Hello, Beech Tree!

Rasha Hamid has been a special education educator for over 20 years, working in the New York City neighborhoods of East Harlem, Hamilton Heights, and Brooklyn, and in Khartoum, Sudan. Rasha considers herself an educator-activist: someone who works to make the world more just, joyful, equitable, and sustainable through the education of students and teachers. She began creating picture books with her classes to fill the need for books reflecting her students, their experiences, and their passions. In addition to Uncommonly Curious, Eternally Autistic, Rasha is the author of Kadisa كديسة, How to Bird, and Hello, Beech Tree!. Rasha is proud to be the AuDHD (autistic + ADHD) mom of an AuDHD young adult. Autism and observing the natural world are two of Rasha's special interests. She attended New York City public schools before earning a bachelor's degree in Africana Studies and Education at Vassar College, and a master's degree in Special Education at Bank Street College of Education.Sofia Moore is a book illustrator and fine artist living in Las Vegas, Nevada. She finds her inspiration in listening to people's stories and in walking in the desert when it's not too hot. She is a tree lover, too.

"Trees have always been generous givers of joy and wonderment. Just like the kids in the Beech Class, children around the world have climbed up, leaned on, whispered to, and loved trees. Hello, Beech Tree! is the heartwarming story of how a community's love for their beech tree brings them together in collective activism. Come along with the Beech Class to witness the magic of what happens when young people unite in a fight to keep their community spaces beautiful, green, and joyful!"