The holidays are less than a month away and, if you have young children in your family, this is one gift you’ll want to add to the list. It’s a new children’s book written by Tustin Mayor Letitia Clark, the first Black female ever elected to the Tustin City Council.
“Mommy is the Mayor is a narrative about a city mayor's role,” the description says. “Seen through the eyes of children, it opens up the world to convey the impact local government has on their everyday lives. The book touches on the need for representation through the diverse illustrations and the demonstration of role modeling for children of color. Mommy is the Mayor hopes to inspire an interest in serving at the local level, raising awareness about the importance of running for office, while exploring non-traditional roles in government for diverse populations.”
Clark recently sat down with the Los Angeles Times to discuss the book. Like so many Americans, she pursued the endeavor with the extra time she had during the pandemic. The idea was planted many years earlier as she found herself explaining her duties as a city council member and then mayor to children and adults alike.
“I am already getting back what I hoped I would,” said Clark. “As people are learning about the role of a mayor, they are being inspired by all the things our local government does and then they are seeing a woman of color in the book.”
Clark is holding a book-signing event at Barnes & Noble in Tustin on Nov. 20. This would be a great opportunity for parents to get their youngsters interested in public service.