John Parra

John Parra is an award-winning illustrator, designer, author, and educator. For his children’s illustration work he has received three American Library Association’s Pura Belpré Honors, two Golden Kite Awards from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Christopher Award. John’s illustrated book, Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, written by Monica Brown (NorthSouth), was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. Recent titles include The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome (S&S/Paula Wiseman Books), and Little Libraries, Big Heroes, written by Miranda Paul (Clarion Books). John’s debut as both author and illustrator, Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son (S&S/Paula Wiseman Books), received four starred reviews, was an Indie Next Pick, and the recipient of the Christopher Award and the Americas Award. Most recently he illustrated Spanish Is the Language of My Family by Michael Genhart, which received seven starred reviews and the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award. John’s forthcoming books include Eloísa’s Musical Window, written by Newbery Honoree Margarita Engle (Atheneum), and his next as author illustrator, titled This Moment is Special (Paula Wiseman Books).

John’s commercial clients include United Airlines, Hitachi, PBS, National Geographic, and many others. His designs can be seen on six U.S.Forever Postage Stamps titled Delicioso, and his MTA art card poster, Birdhouse Subways, was displayed throughout NYC subways. John was invited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY to present a special event about his career and illustrations. He has taught art at the Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard, CA and regularly speaks as a visiting artist at schools and literary conferences across the country, advocating for art and reading education. John is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He lives with his wife Maria in Queens, New York.

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