It's Okay To Be Different (Todd Parr Classics) Paperback – Picture Book, April 1, 2009

This book shows young children that it is okay to be "different" in many ways. There are colorful, interesting pages with examples of people with different color hair, someone in a wheel chair, and my favorite--different types of families. This is especially important for children who come from non-traditional households like single parent households, same-sex households, or whom are adopted. There is a page on being adopted but you can basically add any story to that page if adoption does not apply.The words are simple and because the pictures are open to interpretation you can add your own story to them. Whatever you need to explain--for instance a disability in addition to the wheel chair, or a non-traditional family arrangement on the pages with two "moms" and two "dads" that can easily be interpreted as gay parents or a birth mom and an everyday (or adoptive) mom. Or, any two caregivers if a child comes from a family with no mom and no dad (for instance grandparent and aunt or uncle).I really like this book because for small children it is often difficult to understand these kinds of differences and this book makes is okay to talk about them and opens up space to discuss them in ways appropriate to the child's age. It also gives them the ability to start piecing together their own story to share with classmates, because these things inevitable come up in school.I first ran across this book in a preschool class. The teacher used it to discuss descriptions (like hair color, clothing, etc.) because of the colorful pictures but also to make the point of the book and it is a great resource for both academic learning and social learning. I'm very happy with it and it keeps my 4 year old's attention and sparks more conversations, which let me in on how he understands his relationships with other people.

Bought for my autistic kiddo to understand diversity, differences, being adopted and how we are all alike too. Book was a big hit! "It's okay to have no hair" came in handy! Met a boy with no hair. My son said pointing with a smile "it's okay to have no hair!" It was a sweet interaction indeed.The books were in pristine condition too.

It’s Okay to Be Different is another hit from Todd Parr. The illustrations are fun and the message is powerful and affirming. A must for any preschool or kindergarten shelf.

Such a fun book! A bit big and just paper pages, but baby loves the color and illustrations! Reaches for it first.

I bought this book as a present for my Preschool class. We made a Christmas Tree related to the book. The illustrations are so inclusive to any type of student and they all loved seeing the different types of classmates my students could be exposed to at any school. The book is so colorful, fun, and is very child friendly! Todd Parr is great and I love all his books.

Great book and my grandson loved it.

I am a Lutheran Church librarian in Florida who bought this book for our church library. I think the work of every child is to figure out where he/she fits in the world. Why are some people this way and others that way? Is one way right and one way wrong? As we grow older we realize that there is right and wrong and also many shades of grey. We call this ethics. That is not really what this book is about. This book is about differences that children perceive and wonder about: differences in appearance--tall, short, chubby, thin, physical challenges, racial differences, and silly little things like freckles or hair color or wearing braces or glasses. I think Parr's heart is definitely in the right place. He tries to send to our kids a message of acceptance of these sorts of superficial differences but which kids (and adults) often blow way out of proportion. He's trying to at least let all kids begin life on an even playing field. Instead of seeing such traits and characteristics as detriments this book recommends that we just consider them unique traits and no big deal. This is a good message.Most of the reviewers who dislike this book take it as a comment on ethics when I do not think that is really what it is meant to comment on. We all know that there are things that are right (telling the truth, being good peaceful neighbors, etc.) and things that are definitely wrong (lying, taking a weapon to school, child abuse, etc.) But this book is not about that. It is on a much, much simpler level. Since most children learn bigotry and prejudice by the age of THREE (!) it is imperative that we "bigot-proof" them very early in their lives, preferably before they begin school. This is a book meant for early childhood, when children become more aware of differences and wonder about them. Just take it at that level. And if you do not like to eat macaroni in the bathtub, then for heaven's sake, discuss it with your child!!! That is what books are for--to promote dialogue and thought. If eating macaroni in the bathtub is the oddest thing your kid ever does in life, you do not have a very curious or flexible child!As a former art teacher, I like the bold colors and drawings--very nice. I think most kids who read this book come away with a rather happy attitude about the message. Most would probably think it whimsical with a hint of truth.