Greenburgh supervisor interviews local author about new children’s book on democracy

Paul Feiner, Greenburgh town supervisor, interviewed David Bamol, the author of Ruthie for the People: Saving Friendship Tree, on his local radio program about using stories to teach children about democracy.

Bamol, who described his background as an elementary school teacher through Teach For America and later as a prosecutor in the Bronx, said the book grew out of questions from his daughter and his experience in a bipartisan presidential leadership scholars program. "This book felt far more urgent because at home and abroad, democracy is being tested," he said.

The book centers on a plot in which town leaders consider clearing large swaths of woodsincluding a "friendship tree"to build a factory. Bamol said the protagonist, Ruthie, helps inspire a compromise: using a pre-existing space for the company to preserve the woods while still bringing jobs. He said the story is meant to show young readers that civic decisions often involve trade-offs and that "you can disagree without being disagreeable."

Bamol told Feiner the book is aimed at second- through fifth-graders and is intended as a classroom tool to make civic concepts tangible rather than abstract. He described classroom exercises he has used, including a mock election among stuffed animals that his daughter's first-grade class decided by one vote, to demonstrate voting and civil disagreement in an age-appropriate way.

During the interview, Bamol described how local, everyday issuessuch as whether pets should be allowed at the Greenburgh Nature Center or whether a nearby park should be preservedcan be clearer entry points for children than distant international topics. He argued that local government provides visible outcomes that help young people see the impact of civic participation.

Feiner and Bamol also discussed the broader civic context, with Bamol referencing historical watershed events that have driven participation across generations. He described mentoring younger adults as a priority and said he hopes the book will spark long-term engagement, potentially preparing new candidates and community leaders.

The author said the book took about two to two-and-a-half years to write and added that it is available on Amazon. "So, this is available on Amazon," Bamol said, noting convenience of ordering.

Feiner closed by thanking Bamol for appearing on the program and encouraging listeners and local teachers to consider the book as a classroom resource. The program ended with music.

Bamol and Feiner framed the book as a practical tool to introduce civic participation to children and to show that local actionsfrom repairs to sidewalks to decisions about parksare accessible starting points for learning about democracy.