First Lady to Kick Off Annual Book Tour May 5

For Immediate Release May 3, 2004

DES MOINES - Iowa's First Lady Christie Vilsack will share her knowledge of Japanese culture with over 200 area kindergarten students May 5 as the kick-off to her promotional tour of the new book, Sweet Corn and Sushi: The Story of Iowa and Yamanshi, gets underway at the State Historical Building in Des Moines.

At 9:45 a.m., Mrs. Vilsack will make paper hats and Japanese kites with the children, then give away the book to kindergarten students from McKinley and Moulton elementary schools in Des Moines, and to Cornell Elementary School in Saydel. She will then introduce them to Yoko Tanaka, who will show them her vast collection of Japanese dolls and talk about Children's Day, an annual Japanese celebration.

Written and illustrated by Iowans Lori Erickson and Will Thomson, Sweet Corn and Sushi highlights a part of Iowa history that began as a friendship between the people of Iowa and Yamanashi, Japan. In 1960, the official sister state friendship began when the people of Yamanashi sent a huge bronze temple bell and bell house as a gift of thanks to the people of Iowa. The bell and bell house are now located on the State Capitol grounds. Accompanying the book is a map of hands-on activities to supplement the themes of the story, a bookmark, and discussion materials for teachers and parents. The book is presented with Japanese translations by Shinji Yoda.

Beginning in 2002, First Lady Christie Vilsack's literacy foundation, Iowa Stories 2000, has given a book to each kindergarten student in Iowa. For each of the three books, Mrs. Vilsack has partnered with state government departments to offer enrichment activities for teachers and students to enjoy. This year's partners include: The State Historical Society of Iowa, The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, The State Library of Iowa, Area Education Agencies, and the Early Childhood Network and Sister States of Iowa, a division of the Department of Economic Development. A complete list of sponsors and partners appears below. Mrs. Vilsack will be at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust, from approximately 9:30-11 a.m.

Sponsors:
Iowa Area Education Agencies
Freddie Mac
Verizon
Iowa Farm Bureau

Hy-Vee
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Firestone Agricultural Tire
Sigler Companies
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

County Sponsors:
Bremer: CUNA Mutual Life Insurance
Buchanan: Tyson Retail Deli
Des Moines: General Electric
Dickinson: Polaris Industries
Fayette: Dura Automotive Systems
Floyd: First Security Bank and Trust of Charles City and First State Bank of Nora Springs
Jasper: Maytag
Johnson: Integrated DNA Technologies
Lee: Roquette America Incorporated
Linn: Rockwell Collins
Mahaska: Clow Valve Company
Poweshiek: The Grinnell Mutual Group Foundation
Winnebago: The John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation

Strategic Partnerships LLC
Iowa Sister States
Humanities Iowa
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs - Iowa Arts Council & State Historical Society of Iowa
State Library of Iowa
Iowa Department of Education
Iowa Stories 2000

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