This Moment Is Special

Written and illustrated by John Parra

Hardcover

$19.99

$18.59

4 - 8

Reading age

Page count

Jul 15, 2025

Publication date

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What's This Book About

Publisher Summary

Through all moments of the day, both large and small, a boy prepares for a Day of the Dead celebration, in this picture book from Pura Belpré Honor-winning author-illustrator John Parra. A single day in a boy’s life is filled with family, love, and inspiration as he prepares for the Día de Muertos celebration and remembers that all moments are special. Each moment reminds us of our family and those who have gone before us. Today holds a special promise, una promesa especial.

What Kind of Book is This Moment Is Special

Topics

death holidays mindfulness family Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)social themes values and virtues

Genres

fiction

Reviews

Book Lists That Include This Book

Books about death

Books about holidays

Books about mindfulness

The Creative Behind the Book

Author & Illustrator

John Parra

John Parra is an award winning illustrator of many books for young readers, including Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown, named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, and Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil Bildner, which won the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration. His other awards include the ALA Pura Belpré Honors, and the Christopher’s Award. Additionally his books have appeared on Bank Street’s and Smithsonian Magazine’s: Best Children’s Books of the Year lists. In 2015 John was invited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to present a special event about his work and career in art and illustration. Today his work can be seen at the U.S. Post Office on six new Forever Stamps titled: Delicioso, with art images celebrating Latino food cuisine. John’s most recent book, Hey Wall: A Story of Art and Community, with author Susan Verde, was released this past Fall 2018.