
Growing an Artist
The Story of a Landscaper and His Son
John Parra(Author)
Paula Wiseman Books (Publisher)
Published on 10. May 2022
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-5344-6927-3 (ISBN)
Description
Four starred reviews!
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year
From award-winning artist John Parra comes a "heartwarming family story that underscores the value of creativity, passion, and hard work" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) that is "a love letter to sons and their fathers" (BookPage, starred review) based on his childhood experience.
Today is a big day-the first time Juanito gets to help his papi on the job as a landscape architect! Throughout the day, Juanito sketches anything that catches his eye: a nest full of baby birds, a nursery with row upon row of plants and flowers, and more. Father and son travel from house to house, pruning, weeding, mowing, and turning overgrown and chaotic yards into beautiful spaces.
A few of the clients don't appreciate Papi's hard work, like Juanito's classmate who pretends not to see him. But Papi always feels pride in owning his own business and in a job well done. And at the end of the day, Juanito may get the chance to turn his artistic eye toward landscape design-just like his papi.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year
From award-winning artist John Parra comes a "heartwarming family story that underscores the value of creativity, passion, and hard work" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) that is "a love letter to sons and their fathers" (BookPage, starred review) based on his childhood experience.
Today is a big day-the first time Juanito gets to help his papi on the job as a landscape architect! Throughout the day, Juanito sketches anything that catches his eye: a nest full of baby birds, a nursery with row upon row of plants and flowers, and more. Father and son travel from house to house, pruning, weeding, mowing, and turning overgrown and chaotic yards into beautiful spaces.
A few of the clients don't appreciate Papi's hard work, like Juanito's classmate who pretends not to see him. But Papi always feels pride in owning his own business and in a job well done. And at the end of the day, Juanito may get the chance to turn his artistic eye toward landscape design-just like his papi.
Reviews / Votes
*Sincere and lively with illustrative detail, Parra's story reveals how his personal sense of creativity and esteem for hard work grew during his childhood experiences with his papi's landscape company.....As he readily sketches and helps Papi with landscape work, readers meet the role models in Juanito's childhood world-not just Papi but also long-time employee, Javier, from Mexico. This story offers teachable moments about the different but equally important roles that create a thriving community.... In an author's note, Parra delves deeper his father's life story. VERDICT In a reflective nod to his youthful days spent with his father, Parra presents a balanced, intricate illustrative style to convey his earnest appreciation for hard work, lessons, and creative influence. * <I>School Library Journal, *</I>STARRED REVIEW* * *Sincere and lively with illustrative detail, Parra's story reveals how his personal sense of creativity and esteem for hard work grew during his childhood experiences with his papi's landscape company.....As he readily sketches and helps Papi with landscape work, readers meet the role models in Juanito's childhood world-not just Papi but also long-time employee, Javier, from Mexico. This story offers teachable moments about the different but equally important roles that create a thriving community.... In an author's note, Parra delves deeper his father's life story. VERDICT In a reflective nod to his youthful days spent with his father, Parra presents a balanced, intricate illustrative style to convey his earnest appreciation for hard work, lessons, and creative influence. * <I>School Library Journal, *</I>STARRED REVIEW* * *Parra incorporates Spanish words and phrases into the text and touches on the importance of Latin American migrant workers to the landscaping industry. It's an underappreciated job that requires creativity and demanding physical labor.... Honoring the great pride that Parra's father took in his landscaping work, Parra's characteristically vibrant and finely detailed acrylic illustrations in Growing an Artist depict people and plants with equal affection and respect. The way that Papi points out natural beauties to his artistic young son is tender and moving, and a scene in which he gently lifts a branch to reveal a hidden bird's nest is especially lovely. Growing an Artist is a love letter to sons and their fathers, to work done with one's hands and to making the world more beautiful, no matter what tools are used to do so. * <I>BookPage</I>, *STARRED REVIEW* * *Parra's autobiographical picture book reflects on how working in his father's landscaping business nurtured his identity as an artist.... Juanito's sketch pad is close by throughout, and he learns that everything he experiences feeds his imagination: his proudly entrepreneurial father, an overgrown yard, a nest of baby birds, and even a classmate's dismissal all become driving forces "to tell the stories of hardworking, passionate people who make the world more beautiful." An author's note concludes. * <I>Pubishers Weekly, </I>*STARRED REVIEW* * *A young artist helps his father on the job....In this autobiographical tale, author/illustrator Parra recounts his childhood experience of tagging along to work with his papi, an independent landscape contractor, for the first time. TJohn's father is from Mexico, and characters are depicted with skin tones ranging from tan to dark brown.(author's note) * <I>Kirkus </I>Reviews, *STARRED REVIEW* *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
f-c reflective uncoated (spfx: heavy spot gloss)
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 239 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
390 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5344-6927-3 (9781534469273)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2022
Paula Wiseman Books
€10.87
Available for download
Persons
John Parra is an award-winning illustrator, designer, author, and educator. For his children's illustration work he has received three American Library Association Pura Belpre Honors. His books include Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, written by Monica Brown, which earned a New York Times Best Illustrated Book designation; Green Is a Chile Pepper, written by Roseanne Thong, which received the Americas Book Award; Spanish Is the Language of My Family, written by Michael Genhart, which received seven starred reviews and the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award; Hey, Wall, written by Susan Verde; The Power of Her Pen, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome; and his authorial debut Growing an Artist, which was the recipient of the Christopher Award and the Americas Award. Learn more at JohnParraArt.com.