Dan Wardell wows Charles City during his Reading Road Trip across Iowa

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

The final score was kids 927 trillion, grown-ups 5 billion.

But the contest results really didn’t matter in the end.

“I’m giving the kids 400 more points!” wailed Dan Wardell to a legion of youth that assembled Thursday morning in Charles City to hear his familiar high-pitched voice describe stories of wonder and adventure.

Wardell’s energetic and endearing personality was on full display at the Charles City Public Library as kids listened in amazement to the stories he would make come to life with animated gestures and peculiar sounds.

It’s what has made the traveling “teacher” a star at Iowa Public Television and a celebrity to thousands of Iowa youngsters.

Wardell — IPTV’s “caped crusader” who teaches kids to stay healthy and read plenty of books — zoomed, zipped and zagged his way into the hearts and minds of his audience in a fast-paced production that kept kids honed into to his every word.

Wardell, perhaps most famous as host of the IPTV children’s series “Kids Clubhouse Adventures,” partners with libraries across the state to promote summer reading each year.

“Charles City, this is going to work out ever so smashingly,” he exclaimed.

Wardell made a return appearance to the Charles City Public Library in one of many stops this summer during his Reading Road Trip across the state of Iowa. Wardell said he last visited Charles City when the riverfront area was just being developed — the city will hold it’s 8th Annual Charles City Challenge Whitewater Festival this weekend.

“Early on I was probably here every other year,” he said.

This is the 13th year of Wardell’s Reading Road Trip and he said he has spoken to almost 150,000 people during that time.

Wardell has 29 stops scheduled on his tour of Iowa this summer. He entertained folks in the extreme northeast corner of Iowa in New Albin Wednesday. Wardell had never been to Allamakee County along the Mississippi River and the Minnesota-Iowa state line.

“Now I’ve hit all four corners,” said Wardell about traversing the state.

Wardell said he no longer does his Reading Road Trip year round.

“My record was one summer I did about 75. My wife told me, ‘Never do that again,’” said Wardell. “Seventy five was crazy.”

Wardell described his act, which has become a staple for children across Iowa for over a decade.

“I was always a kid at heart. My body grew old but my brain always stayed an eight-year old,” he said. “IPTV was a great place to take education and creativity and combine it. I’ve always done that.”

Reading from a book titled “Over in the Garden,” Wardell made sure kids stayed tuned into his message of eating right and reducing TV time by engaging all who attended to take part in a singing contest.

The loser would have to sing opera.

“What a contest. Ups and downs and thrills and chills and spills. There’s one group out there that never gave up. There’s one group out there that stayed focused until the very end. They stuck together. They stand strong,” Wardell exclaimed with his trademark exuberance.

He also read from one of the most famous children’s books of all-time – Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.”

Wardell said Charles City has “always been fantastic.” He said last summer an IPTV camera crew filmed some segments in Charles City with students that will air next week.

“Some of your local stars will be on TV next Friday morning,” he said.

Wardell grew up in Maynard, just outside Oelwein. He graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly and lives in Ankeny with his wife, Melissa, and their three kids.

“I love northeast Iowa – coming back home. There’s definitely a feel up there,” said Wardell. “It’s good to see the rural areas and things like that.”