Monday, January 5, 2009

Todd Parr: The Okay Book




















It’s okay to like this book. It’s definitely okay to like this book. Readers of The Okay Book will learn that it’s also okay to have freckles, wear different socks, and try new things.

The art is all bold black lines with bright, solid-color infills. They’re childlike in their simplicity, but the story packs a powerful message: You are okay as you are.

Inside Scoop:
Todd Parr says: “My overall message is to empower kids to feel good about themselves while learning about differences, reminding them to be kind, and inspiring them. The end. Love, Todd.”











At 6 ½ inches square, The Okay Book is a fairly typical board book size, but its interior pages are heavyweight paper rather than board.

Todd’s website lists twenty-nine books to his credit. The Peace Book is another of my favorites and I love the whole Otto the dog series, which is based on Todd’s pit bull.

If your readertotz can’t get enough Todd, you’ll also find his characters on TV at ToddWorld on TLC and Discovery Kids. Your readertotz might enjoy these clips from the show. I particularly enjoyed seeing Todd interact with kids during a school visit 1 2 3 (in three parts) on YouTube.

This review wouldn't be complete without a quick shout out to author-illustrator Laura Kvasnosky for introducing me to Todd Parr’s books during a critique session in Seattle about five years ago. Thanks, Laura!

The Okay Book, 1999
Todd Parr, author-illustrator
Megan Tingley Books/Little Brown and Company

Joan Holub ~ author/illustrator

3 comments:

Lorie Ann Grover said...

I love Todd's drawings, Joan, and this book's concept. Thanks!

Joan Holub said...

Hi Lorie Ann,

You're on the west coast and I'm in the east, yet you still got up earlier than I did! But, as Todd would likely say: It's okay to be a morning person and it's okay to be a night person. I couldn't agree more.

Hugs and have a great day!

Little Willow said...

This series is fun.