Luke Messer recently spent time in the political trenches, as both a central Indiana state representative who chose not to run again and as executive director of the Indiana Republican Party. But now he is showing some "heart," writing a 32-page, full-color children's book that is illustrated by his wife.

"Hoosier Heart" tries to answer the question, "What is a Hoosier?" Three young Indiana natives, Emma, Ava and Ben learn what it means to be a Hoosier as they journey through the state learning about Indiana's special people, places, popular culture and history.

The book is available at www.evapublishing.com and at more than a dozen specialty book and toy stores in the state.

A news release about the book included bipartisan praise from various political dignitaries, including U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, as well as Gov. Mitch Daniels and former first lady Judy O'Bannon.

" 'Hoosier Heart' should be distributed with our birth certificates," Daniels said.

Krista J. Stockman of The Journal Gazette contributed to this column.