The Okay Book

by Todd Parr

Originally published in mini hardcover (paper over board) editions, four of Todd Parr's very first books are now available in a chunky board book format with brand new cover designs. Bold and bright, funny and reassuring, these are perfect packages for preschoolers and will stand up to the repeated readings they are guaranteed to get!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Kids, Fiction

24 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Todd Parr is a three-time New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator of more than fifty books for children. He has inspired and empowered children around the world with simple, hopeful, and powerful messages such as “be kind”, “love yourself” and “be who you are,” all set with vibrant images in eye-catching primary colors. His books have received numerous awards and are available in nearly twenty languages. He also is the co-creator of the popular three-time Daytime Emmy©-nominated animated TV series, "ToddWorld" with Gerry Renert of SupperTime Entertainment. Several short films for Sesame Street have also been based on Parr’s work.

Parr devotes time to numerous philanthropic causes supporting pet adoption, children’s hunger, health, and literacy. He is a frequent reader and fundraiser for The Ronald McDonald House and serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Children’s Book Festival. His corporate collaborations include Best Buy, Stouffer’s, and the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank, among others.

A native of Wyoming, Parr currently lives in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Skylar Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids love this simple "It's okay to..." book. However, I am of the opinion that it is not okay to put a fish in your hair. Judgmental mommy.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It really is okay to be who you are and look how you look. This book is a nice forerunner to the Seussian books that teach the same concepts more appropriate for older audiences.

[Raghad · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really okay 😢

[Kimiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

هر بچه‌ای یه جوره،
هیچ اشکالی نداره!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Okay Book by Todd Parr is a book about many things that are okay, including differences such as being short or dreaming big.

Parr's unique, bright illustrations should appeal to young children and those who like simple and silly pictures. My favorite images are freckles, from different places, share, new things, different color, and dream big.

Parr looks at issues like tolerance, differences, individuality, uniqueness, and inclusion in a simple, understandable way, along with some silly pictures. The large font makes this a possible choice for beginning readers. The board book version I read is sturdy and appealing to the target audience. It's usefulness in introducing inclusion, acceptance and more is important. The Okay Book is recommended for school and public library collections.

For ages 1 to 6 and up, tolerance, differences, individuality, board book, beginning readers, inclusion, acceptance, and fans of Todd Parr.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parr’s books are well known for their vibrant style and easy-to-read text. This particular story works well when paired with any of the aforementioned books or one of Parr’s other popular works on families and parents such as, The Family Book, The Mom Book, or The Dad Book. Specifically, none of the images are messages directly address the issues of family type or issues of gender or sexuality as in the other recommended titles in this list. However, it expands and introduces a young child to other notions of “otherness” and difference, essentially defining the ideas of difference, individuality, uniqueness, and tolerance. Such ideas, when introduced first in a such simple contexts as, “It’s okay to wear two different socks” to larger, more crucial points as, “It’s okay to be a different color”, can then later be applied to more hard-to-explain topics as homosexuality, adoption, or family type.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is currently my favorite book. At least, judging from the number of times I've read it recently. Good thing I got that literature degree.

In all seriousness, this is a great board book. Just the right length, and lots of fun. Bean absolutely loves it, and has since she was four months old. It stops her in mid-cry. And hey, who can't love a book that says it's okay to put a fish in your hair??

[Elizabeth K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todd Parr is popular in our house, and we like this book a lot. Different kinds of people, and those differences are okay.

It bothers me a little that it ends with the goofiness of being okay to wear a fish in your hair, because first, that is not okay, and second, I feel it takes away from the actual examples of ways that people are different. Yes, I know I'm reading way too much into a board book for babies. But hey, I'm the one who actually has to read it!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Todd Parr books. The bright colors are inviting, the repeated text makes the book accessible to kids, and the messages are simple but important. This one details that different is okay, using the sentence stem "It is okay. . . ." on each page.

In grades K-2 I would use this book to help teach diversity and how all people are different. I would have students respond by writing their own page to the book and make a classroom book with the responses.

[Poppie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally just love this book to bits! its great book to read when a child is feeling unsecure about him/herself. Moral is, its okay to be different and to like different things. Because lets face it, were all different in so many ways, and everyone should be accepted on how they look, or do for living.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

i didn't read any of his books as a child, only as an adult. i think they're pretty dynamic and really important.

[lola Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

my kids love this book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright pictures, fun themes. Liked it. It's ok to wear a fish in your hair. Message: it's ok to be different from other people.

[Heather Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this inclusive, sweet, and silly book. Perfect as a board book so we can teach tolerance young...

[Nicole Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this as a board book and it quickly became one of Sophie's favorites.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first books sent home from the Jumpstart To Kindergarten program. You loooooved it - especially the wackier "it's Okay..." scenarios.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This board book is a good length for its intended reader but I miss my favorite page from the original book- "it's okay to eat macaroni in the bathtub!"

[Aaliyah Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has a good message.

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's okay!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this a lot!!! I am reading it t0 my dog. I enjoy the author's words and pictures. I like how he says that different things are okay.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay - a really nice book for small children!

[Lyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's ok to put a fish in your hair"

[Jenna Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice simple, book for toddlers with relatable and sometimes silly things plus kid like illustrations.

[Cassidy Cornblatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good message.

[Rachel N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I'm just not that into Todd Parr books.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little easy read. Simple text. Good for beginners. Nice Story line- acceptance.

[Marcie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Insipid. Terrible art.

[Little Champs]

BB 65

[Casey Weisner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is adorable and so comforting! From "It's okay to be a different color or small or big" to "It's okay to eat the icing off the cake first," this book tells children what is okay and acceptable to do so many things that they might think is not okay. The illustrations are stick figures with simple details and the sentences are small. This would be a good book to read from toddlers to about kindergarten/first grade.