Ex-Mayor Releases Children’s Book to Encourage Youth Civic Engagement

A children’s book has been released by a former mayor, with the aim of encouraging young individuals to participate in their local councils. Jon Harvey, who served as Buckingham Town Mayor from 2017 to 2019, encountered a lack of suitable books about mayors to read to children when he inaugurated a school library, a discovery that disappointed him. He stated: “It was a pure delight being mayor and I wanted to capture some of that in this story.” He added, “To me the outcome of the book is a bunch of young people saying ‘I want to be a town councillor, I want to be a town mayor’. If that can happen my job is done.” The narrative of The Mayor’s Bear unfolds in the market town of Netherneither End, featuring councillor Roxie Riverbloom and a magical bear named Strumbold. Mr Harvey commented: “People like mayors, mayors are really important parts of local communities.” He further explained, “As a mayor you get to sprinkle magic boosting dust on people simply by showing up, recognising and praising what they do for others.” The ex-mayor drew a comparison between himself and renowned author J.K. Rowling, specifically referencing her novel The Casual Vacancy. He remarked: “That was not procedurally correct which really offended me as a town councillor.” He elaborated that his book “is kind of educational – informing people of how town councils are run and what they do for their local communities.” Although the story was penned in 2019, its completion occurred this year, with illustrations provided by artist Elizabeth Gibbs. This work represents Mr. Harvey’s inaugural fictional publication, apart from a management book. Regarding future plans, he stated: “I’ve got an idea for a second and third book already, but we’ll see how this one goes.” He added, “I joke with people that a year from now I’ll be negotiating rights with Disney.” Updates on Beds, Herts and Bucks news are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. This material is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Details concerning our external linking policy can be found.