Patricia A. Pierce - H is for Hawkeye: An Iowa Alphabet

An Iowa Alphabet

Written by Patricia A. Pierce and Illustrated by Bruce Langton

To Johnmay we continue to grow in faith and love
and to Jared and Andrew, our blessings.

My gratitude to my parents, Greg and Darlene Origer,
and to Terry Libbey, Cherie Danduran, Mary Wagner,
and A Way With Wordsyour support and
encouragement is truly appreciated.

Special thanks to Heather Hughes and
Amy Lennex of Sleeping Bear Press.

PATRICIA

This book is for all the children that I met through my
school presentationsBest of luck to all of them in the future.

My thanks to Sleeping Bear Press and
Patricia A. Pierce for all their hard work to
make another great project come to life.

My love for my family goes without saying.
Rebecca, Brett, and Roryyou are the best.

BRUCE

H is for Hawkeye
An Iowa Alphabet

Did you know the Hawkeye State got its nickname from Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk tribe? Or that D is for Des Moines, the capital with the golden dome? H is for Hawkeye: An Iowa Alphabet presents these and many other interesting facts about the great state of Iowa. This state alphabet book features information in a colorful and fun way for readers of all ages. Poems for each letter entertain young children, while older readers will be fascinated to know that Iowa is bordered on two sides by navigable riversthe Missouri marks the western border and the Mississippi forms its eastern border. Author and Iowa native Patricia Pierces text is brimming with these and many other fascinating facts about the history, agriculture, and famous people of Iowa.

Illustrator Bruce Langton provides a beautiful and fitting backdrop to the text, giving Iowans everywhere a stunning glimpse of their great state.

Artist Grant Wood was born on a farm near Anamosa and is known for his paintings of Iowas landscape and people. His famous masterpiece, American Gothic, can be viewed at the Art Institute of Chicago.

American Gothic portrays a farmer and his unmarried daughter posing in front of their house. The simple Gothic window of the house influenced the title of the painting. The American Gothic House, located in Eldon, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A is for American Gothic, a famous painting by Grant Wood.

He painted a picture of a farmer and his daughter, in the barnyard they stood.

Leon Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport and is one of Americas most original and accomplished jazz musicians. Bix was a cornetist, pianist, and composer and was known for his use of harmonies in jazz.

The Quad-City Times Bix 7 began in 1975 with fewer than 100 runners and has grown into one of the premier running events in the country. The Junior Bix 7 was added in 1998 for children 12 years old and younger.

B is for Bix Beiderbecke, his music has pizzazz!

Swing your hips and clap your hands as we dance to his jazz.

Carrie Chapman Catt, leading womens suffrage advocate, was raised in Charles City and graduated from Iowa State University. She was a teacher and principal in Mason City and became one of the nations first female school superintendents. She was also a member of the Iowa Woman Suffrage Association.

Carrie played an important role in women winning the right to vote. She was a respected and admired speaker. Under her leadership, the National American Woman Suffrage Association gained the support of the U.S. House and Senate. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed and women were granted the right to vote.

Carrie Chapman Catt is our letter C.

Women receiving the right to vote was a great victory.

Iowa became the 29th state on December 28, 1846. Iowas first capitol building was located in Iowa City. In 1857 it was decided to move the state capital to a more central location in the state. Des Moines was chosen as the new capital city. Des Moines was originally a military outpost. Iowas government rules under the golden dome, which is gilded in 23-carat gold.

Des Moines is home to Terrace Hill, an historical Victorian-style mansion. Terrace Hill has been home for Iowas governor and family since 1972.

Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and a center for the insurance business. It is also a major manufacturing city.

D is for Des Moines, the capital with the golden dome.

Its the place where laws are made and our governors home.

Iowas state bird is the Eastern Goldfinch and is commonly found throughout the state. During the summer, male goldfinches are bright yellow with a black cap and black tail and wing feathers marked with white feathers. Female goldfinches do not have the black cap and are a lighter yellow color. Eastern Goldfinches usually remain in Iowa during the winter and both the male and female birds feathers turn a brownish color. They nest late in the summer when thistle and sunflower seeds are available.

E is for Eastern Goldfinch, with feathers of yellow, white, and black.

Thistle and sunflower seeds are its favorite snack.

Many early developments of 4-H began in Iowa. School superintendents, such as O.H. Benson and Cap E. Miller, and teachers such as Jessie Field Schambaugh played important roles in establishing 4-H Clubs.

The idea of using a clover to represent the 4-H youth development program began at the Goldenrod School in Clarinda and when Superintendent Benson was visiting a one-room country school near Clarion. Students gave Superintendent Benson four-leaf clovers they had found at recess. The four Hs on the clover represent Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

Dyersville is home of the Field of Dreams movie site. The movie was based on the book Shoeless Joe, by William P. Kinsella. He studied at the Iowa Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa.

F stands for the Four-leaf clover, a symbol of service and pride.

And F is for the Field of Dreams, where dreams and hopes reside.