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Tom Sawyer and three city leaders

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Cedar Park and Leander have some great leaders. I asked a few of them about their favorite childhood books.

Mitch Fuller is a member of the Cedar Park City Council. He has lived here for more than five years. He has a 9-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. His mother encouraged him to read when he was a child and his favorite book was “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. Mitch said “Reading develops the mind the way working out develops the muscles.”

This book is fun for independent readers. After reading about Tom's adventures, you might want to explore some of the local caves. You might even try to get your fence painted, Tom Sawyer-style.

Henry Fluck is another leader in Cedar Park, the chief of police. When I asked him what book he enjoyed most as a child, he didn't hesitate with his answer. “I read every Hardy Boy book I could get my hands on. When a new one came out, that became my mission.” He told me he was inspired by the detective stories and how the boys solved crimes.

The Hardy Boys books, written by Franklin W. Dixon, are still available today and some versions are updated to be more current. There is also a series of Hardy Boys books that focuses on spy stories. Series are a good way to involve your children in reading - and keep them involved. With characters they are already familiar with, young readers are willing to go on new adventures in unfamiliar territory.

For some fun you might get one of these books and hide it. Leave notes with clues for your children to follow until they find the book.

The mayor of Leander, John Cowman, knew right away not only what his favorite childhood book was, but quoted the first line to me. “Once there was a treeŠ and she loved a little boy.” “The Giving Tree,” by Shel Silverstein, is his favorite. He purchased it at a garage sale. “I loved it and my kids loved it too,” he said.

After reading this book, you might want to help your child find a way to give to the community. Collect food for Hill Country Community Ministries or make cards for seniors in a nursing home.

When our local leaders took the time to talk about their favorite childhood books, they all had one thing in common. They emphasized how important reading is for children and how important it is for parents to start children early in their love of reading books. We can all make reading a priority in our community by continuing to support our libraries, where readers are nurtured. Let's grow a great crop of leaders for the future of our towns, our state and our country.

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