Iowa Center for the Book

Library of Congress Center for the Book Iowa Affiliate

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress is a community of 56 Affiliated Centers, promoting reading, libraries and literacy through the Library of Congress and its Affiliated Centers across the country.

The Iowa Center for the Book at Ames Public Library celebrates and promotes Iowa's unique literary heritage.
 

Contact Us:

iowacenterforthebook@amespubliclibrary.org

News

Great Reads from Great Places

Every year, a list of books representing the literary heritage of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is distributed by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book  during the National Book Festival.

The National Book Festival Roadmap to Reading is made possible by the generous support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Past Great Reads Lists >>

Iowa's 2025 Great Read for Children

Hard Hat Hank and the Sky-High Solution

Hard Hat Hank and the Sky-High Solution
by Charlotte Gunnufson, 
Illustrated by Brian Biggs

Hard Hat Hank and his hardworking crew are ready to build in this rollicking, rhyming celebration of teamwork, and the ways we can live in harmony with the natural world. 

This book is part of the Disney Planet Possible Books program, aiming to inspire and empower young readers to take care of planet Earth.  

Author Charlotte Gunnufson is a former teacher who frequently visits schools and libraries to entertain, encourage curiosity and get kids excited about science, nature and reading. She lives in Cedar Rapids. 

Iowa's 2025 Great Read for Adults

América del Norte

"América del Norte
by Nicolás Medina Mora

This kaleidoscopic story moves between Mexico and Iowa City as Sebastián navigates conflicting identities, both seen as “too white” as a member of the wealthy elite in Mexico and as an otherized person of color in the United States. 

While incorporating Mexican literary and colonial history, the novel is also a timely reflection on relationships and political systems, told with humor and sharp insight. 

Nicolás Medina Mora’s work in English has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Reuters, Buzzfeed News, and other publications. He holds a BA in Humanities from Yale and an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa. Nicolás lives in Mexico. 

Literary Events

Around Iowa

All Iowa Reads

June 17-25, 2025

www.statelibraryofiowa.gov/index.php/libraries/programs/all-iowa-reads

 

AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines)

March-June, 2025

www.dmpl.org/attend/featured-programs/AViD

 

Des Moines Arts Festival: Literary Arts

June 27-29, 2025

www.desmoinesartsfestival.org/literary-arts

 

Iowa City Book Festival

October 6-12, 2025

www.iowacityofliterature.org/icbf/

 

Iowa Indie Bookshop Tour

July-September, 2025

www.iowaindiebookshoptour.com

 

Literature to Life: The Giver by Lois Lowry

February 17-19, 2025

desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-giver/

 

Poetry Palooza

April 4-5, 2025

www.poetryamp.org/poetry-palooza

Do you know about another large literary event in Iowa? Drop us an e-mail at iowacenterforthebook@amespubliclibrary.org

at Ames Public Library

This event is in the "Adults" group

Generative Writing Workshop

10:00am–12:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: PEO Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Class/Workshop
Program Details:

 


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

This event is in the "Adults" group

Generative Writing Workshop

10:00am–12:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: PEO Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Class/Workshop
Program Details:

 


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

This event is in the "Family" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Adults" group

National Book Festival Livestream

All Day
Family, Teens, Adults
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Rotary Room
Age Group: Family, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Author/Writing
Program Details:

Stop by the Library to watch livestreamed video from the National Book Festival in Washington D.C.


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

This event is in the "Family" group
This event is in the "Adults" group

Author Fair

All Day
Family, Adults
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Farwell T. Brown Auditorium
Age Group: Family, Adults
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Author/Writing, Special Event
Program Details:

Save the date for this year's Author Fair at Ames Public Library!

 


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

This event is in the "Adults" group

Generative Writing Workshops

10:00am–12:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: PEO Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Class/Workshop
Program Details:

 


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

This event is in the "Adults" group
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Rotary Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Author/Writing
Program Details:

Join us for a virtual visit with Nicolás Medina Mora, author “América del Norte.”


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

This event is in the "Family" group
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Farwell T. Brown Auditorium
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Author/Writing, Special Event
Program Details:

Author Charlotte Gunnufson will join us to talk about her new book, "Hard Hat Hank and the Sky High Solution" (illustrated by Brian Biggs).


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

This event is in the "Adults" group

Generative Writing Workshops

10:00am–12:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: PEO Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Iowa Center for the Book, Class/Workshop
Program Details:

 


Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

More Resources

List of Independent Bookstores (from Midwest Independent Booksellers Association)