Todd Parr

James Patterson: Hi, Todd, welcome to ReadKiddoRead.

Todd Parr: Thanks a lot for your interest and having me on. I’m a big fan and it was an honor to have the request.

JP: Good! Well, I’m glad. I love the project of trying to get kids reading more, and trying to get parents more involved in selecting books for their kids.

TP: Yeah, I think it’s great. I love the website. I think it’s a great thing. Happy to be a part of it.

JP: How did you get started with making books for young readers?

TP: Really, through my art. That’s been the goal throughout my life, the whole becoming an artist thing. I’ve struggled for several years with that, going down every path from showings to designing product for merchandise for kids and things, and I ended up doing the licensing show in New York. And my editor then at the time was walking the show and saw my original artwork there, and it was really used to showcase this kind of Todd Parr department, if you will, like mini-concept. And she approached me about my artwork, which was all large canvases that had positive messages on it like “It’s okay to be different.” That was my lucky break there…

JP: It’s funny because when I walked through Little, Brown, and I saw your book covers, I would say, “See, those are great book covers because they communicate what they’re supposed to. You really notice them. They do what book covers are supposed to do and so many book covers don’t.”

TP: Yeah, I think Little, Brown saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. They put very little restrictions and guidelines on me, and kind of just let me start doing what it was I was doing. And I was very naïve. But, looking back, it kept the purity of trying to communicate and depict how I think kids interpret things and what keeps their attention.

JP: I think not knowing ‘rules’ is always very useful.

TP: Yes. All the time people want to ask, “Do you have a degree in child’s psychology,” or “Did you have a curriculum?” If I had any of that stuff—the truth is I barely made it through high school—but if I had any of that stuff it probably really would’ve tainted what I was doing, and I just kind of blindly went out there and started doing this. I was actually pretty fearful of books because I did not like to read when I was younger. And so was very intimidated by the process of writing. I thought you had to be really great at everything: English, spelling, a great storyteller.

JP: I think sometimes people forget that it really is about communication. And obviously you’re a wonderful communicator.

TP: Yeah, who knew?

JP: Are there any proud moments that stick out to you, in respect to your books? Any emotional scenes?

TP: I think one of the things—again, and not knowing who the target was for these books other than speaking to kids—was realizing what I would encounter with these types of books and the messages that were in it, I was amazed at how many kids were struggling with so many different issues that were so complex. And parents as well, whether it be simply from illness to disease, or dramatic things that happen to kids or in peoples’ lives, that they’re just clamoring for something to help depict them and their family or them, but it’s okay to be who they are. Realizing the impact of a statement “It’s okay to have wheels”—that’s how I want kids to interpret my books. Realizing that so many people were out there, saying, “I want to be able to see something positive that reflects my situation without having to go to the self-help section of a book store.” That was a really big moment for me, that, “Wow, you’re able to connect with people and all these things you didn’t even realize and you’re able to make a difference and help them feel good.” And that, to me, was a very proud thing.

JP: The notion of ‘who you are is inside’ is one that you can keep grappling for the rest of your life. It’s so fundamental and important. And you look at all these various people, take Lindsay Lohan, who are struggling so much—I don’t mean her per se—but a lot of these people seem to be so caught up in how they look or whether they’re cool or not... What’s on the inside? What’s your core?

TP: People ask me, “Well, where do you get these ideas from?” I never have the perfect answer. A lot of it comes from observing, or from issues going on in my life. But now, nearly ten years later, most come from watching the impact and learning from the difference or the impact that I’ve made previous.

JP: What are some other books for younger kids—besides your own!—that you’ve come across that you think are particularly good?

TP: I don’t know that this is the right answer, or the best... But it’s what I am! Dr. Seuss. And those, to me, had such an impact in my life growing up, not just because of the repetitiveness, or Go, Dog, Go or Are You My Mother? They just made me feel good. But the fact that my grandma read me those books night after night after night, and looking back now what a huge impact that had on me. When I think of things that make a difference, they may not have solved big problems, but I think that those books to me were incredible books—at the very least for getting kids interested or getting them to read. And I still fall back on those favorites today.

JP: How about Bully? Any books that Bully particularly likes to chew?

TP: Yeah, Bully. Vice President Bully Parr, who oversees the office here, is a big fan of Otto, the Otto books.

JP: So is Jack. When Jack was little, that was the series he loved. And I must say, for a while there I was despising you before I knew you! Because when you read these younger books for the thousandth time for these fanatical kids, you just want to ask, “Can we take a break from this a little bit?” But he was a fanatic with the Otto books.

TP: You know, those were such a big step for me. I worried about wearing out my welcome of writing the positive message. How many versions of It’s Okay To Be Different can you do without diluting what you’re doing? And the natural progression as we, everyone, talked, was for me to do more story-themed books, and the perfect thing for me was this really cool dog and then coming up with a name. I didn’t want to use the name Bully in these books without being able to explain it.

JP: Although God knows that’s a good name, too.

TP: Ha! So they’ve become Otto. But I’ve had a lot of resistance with those books. Kids love them and when I go out to schools and events, they all gravitate to Otto, they know Otto, they love Otto. But it’s the parents who want the other books. So sales of the Otto books have been just extremely poor compared to my other titles, and that’s because the kids are going for Otto and the parents are saying “Hmm. We like The Family Book and The Peace Book, with these positives messages.” I have not been able to break that…

JP: Part of It’s Okay To Be Different and this idea of getting comfortable in your own shoes: “it’s okay to be yourself” is a hard thing for kids to do—I mean, that’s probably one of the hardest things in the world. They can’t settle on the idea of not having to be like the other kids, you don’t have to follow suit. Just be yourself, it’s okay, it’s cool.

TP: I like to try and not just sit there and read them the book but engage them first. I don’t sit, and it’s not quiet time, but I really draw them in and get them involved. And they love it, they have a good time, but they have a much better time with Otto.

JP: Have you gone back to Wyoming for any readings?

TP: I did. I had a reading back there, which was nice. My grandma was able to come to that and my eighth grade math teacher who I feared and had not seen since school. So it was very interesting.

JP: It is interesting sometimes… when people from your past come who you didn’t necessarily have such a positive relationship with…

TP: No. But what was remarkable about her was that she apologized for her behavior right up front to me. She said she’d mellowed out a lot since the day. And I found that interesting that back then, the fear that I had of her, and how I never really thought more of it and. And then she—face to face—immediately apologized.

JP: It’s interesting that she still remembered it. Any thoughts or tips or notions that might be helpful to parents get kids interested in reading? Any tricks?

TP: One of the most important things is to stimulate them, to bring them in. As I talk to kids I immediately start asking questions that may relate to a book. I’ll ask how many of them are missing a tooth or how many of them wear glasses and throw in funny stuff just to get them involved in it. And I think that that heightens their interest, makes them ask what’s going to happen next, and makes them a part of it. In a lot of my books I ask them to, like in Do’s And Don’ts, say “repeat after me with those two words—do or don’t” so they’re actively a part of this and not just thinking “Oh, its story time, quiet time, sit and listen.” It’s very important to make them part of what you’re doing and get them to help you in any way.

JP: That’s great. That’s a terrific tip. Thanks for giving me a little bit of time to do this, and I do hope that this site helps some parents to find books for their kids. It’s great to talk to you, and Jack will be excited that I met one of his heroes.

TP: Yes, give him my best.

JP: Okay.

TP: I appreciate it. Thanks.

JP: Bye now.

TP: Alright. Bye.