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Freelance illustrator touts ABC’s of Kansas

By Estuardo Garcia - | Nov 28, 2007

Tonganoxie Elementary School students already know their ABCs, but now the grade-school youths also know items in their state that begin with those letters.

Earlier this month, freelance illustrator Doug Bowles, spoke to Tonganoxie Elementary students about the book he illustrated, “S is for Sunflower, a Kansas Alphabet.”

The book, written by Devin Scillian, features 26 aspects of Kansas with the 26 letters of the alphabet. For instance, B is for buffalo, Y is for yellow brick road and R is for the raucous rivalry between Kansas University and Kansas State University.

“It was a neat idea to have the author and the illustrator to be from the state.” Bowles said. “What would a guy from New York City know about Kansas?”

Bowles, who was born in Michigan and went to school in Ohio, came to live in the Kansas City area in 1983. He currently does freelance work from his home in Leawood.

After presenting the book on a projector, the illustrator answered the youths’ questions about his other books and about being an illustrator.

Bowles said he has given more than 20 presentations to different Kansas schools since the book came out in 2004.

He said he was happy with the book’s success and attributes it to Kansans for being proud of their state.

“For some reason, Kansans love Kansas,” Bowles said. “People are proud to be Kansans. Whatever it is about Kansas, people are proud about being here and they like it, and that’s a good thing.”