It's Okay To Be Different

When our grandson visits us, everyone in town knows him – because he stands out. In any group of kids, he towered over his fellow three-year-olds and went nose to nose with seven and eight-year-olds. His skin colour is different too: in a rural village originally settled by Mi’kmaq (formerly MicMac) and then Scots, his half-Jamaican ancestry is very noticeable. So when I heard about It’s Okay to Be Different, I immediately reserved it at the library.

Everybody wants to belong – especially kids. So when a child is “different” from the others in his or her group, it can be easy for them to feel bad about themselves. Todd Parr wants every kid to know “You are special and important just because of being who are”, and he’s show more written It’s Okay To Be Different to get that message across.

Illustrated by the author with outlined-in-black figures that are painted with bright primary colours—blue faces, orange hair and so on—this book delivers the message in short, clear statements: it’s okay to have a different nose, it’s okay to wear glasses, to have an invisible friend, to have different moms or different dads, to be embarrassed, to be a different color…. I’m not able to imagine a situation Parr didn’t cover in these 30 pages.

Although I don’t agree completely with Parr (I don’t think it’s okay to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub, but that’s me – I’m a mean old mom), I love the statement this book makes. I think you’ll want to buy this one so you can re-read it many times. A solid 4 stars. show less

This book does a wonderful job being general with repetitive statements of acceptance while highlighting unique differences in the people around us in a positive light. The entire book discusses the power of accepting the unique qualities we each have visible or hidden. Parr's bright colors pulls young children in while the simple repetitive language allows readers to practice developmental literacy skills.

Parr (Big and Little, not reviewed, etc.) teaches an important social lesson that all children need early in their development. Differences are observed and encouraged in this wonderful celebration of the vast distinctions that make each of us individuals. Every page displays a person or animal with characteristics or feelings that are unique, making each one extra special. The describing text for each drawing begins with, "It's okay to . . ." and can act as a springboard for an exercise in which children think of and name additional differences. Solid primary colors create the background, and kid-friendly hand drawings help children relate on their own level. Of course, the exaggeration of some of the drawings is just plain fun. The show more theme encourages acceptance of oneself and others, and boosts self-esteem. (Picture book. 3-5)

-Kirkus Review show less

I like Todd Parr and this is a nice book but it suffers from that thing of so many well-intentioned kids' books: they already think it's okay to be different and all that happens when you insist on it is you raise the confusing question of why anyone would think it wasn't. This one literally begins with "It's okay to be missing a tooth," which is basically the only time I've ever seen my kid look concerned about his missing tooth.

Todd Parr is awesome! This is a wonderful book that shows kids that it is SO okay to be different! I have had my class do their own version of this book with each student contributing a page created by themselves. A fantastic book to inspire students to appreciate those aspects of themselves that are different from others.

A fantastic read aloud by Todd Parr. The illustrations are bright and colorful and definitely fully animated. The art is silly and engages readers without putting pressure on them. Each page begins with "It's okay if..." and finishes the sentence. It's okay to be big, small, different colors, embarrassed, proud, have different moms or dads... etc. I love the way that this book talks about "good" things, like it's okay to be proud of yourself, or say no to something bad. But it's also okay for "bad" or "different" things, like having no hair or having different moms or dads. I think most kids can relate to this book and if not for themselves, they can see others in this book. A very non confrontational book about how it's okay to be show more different. show less

I thought this was a sweet book, it talked about ways childern can be different and that it is okay to be different. I also thought the art in the book was awesome and portrayed the story perfectly.