John Parra – illustratör

Todd and his friends love heroes. But in school, Todd doesn’t feel heroic. Reading is hard for him, and he gets scolded for asking too many questions. How will he ever become the kind of hero he admires?Featuring stunning illustrations that celebrate the diversity of the Little Free Library movement, here is the story of how its founder, Todd Bol, became a literacy superhero. Thanks to Todd and thousands of volunteers - many of whom are kids - millions of books have been enjoyed around the world.This creative movement inspires a love of reading, strengthens communities, and provides meeting places where new friendships, ideas - and heroes! - spring to life. - Author’s note, bibliograpy

A remarkable tale of books and reading, now in a bilingual Spanish-English edition. On most days, teacher and librarian Luis Soriano Bohórquez packs his two burros, Alfa and Beto, with books and makes his way over mountains and through valleys to visit children in far-flung villages in rural Colombia—all for the sake of literacy and culture. Based on the work of a remarkable man and his intrepid burros, this bilingual English and Spanish edition celebrates the impact that a special mobile library—called the “biblioburro”—has had on the lives of real children.   About the author:   Monica Brown’s Peruvian American heritage has inspired in her a desire to share Latino stories with children. Her books have garnered starred reviews, the Américas Award, two Pura Belpré Author Honors, and the prestigious Rockefeller Fellowship on Chicano Cultural Literacy. Monica is currently Professor of English at Northern Arizona University, specializing in U.S. Latino and Multicultural Literature. Visit her at monicabrown.net.

Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor 2018 ALA Notable Children's Book 2018 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2017 Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2017 Smithsonian Top Ten Best Children's Book of 2017 2018 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the YearFrida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, written by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra, is based on the life of one of the world's most influential painters, Frida Kahlo, and the animals that inspired her art and life.  The fascinating Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits, her dramatic works featuring bold and vibrant colors. Her work brought attention to Mexican and indigenous culture and she is also renowned for her works celebrating the female form. Brown's story recounts Frida's beloved pets—two monkeys, a parrot, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a black cat, and a fawn—and playfully considers how Frida embodied many wonderful characteristics of each animal.

A celebration of one of the world’s most influential painters, Frida Kahlo, and the animals that inspired her art and life—now available in paperback! Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor , 2018 ALA Notable Children's Book, 2018 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, 2018 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book, 2017 Barnes & Noble Best Book, 2017 Smithsonian Top Ten Best Children's Book, 2017 The fascinating Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits, her dramatic works featuring bold and vibrant colors. Her work brought attention to Mexican and indigenous culture and she is also renowned for her works celebrating the female form. Monica Brown’s story recounts pivotal moments in Frida’s life and the beloved pets who comforted her along the way—two monkeys, a parrot, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a black cat, and a fawn—and playfully considers how Frida embodied many wonderful characteristics of each animal. John Parra’s bold-colored art, reminiscent of Frida’s palette, make this biography a warm and wonder-filled offering for Frida Kahlo fans old and new.

In this lively picture book, children discover shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, while triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes found in every child’s day!

“Verde’s unique style and simple yet increasingly important messages of peace, mindfulness, and community make her stories a must-share...A must-purchase.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Walls do not just create barriers and divide spaces. They can be canvases for artmaking; opportunities to shape a community.” —The Horn Book “This story of urban renewal sends a welcome double message by Verde: neighbors and neighborhoods are more than the way they look, and ordinary people can band together to transform big things.” —Publishers Weekly A boy takes on a community art project in order to make his neighborhood more beautiful in this empowering and inspiring picture book by Susan Verde, stunningly illustrated by award-winning artist John Parra.One creative boy. One bare, abandoned wall. One BIG idea. There is a wall in Ángel’s neighborhood. Around it, the community bustles with life: music, dancing, laughing. Not the wall. It is bleak. One boy decides to change that. But he can’t do it alone. Told in elegant verse by Susan Verde and vibrantly illustrated by John Parra, this inspiring picture book celebrates the power of art to tell a story and bring a community together.

Meet LA Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, the rookie who became a symbol of Mexican American pride and a hero to Latinos everywhere. Celebrate Latino sports history in this inspiring, stunningly illustrated baseball book for kids ages 7-10, from an award-winning baseball reporter and a Pura Belpré Honoree.Fernando Valenzuela was just barely out of his teens when he came to America from Mexico to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the 1980s, Mexican Americans rarely followed baseball. But after Fernando pitched eight winning games, the entire country was talking about him. People in Mexico began listening to games on their radios, and more Mexican Americans in LA began coming to games. A rookie on a historic streak, Fernando became an international star! And the fans gained something too: a hero they could call their own.Baseball reporter Nathalie Alonso and author of Call Me Roberto! joins Mexican American illustrator John Parra to celebrate this sensational player who was known for his signature pitching style.

Conozcan a Fernando Valenzuela, el lanzador de los Dodgers que se convirtió en un símbolo del orgullo mexicano, en este libro de béisbol en español para niños de 7 a 10 años.Meet LA Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, the rookie who became a symbol of Mexican American pride, in this Spanish-language baseball book for kids ages 7-10.Fernando Valenzuela era un adolescente cuando llegó a Estados Unidos desde México para jugar con los Dodgers de Los Ángeles. En los años 80, la población mexicoestadounidense de Los Ángeles rara vez seguía el béisbol. Pero cuando Fernando ganó sus primeros ocho juegos como abridor novato, despertó en ellos un amor por el béisbol. ¡Fernando se convirtió en una estrella internacional! Y a los aficionados, la llegada de Fernando les dio algo más: un héroe de los suyos.La periodista deportiva Nathalie Alonso se une al ilustrador mexicoestadounidense John Parra para celebrar a este legendario jugador, conocido por su estilo de lanzar único.Fernando Valenzuela was just barely out of his teens when he came to the United States from Mexico to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the 1980s, Mexican Americans rarely followed baseball. But when Fernando pitched eight winning games, he inspired them to love baseball. Fernando became an international star! And the fans gained something too: a hero they could call their own.Baseball reporter Nathalie Alonso joins Mexican American illustrator John Parra to celebrate this sensational player who was known for his signature pitching style.

In this lively picture book, children discover a world of shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates , triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas . Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes found in every child's day!

In New Orleans, there lived a man who saw the streets as his calling, and he swept them clean. He danced up one avenue and down another and everyone danced along. The old ladies whistled and whirled. The old men hooted and hollered. The barbers, bead twirlers, and beignet bakers bounded behind that one-man parade. But then came the rising Mississippi—and a storm greater than anyone had seen before. In this heartwarming book about a real garbage man, Phil Bildner and John Parra tell the inspiring story of a humble man and the heroic difference he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.