'A serious book, but laced with humor...a novel approach. Required reading for all educators.""- Harvey Pekar, American Splendor' 'An utterly original and deliciously irreverent book...""- From the Foreword by Jonathan Kozol, Savage Inequalities ""This book is a treasure chest of insight. It represents what dedicated, imaginative teaching is all about and is a blueprint for everyone who wants to explore the intimate connection between teaching and learning."" - Peter Kuper, Diario De Oaxaca ""To Teach is hilarious serious and fabulous! A broad manifesto that will change many people's lives.""- Laurie Anderson, artist and musician ""Weaving in inspirational anecdotes and playful visual metaphors, Ayers and Alexander-Tanner's collaboration cleverly illustrates the vital importance and moral necessity of teaching."" - Josh Neufeld, A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge ""I wish I'd read this book before I started teaching and making comics a decade ago, it's chock full of practical and philosophical advice. I know this book will inspire a generation of teachers to come.""- Lauren Weinstein, Girl Stories ""To Teach represents a fresh breeze in the educational and social science research community. It takes daring to reconceptualize entrenched practices and traditional modes of research."" - Elliot Eisner, Professor Emeritus of Art, Stanford University ""The perennial dance of learning that can also be teaching at its best is both brilliantly and graphically shown herein by Messrs. Ayers and Alexander-Tanner. Do keep in mind that although they can show you the right steps, you still have to listen closely to your interior music and follow its changing melodies and rhythms."" - Gary Dumm, artist, Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story, and American Splendor"" To Teach is great reading not only to student teachers but to anyone who has a vested interest in our education system. I especially appreciated the smack down of the dehumanizing trend to pigeonhole every other kid with some kind of ""at risk"" syndrome! It also is a great example of how comic art is a very efficient way to communicate complex ideas."" - Peter Bagge, comics journalist and author of the Buddy Bradley series This graphic novel brings to life William Ayers s bestselling memoir To Teach: The Journey of a Teacher, now in its third edition. From Ayers early days teaching kindergarten, readers follow this renowned educational theorist on his ""voyage of discovery and surprise."" We meet fellow travelers from schools across the country and watch students grow across a year and a lifetime. To Teach is a vivid, honest portrayal of the everyday magic of teaching, and what it means to be a ""good"" teacher debunking myths perpetuated on film and other starry-eyed hero/teacher fictions. Illuminated by the evocative and wry drawings of Ryan Alexander-Tanner, this literary comics memoir is both engaging and insightful. These illustrated stories remind us how curiosity, a sense of adventure, and a healthy dose of reflection can guide us all to learn the most from this world. This dynamic book will speak to comic fans, memoir readers, and educators of all stripes.

This graphic memoir of teaching in urban America is a brilliant reimagining of the classic text by Gregory Michie, Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students. Michie is joined by illustrator Ryan Alexander-Tanner and 10 artists-most of them young people of color-to bring a fresh, vibrant energy to the original tale of struggle and hope in the classroom. First published in 1999, the text has become one of the most enduring teacher memoirs of our time. Using comics to tell the story, this edition weaves back and forth, like the original, between Michie's awakening as a young teacher and the first-person stories of his students. Set in 1990s Chicago, but startlingly relevant today, this powerful adaptation of a long-time educator favorite is sure to inspire a new generation of teachers, students, and anyone who is concerned about the future of public education.Book Features: A comics format that draws readers in and adds to the power of Michie's original text. Each chapter is adapted and illustrated by a different artist, most of whom are young people of color. A new introduction and afterword by Michie and Alexander-Tanner that contextualize this comic edition. Students reflect on their experiences inside and outside of school. Highlights critical, present-day issues in K-12 schools, such as culturally relevant curriculum, cross-cultural teaching, racial justice, and the social contexts of teaching.