Press Kit

BIOGRAPHY:
(mini bio)
John Parra is an award-winning artist, illustrator, author, and educator, best known for his Latino themed children’s picture books.

(short bio)
John Parra is an artist, illustrator, author, and educator, best known for his award-winning children’s picture books and commercial works. He regularly speaks as a visiting artist at schools and literary conferences across the country, advocating art and reading education. John currently lives with his wife in Queens, New York.

(medium bio)
John Parra is an award-winning artist, illustrator, author, and educator, best known for his, Latino themed, children’s picture books. His work on, Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His MTA artcard poster, Birdhouse Subways, was displayed throughout NYC subways and his art was seen on six U.S. Forever Postage Stamps titled: Delicioso. He regularly speaks as a visiting artist at schools and literary conferences across the country, advocating art and reading education and was also invited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY to present a special event about his career and illustrations. His book, Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son, is his debut as both author and illustrator and has received numerous starred reviews and recognitions. John currently lives with his wife, Maria, in Queens, New York.

(long bio)
John Parra is an award-winning illustrator, designer, author, and educator best known for his art illustrated, Latino themed, children’s picture books. For his work he has received numerous awards including: Three American Library Association’s Pura Belpré Honors, Two Golden Kite Awards from SCBWI, two Christopher’s Awards and a 2023 Américas Award. John’s illustrated book, Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His book, Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son, is his debut as both author and illustrator and his most recent picture book is titled, Spanish is the Language of My Family, and has received six starred reviews and numerous recognitions.
John’s illustrations for commercial clients including Target, United Airlines, PBS, and many others. His designs were seen on the U.S. Forever Postage Stamps series titled: Delicioso, and his MTA artcard poster, Birdhouse Subways, was displayed throughout NYC subways. John was also 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 art and reading education. John is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and currently lives with his wife, Maria, in Queens, New York.