EDUCATE (Bank Street College of Education)

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Long Trip 2000 Photo 1

Sia, Per

Blake, Ali R.

Occasional 
Paper 
Series 
Volume 2024 
Number 52 The Adventures of Trans Educators: 
A Comic Book Issue 
Article 6 
November 2024 
Socrates and Me 
Per Sia 
CASA Children’s After School Arts, San Francisco, California 
Ali R. Blake 
Follow this and additional works at: https://educate.bankstreet.edu/occasional-paper-series 
 Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, 
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, and the Educational Methods Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Sia, P., & Blake, A. R. (2024). Socrates and Me. Occasional Paper Series, (52). DOI: https://doi.org/
10.58295/2375-3668.1550 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by 
Educate. It has been accepted for inclusion in Occasional 
Paper Series by an authorized editor of Educate. For more 
information, please contact kfreda@bankstreet.edu. 
Socrates and Me
Per Sia and Ali R. Blake
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
With a pedigree from weekly performances at the late, iconic Esta Noche, 
Per Sia's trajectory has gone on to include art curation, stand-up, television, 
and maybe a quinceañera or two, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and México. 
Currently, she is a regular performer in the nationally acclaimed "Drag Story 
Hour" as well as an educator in residence at an after-school arts program in 
the San Francisco Unified School District profiled on KQED Arts, National 
Public Radio and CNN.
Ali R. Blake is a teaching artist and education researcher cultivating spaces 
for people to imagine and create the worlds we want to live in together—
definitely more queer and more trans worlds! When Ali is not drawing, 
reading, writing, gardening, singing and dancing while cooking, or cuddling 
with cats, they organize a queer and trans communal clothing making space 
rooted in multidimensional struggles for self-determination. If you're lucky, 
you may meet them performing, too, as Al iteration.
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English

Socrates and Me

Gallardo, Daniel

Pech, Martín

Your Roots are Showing (Spanish) Se Te Ven Las Raíces

Koning, Yarrow

Abreu, Sofía

Occasional 
Paper 
Series 
Volume 2024 
Number 52 The Adventures of Trans Educators: 
A Comic Book Issue 
Article 4 
November 2024 
Always Been (English) 
Yarrow Koning 
Trailblazers School of North Georgia 
Sofía Abreu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://educate.bankstreet.edu/occasional-paper-series 
 Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, 
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, and the Educational Methods Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Koning, Y., & Abreu, S. (2024). Always Been (English). Occasional Paper Series, (52). DOI: https://doi.org/
10.58295/2375-3668.1534 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by 
Educate. It has been accepted for inclusion in Occasional 
Paper Series by an authorized editor of Educate. For more 
information, please contact kfreda@bankstreet.edu. 
Always Been
Yarrow Koning and Sofía Abreu

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Yarrow Koning (they/them) is a queer, trans, and non-binary environmental 
educator and multimedia storyteller based in Georgia. Yarrow holds a Master 
of Education in Environmental Education from Florida Atlantic University 
and specializes in environmental education that centers equity, justice, queer 
ecology, and multispecies liberation. Yarrow is the co-director and impact 
campaign coordinator for the new Queers 4 Climate Justice documentary, 
Can't Stop Change: Queer Climate Stories from the Florida Frontlines. In their 
free time, Yarrow enjoys hiking, birding, listening to podcasts, reading, and 
snuggling with their cat.
Sofía Abreu is an illustrator from Mexico City who is currently finishing a 
doctoral degree in mathematics education at Michigan State University. Sofía 
has enjoyed drawing since an early age and is increasingly excited for the 
possibilities that comics offer as a form of expression and connection. During 
her postgraduate studies, Sofía has had the space to grow with this medium 
and has authored and co-authored two mini comic books, In-Betweens and 
Young Philosophers, respectively, among other works. Sofía currently lives 
in East Lansing, MI with her cat family, Zami and Aleph, and is grateful for 
coffee every morning. 
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Always Been (English)

Notable titles that have captured the attention of our members as well as experts in the field of children’s literature, such as librarians, authors, teachers, psychologists, and editors. This is the perfect place to find a book that will delight young readers during the long days of summer.https://educate.bankstreet.edu/cbc_awards/1019/thumbnail.jp

Bank Street College of Education. Children\u27s Book Committee.

Bank Street College of Education 
Educate 
Children's Book Committee Center for Children's Literature 
6-2024 
The Best Children's Books of 2024: Summer Reading Guide 
Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee. 
Follow this and additional works at: https://educate.bankstreet.edu/cbc_awards 
 Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons 

School is out—a perfect time for summer reading!  
The Bank Street Children’s Book Committee is still 
hard at work reading and reviewing books as they 
come out. Here are some notable titles that have 
captured the attention of our members as well as 
experts in the field of children’s literature, such as 
librarians, authors, teachers, psychologists, and 
editors. This is the perfect place to find a book that 
will delight young readers during the long days of 
summer. Enjoy!    
To learn more about the Children’s Book Committee, please visit at bankstreet.edu/cbc
Everyone Gets a Turn 
Marianne Dubuc 
Princeton Architectural Press/Chronicle Books
Bear, Mouse, Turtle, and Hare find an egg and nurture the chick inside with warmth, food, and 
encouragement. But can they relinquish their protective impulses? Colorful comic-style panels.
Forest
Christie Matheson
Princeton Architectural Press/Chronicle Books
Unusual progression of increasingly magnified images shows a forest, seen initially from far 
away, to views of exquisitely illustrated details of plants and animals. Clever rhymed verse 
portrays animal activities. 
If You Run Out of Words
Felicita Sala
Abrams Books for Young Readers/Abrams
Rich, vivid mixed-media art alternates between a daughter’s worried “what if” questions and 
her father’s soothing reassurances in the form of a swashbuckling fantasy adventure.
Just Like Millie
Lauren Castillo
Candlewick Press 
It takes a new pet dog to help Millie overcome her shyness and anxiety when she moves with 
her mother to an urban apartment. Watercolor and soft pastel illustrations.
This Baby. That Baby.
Cari Best, ill. Rashin Kheiriyeh
Anne Schwartz Books/Random House Children’s Books/Penguin Random House
Two babies playfully wave to each other across their apartment windows and then begin their 
daily routines, ending with a playdate in the park. Appealing layout, vivid acrylic art.
AGES 5 AND UNDER 
Ahoy!
Sophie Blackall  
Anne Schwartz Books/Random House Children’s Books/Penguin Random House
An imaginative child cajoles his adult to play along as they embark on a wild sailing adventure. 
Colorful nautical terms appear in speech bubbles; splendid mixed-media illustrations.
Angela’s Glacier
Jordan Scott, ill. Diana Sudyka 
Neal Porter Books/Holiday House
From the day of her birth, a girl’s life is enriched by her sensory connection to an Icelandic 
landmark. Immersive gouache artwork; extensive back matter.
Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava
Gary Golio, ill. E.B. Lewis
Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers/Astra Publishing House
Immersive, luminous watercolors and lyrical text invite us to see a beloved 1940s neighborhood 
through an artist’s eyes. Biography, timeline, bibliography, suggested museums to view 
DeCarava’s work.
Freedom on the Sea: The True Story of the Civil War Hero Robert Smalls and His 
Daring Escape to Freedom
Michael Boulware Moore, ill. Bryan Collier   
Godwin Books/Henry Holt and Company/Macmillan
An enslaved seaman commandeers a Confederate ship, thereby liberating himself, the rest of 
the crew, and their families. Striking painting and collage illustrations.
Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees
Michelle Schaub, ill. Anne Lambelet
Sleeping Bear Press
Poems in various styles with informative insets trace a family’s cross-country tour to 14 tree 
sites of historic importance. Illustrations capture colors and details of their settings. Poetic 
forms explained.
AGES 5 TO 9
My Block Looks Like
Janelle Harper, ill. Frank Morrison   
Viking/Penguin Random House
Dancing through the Bronx, a young Black girl shows readers the streets, trains, street art, and 
people of her community. Poetic text and detailed paintings.
Viewfinder
Christine D. U. Chung & Salwa Majoka
Tundra Books/Penguin Random House of Canada/Penguin Random House
A young space traveler explores a post-ecological-disaster earth and discovers a time capsule 
with a viewfinder showing scenes from the planet’s past. Dreamlike digital painted artwork.
Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough
Hayley Rocco, ill. John Rocco 
G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House
This internationally honored conservationist has, throughout his career, shown animals in their 
habitats and given warnings about the planet’s future to audiences worldwide. Vibrant mixed-
media illustrations. Photos. Author’s note.
AGES 9 TO 12
Aunt Sue’s Stories
Langston Hughes, ill. Gary Kelley
Creative Editions
A young boy listens intently to the stories told by his aunt about her life and the lives of others 
as enslaved people. Free verse. Bold, emotional illustrations.
The Book of Stolen Dreams (The Stolen Dreams Adventures series)
David Farr, ill. Kristina Kister
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
After Rachel’s and Robert’s librarian father is arrested for stealing an ancient magical book, the 
tyrannical ruler of Krasnia sets his forces against the family. Whimsical spot art.
How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? Explore Earth’s Most Extreme Places 
Through Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, and Taste
Leisa Stewart-Sharpe, ill. Aaron Cushley
Charlesbridge
Bring your five senses to experience 12 amazing locations. Geographical and historical 
information. Enlivening illustrations. Glossary.
Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! (Travis Daventhorpe series)
Wes Molebash
First Second/Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck
Travis, an 11-year-old genius robotic engineer, is an outcast until he discovers a multiverse. 
Now its survival depends on him, a wizard, and his sentient robot. Energetic cartoon 
illustrations.
Parachute Kids
Betty C. Tang
Graphix/Scholastic
In 1981, 10-year-old Feng-Li and her family travel from Taiwan to California for a dream 
vacation. Her happiness evaporates when her parents reveal their plans. Bold-colored graphic 
illustrations.
AGES 12 TO 14 
The Firefly Summer
Morgan Matson, maps by Celia Krampien
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
An unexpected invitation for Ryanna to spend the summer in the Poconos with the maternal 
grandparents and cousins she has never met leads to uncovering a family mystery. Black-and-
white spot art. Maps.
Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom
Nina Varela
Little, Brown/Hachette
When her family moves yet again, shy loner Juniper must try to adapt. An unexpected friendship 
with magical Princess Galatea and the discovery of amazing secret powers change Juniper’s life.
Miles Morales Suspended (A Spider-Man Novel series/Miles Morales series)
Jason Reynolds, ill. Zeke Peña
Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
A day of in-school suspension forces Miles to use his superpowers to battle a fellow student 
who is destroying books as a termite. Is Miles up to the challenge? Told in alternating prose and 
verse. Greyscale illustrations.
What’s Eating Jackie Oh?
Patricia Park 
Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books/Penguin Random House
Second-generation Korean American sophomore Jackie struggles with her parents’ 
expectations but finds solace at her grandparents’ deli. Her passion for food lands her on a 
competitive cooking show. Recipes.
The Collectors: Stories
Edited by A.S. King
Dutton Books/Penguin Random House
Pilfered items from other people’s collections, empty pools for vertical skateboarding, and types 
of fire are among the very unusual collections explored in this anthology.
Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam
Thien Pham
First Second/Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck
A Vietnamese refugee recalls his family’s journey to the United States through the different 
foods they experienced along the way. Colorful, emotionally vivid artwork.
Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali
Marc Bernardin, ill. Ron Salas 
First Second/Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck
Framed as a heroic narrative in the style of Homer, this graphic biography is full of great details 
about Ali’s life and his importance. Emotive greyscale artwork.
Rez Ball
Byron Graves 
Heartdrum/HarperCollins
Can sophomore Tre lead his Minnesota reservation’s varsity basketball team to their first state 
victory, or will he be overwhelmed in his attempt to step into his late brother’s shoes? 
AGES 14 AND UP 


The Best Children\u27s Books of 2024: Summer Reading Guide

Occasional 
Paper 
Series 
Volume 2024 
Number 52 The Adventures of Trans Educators: 
A Comic Book Issue 
Article 5 
November 2024 
Always Been (Spanish) Siempre Hemos Sido 
Yarrow Koning 
Trailblazers School of North Georgia; 
Sofía Abreu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://educate.bankstreet.edu/occasional-paper-series 
 Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, 
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, and the Educational Methods Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Koning, Y., & Abreu, S. (2024). Always Been (Spanish) Siempre Hemos Sido. Occasional Paper Series, (52). 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58295/2375-3668.1530 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by 
Educate. It has been accepted for inclusion in Occasional 
Paper Series by an authorized editor of Educate. For more 
information, please contact kfreda@bankstreet.edu. 
Always Been (Spanish) 
Siempre Hemos Sido
Yarrow Koning and Sofía Abreu

46
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SOBRE LOS AUTORES
Yarrow Koning (elle) es une educadore ambiental queer, trans y no-binarie y 
une contadore de historias multimedia que actualmente reside en Georgia. 
Yarrow tiene una Maestría en Educación Ambiental de la Florida Atlantic 
University y se especializa en educación ambiental centrada en equidad, 
justicia, ecologías queer y liberación multiespecie. Yarrow es le Co-Directore y 
Coordinadore de Campañas de Impacto para el nuevo documental de No Se 
Para el Cambio: Historias Queer Sobre el Clima Desde Las Vanguardias de 
Florida. En su tiempo libre, Yarrow disfruta del senderismo y le encanta 
observar aves, escuchar podcasts, leer, y acurrucarse con su gato.
Sofía Abreu es una ilustradora de la Ciudad de México que está terminando su 
doctorado en educación matemática de la Michigan State University. Sofía 
disfruta dibujar desde que era pequeña y cada vez le emocionan más las 
posibilidades que ofrecen los cómics como medios de expresión y conexión. En 
sus estudios de doctorado, Sofía ha tenido el espacio para crecer con este 
medio y es autora y co-autora de dos mini comics, In-Betweens y Young 
Philosophers respectivamente, entre otras obras. Actualmente, Sofía vive en 
East Lansing, MI, con su familia gatuna, Zami y Aleph, y todas las mañanas 
está agradecida por su café.
49


Spanish

Always Been (Spanish) Siempre Hemos Sido

https://educate.bankstreet.edu/longtrip-1998-images/1004/thumbnail.jp

Long Trip 1998 Photo 5

https://educate.bankstreet.edu/longtrip-1998-images/1003/thumbnail.jp

Long Trip 1998 Photo 4

Indigenous Pedagogies: Land, Water, and Kinship

Illustrator Kate Berube gives an acceptance speech for John\u27s Turn, written by Mac Barnett (Candlewick)https://educate.bankstreet.edu/irma_black_awards/1010/thumbnail.jp

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