John Parra is an award winning illustrator, fine artist, designer, and educator, best known for his art illustrated Latino themed children’s books such as Gracias / Thanks and Waiting for the Biblioburro. For his books he has received many awards and honors including: The Golden Kite Award from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, The Pura Belpré Honor’s Award from The American Library Assoc., The Américas Book Award: Commended Title from CLASP, The International Latino Book Award: Best Interior Children's Book Art from Latino Literary Now, and The Christopher’s Award from The Christopher’s Inc. 

His illustration clients have included: United Airlines, Boston Children’s Hospital, Hitachi Data Systems, Jeep/DaimlerChrysler, National Geographic, PBS, El Museo del Barrio, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Random House, Chronicle Books, Lee & Low Books, Sleeping Bear Press, Luna Rising, SCBWI, Santa Clara Magazine, Virgin Records and many more.He received Pura Belpré Honor Award in 2015 for Green Is a Chile Pepper.