance Company of America, NSK Corporation, Toyota Financial Services, Maytag Corporation, Sudo Corporation, Integrated DNA Technologies, and Roquette America Incorporated.
Other contributors were Rockwell Collins, Inc., Clow Valve Company, General Electric Company, Tyson Retail Deli, Cuna Mutual Life Insurance Co., Dura Automotive Systems, Day-Lee Foods, Inc., First Security Bank and Trust (Charles City), First State Bank of Nora Springs, Pioneer, Polaris Industries, the John K. and Louise V. Hanson Foundation, and Strategic Partnerships, LLC.
Sponsor representatives would occasionally join Mrs. Vilsack in passing out the books to the kindergartners. The Area Education Associations delivered the books to the schools.
In West Burlington, AEA 16 representatives Ron Roby and Bud Caruthers helped Mrs. Vilsack hand out the books, along with graduation certificates, to a procession of graduating kindergartners, a fitting final stop on Mrs. Vilsack's 2004 book tour.
Christie Vilsack's office joined with various state agencies in developing the book tour. Partners include: the Iowa Historical Society, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the State Library of Iowa, the Early Childhood Network, the Area Education Agencies, Humanities Iowa, the Iowa Arts Council, and Sister States of Iowa, a division of the Department of Economic Development.
