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Sharon Purtill was a stay at home Mom and entrepreneur when she stumbled into publishing in 1998. That year, along with her husband, she wrote and published her first book. That book’s success took them both by surprise when it went on to sell tens of thousands of copies right out of their garage. Today, Sharon is an award winning author who publishes in multiple genres under a couple of different pseudonyms. Her passion for writing, family and a positive life motivates her to create books that she hopes will enrich the lives of others. She hopes to one day escape the cold, and write from a tropical beach somewhere where her biggest concerns will be sand sticking to her suntan lotion and an empty margarita glass. But, for now, Sharon treasures the warm summer months and the time she gets to spend with family and friends in Ontario, Canada.
Reviewed by Louanne Piccolo for Readers' Favorite
It’s OK to Be Different, written by Sharon Purtill and illustrated by Sujata Saha, is a children’s picture book celebrating children who have the courage to be themselves, and to accept others as they are. When children learn that diversity is positive, it becomes natural for them to embrace differences instead of shunning them, to turn towards others instead of turning away. Different appearances, different activities, different physical traits, and personal preferences – it’s all part of living in a world as diverse as there are people in it. Embracing the differences between people equips children to deal with bullies, and helps them grow from compassionate youngsters into compassionate adults with empathy, respect, and kindness for others.
It’s OK to Be Different delighted me with its simple, but timely rhyming prose and beautiful illustrations. It sends a succinct message to children about the importance of accepting who they and others are, without preaching or lecturing. I particularly enjoyed the way in which Sharon Purtill flips the concept of being different onto the reader. By writing, “You should always be kind to those who are different from you. Because to them, YOU are different too,” she invites children to see that to others they may be perceived as strange themselves; a concept many children struggle with. It’s OK to Be Different draws readers in and compels them to follow the story right through to the end. Young readers with an eye for exceptional artwork and clever wordplay will enjoy it over and over again.
