Be up to Parr on author’s colorful, zany kids’ books

Kid Culture features fun and educational books and toys for kids.

This month’s book recommendations are from author Todd Parr, in honor of his upcoming appearance at the Central Oregon Early Literacy Conference on May 9 (www.coliteracy conference.org). Award-winning children’s author and illustrator Parr loves his dog, Bully. He likes frogs and sea lions and his favorite color is blue. He also likes to paint. Parr is best known by preschoolers and adults for his positive and humorous series of picture books. Children will enjoy his bright, whimsical, zany pictures and come away with important messages that encourage children to communicate their feelings.

Some of his books include:

‘Reading Makes You Feel Good’

Parr highlights some of the advantages of reading, such as learning to make a pizza or finding your favorite animal at the zoo. He also points out that reading can be shared or “you can do it all by yourself.” The pictures are bold and bright, featuring a purple elephant and an assortment of green, yellow and blue cheerful-faced children. Preschoolers will enjoy Parr’s illustrations and come away with an important lesson: Reading is fun to do!

‘It’s Okay to Be Different’

What I like about Todd Parr’s books is that they teach an important social lesson that all children need early in their development. On each page, the text always starts with “It’s okay to …….” An illustration of a girl wearing blue, oversized glasses against a purple background (“It’s okay to wear glasses”) and a green-faced boy sitting in a wheel chair (“It’s okay to have wheels”) encourage readers to accept differences in themselves as well as others. Children will love the rainbow colors and simple drawings in this delightful book.

‘I Love You Book’

Parr’s colorful, smiley-faced people are back in this book about unconditional love. “I love you when you are sick. /I love you when you feel better. /I love you when I am away. /I love you when we are cuddled up close.” Each whimsical and colorful page describes conditions under which parents love their children, ending with, “Most of all, I love you just the way you are.”

— Recommendations from Peg Bermel, Sisters Public Library