Transgender kindergarten teacher to curious students: "I’m not a girl and I’m not a boy, but I’m both"

By C.J. Hirschfield

Berkeley kindergarten teacher Lourdes Rivas is used to answering all sorts of questions from their endlessly curious kids in the classroom. But early on in their five years of teaching, one question kept coming up: Are you a girl or a boy?

Lourdes reading to a class of second graders at Rosa Parks Elementary in Berkeley, where they were invited to do an author talk.

Lourdes found themself telling and retelling their story of being transgender to their students every year, explaining why they use non-binary pronouns, why they say they’re not a girl and not a boy, but both -- or how is this even possible? So, Lourdes wrote it out one day and decided to pursue its fruition into a full-on children’s book.

“I needed books that represented who I was, and I wasn’t finding any,” says Lourdes. The path to creating their new bilingual (English and Spanish) book, “They Call Me Mix” was not an easy one. But, we’re happy to report that Lourdes and their book will be featured at Fairyland on May 18 as part of our annual Turn the Page! children’s book author and illustrator event. Geared towards five to seven year olds, the book explores what it means to be a transgender person of color. Lourdes notes that, while there are many young adult literature books that center on transgender and gender nonconforming characters, very few options exist for younger readers.

 

Author/educator Lourdes Rivas will be featured at Fairyland’s upcoming children’s authors and illustrators event, with their new book “They Call Me Mix.”

When Lourdes first decided they wanted to write the book, they reached out to the San Francisco-based Online School of Free Minds, which offers courses and programs that “offer a holistic approach to creating & publishing children's books as well as aid in expanding the mind and reclaiming our creative, intuitive, cooperative human nature.” But taking a course load while teaching full-time was daunting at best. And this was five years ago—Lourdes’ very first year as a teacher. It was too hard to keep up with the homework, so the book went on hiatus as Sylvia Mendez Elementary School remained their focus. Years later, Lourdes went back and completed their course online; the book was guided by the curriculum. The school’s founders, Maya Gonzalez and Matthew Smith became mentors as the book came together.

Even before identifying an illustrator, Lourdes knew they had to begin the process of fundraising; money that would be used for writing, editing, translating, illustrating, designing, obtaining an ISBN number, publishing, distributing, and shipping. “Kickstarter was exciting, but scary,” they recall. “I had to step out of my comfort zone to make an on-camera pitch—I was really nervous on the first thirty takes…” They say they then felt courage and love, and this evidently resonated with the many funders—so many that the financial goal of $10,500 was exceeded by $2,000.

Lourdes’ search for an illustrator ended on the dance floor, where they encountered Breena Nuñez, a working cartoonist, musician, and youth arts educator, whose work Lourdes had admired on Instagram. Breena was on board, but another pause occurred as the illustrator completed an MFA program.

Lourdes also learned how long it takes to do the layout. “The alignment of images and text was super meticulous,” they say. “It was a breeze from there.”

“They Call Me Mix” is a new children’s book that explores what it means to be a transgender person of color.

Finally, on January 19, a book launch party was held in the Fruitvale District, with about a hundred people present to celebrate. Visits to Seattle and Tacoma to do readings then followed.

And on May 18: Fairyland’s children’s book festival. Lourdes has attended the event for the last three years with their two nieces, but not as an author. A collector of children’s books, they see them as powerful tools. “When I read it to my kindergarten class kids and they say ‘That’s you in the book!,’ it’s the most engaging I’ve ever seen them,” Lourdes says.

They are “thrilled” to be a featured author this time around, where their own book will be available for sale and signing. “I’m excited to meet kids, parents and educators,” they say. “I’m such a fan of the event!”

And we’re sure that Lourdes will find their own fans this time around.

Turn the Page! will be held at Children’s Fairyland on Saturday, May 18 from 10-4; adults will need to be accompanied by a child to attend.

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C.J. Hirschfield has served for 17 years as executive director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation of the nation’s oldest storybook theme park.