Deep in the Heart of Texas

BookPeople in Austin was one of three Texas bookstores that author/illustrator Todd Parr visited earlier this month while on a mini-tour of the state. Parr spent two days at the store, where the staff created an eye-catching display complete with papier-mâché likenesses of Parr's characters (see photo, l.). When it was all over, at the store's request, Parr painted a window mural featuring the striped dog that appears in some of his books (see photo, r.).

The creator of such books as Underwear Dos and Don'ts and The Feelings Book also visited Enchanted Forest and Borders in Dallas and did a school visit arranged by A Likely Story in Plano. In Parr's words, "This trip really made me think about the impact my books have on kids, and what a difference it makes for me to read them out loud, paint, draw and let them ask questions."