Here's a little something Hialeah residents probably didn't know about Mayor Julio Robaina and Councilwoman Katharine Cue: They are authors.

At the city's annual literacy fair event hosted Sept. 19 at John F. Kennedy Library, the duo unveiled their first children's book, titled When I Grow Up!

The book tells the story of a young boy who debates what to be when he grows up after hearing from a mayor who was the guest speaker at his school.

One page reads: ``I have to hurry to school! I think I have made up my mind. I want to be someone who helps others, is considerate and kind. I want to keep our city neat and clean and make sure the bus stays on time.''

The idea of writing a book came to Robaina and Cue about two years ago after one of their monthly sessions in which they read to a group of elementary school students.

``At the time, I was exclusively reading a book called Mayor For a Day,'' Robaina told The Miami Herald. ``It's a great book. But I had already read it for a year, and I told Katherine we needed to find a new book or the kids were going to get bored.''

Cue suggested writing a children's book that incorporated the lessons Robaina always tries to pass on to children: become positive role models, get involved in the community and care for the environment and others.

``So we sat down. We wrote the script. We would take turns editing it and trying to rhyme,'' Robaina said.

Robaina, who is more comfortable with the business side, said it took a lot of creativity but helped to borrow from real life: The mayor resembles Robaina, and the main character is named ``David'' after David Concepcion, Robaina's chief of staff.

``One of things we harped on in the book was the environment,'' Cue said. ``So we took it a step further and decided to make the book green.''

The book was manufactured with paper from sustainable forests and printed with vegetable inks, and the covers are from recycled particle board and bound with water-soluble glue.

Robaina and Cue had their hearts set on keeping the book in Hialeah and supporting local businesses, so they choose AC Graphics for the design and Dobbs and Brodeur as the bookbinders, both Hialeah companies that support the city's green initiatives.

The book is available for $4 at Hialeah City Hall, on www.hialeahfl.gov and at Books & Books. All the proceeds from the sale of the book will go toward supporting Hialeah's educational programs.

Robaina hopes to release a Spanish version before the end of the year. He said they're already drumming up ideas for the second book.

``Who knows, it might be a young girl that one day becomes a leader,'' Cue said.

As for the details, they're not sure yet.

``That's all in the creative department in my head,'' Robaina quipped.

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