The Heart of a Boy

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER.

It’s time to celebrate boys.

Against the backdrop of a growing national conversation about how to raise sons to become good people, Kate T. Parker is leading the way by turning her lens on boys. Author of the bestselling book about girls Strong Is the New Pretty, she now shows the true heart of a boy in 200 compelling photographs.

Boys can be wild. But they can also be gentle. Bursting with confidence, but not afraid to be vulnerable. Ready to run fearlessly downfield—or reach out to a friend in need. In this empowering, deeply felt celebration of boys being—and believing in—themselves, see the unguarded joy of a little brother hugging his big brother. The inquisitive look of a young scientist examining a bug. The fearless self-expression in a ballet dancer’s poise. There are guitarists, fencers, wrestlers, stargazers, a pilot. Boys who aspire to be president, and boys whose lives are full of overwhelming challenges, yet who bravely face each day as it comes.
With inspiring and joyful quotes from the boys themselves, this book spreads a heartfelt, uplifting message of openness, self-confidence, and warmth.

“Kate T. Parker’s incredible Strong Is the New Pretty helped us reimagine girlhood as silly, messy, spirited, and fun. Now she turns her perceptive lens on the other sex to expand our definition of what it means to be a boy . . . and presents something desperately needed in our well-meaning cultural conversation about boys—she shows us their enormous, wonderful hearts.”—Michael Ian Black, actor and writer

“Silly, serious, nerdy, athletic, creative, bold—the adjectives describing boys could go on for pages. But if boys are to grow up to be admirable men, the one thing they must be is kind. Kate T. Parker’s book helps clear the way for a time when everyone understands that.” — R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder

“Every parent who picks up this book will be grateful for the impact it will have on their family.” —Gary Vaynerchuk, author of Crushing It!

• “[A] vibrant catalog of portraits devoted to boys. The Heart of a Boy is full of smile-inducing photographs that give readers a deep appreciation of boys in all their variety, bursting the tired stereotype that they need to be “tough,” not vulnerable.” —New York Times Book Review

  "…the photos speak for themselves, as do the boys, whose self-aware thoughts accompany their beautifully realized portraits (“I want to be President because I am helpful, kind and nice”). Finally, this beautifully designed book is a feast for browsers. And that’s no small matter."—Booklist

  “A beautiful, joy-filled celebration of boyhood and its many facets.”—The New York Post

  “Silly, serious, nerdy, athletic, creative, bold—the adjectives describing boys could go on for pages. But if boys are to grow up to be admirable men, the one thing they must be is kind. Kate Parker’s book helps clear the way for a time when everyone understands that.”—R.J. Palacio, author of Wonder

  “Every parent who picks up this book will be grateful for the impact it will have on their family.”—Gary Vaynerchuk

  “Kate T. Parker's incredible photographic series Strong Is the New Pretty helped us reimagine girlhood. Now she turns her perceptive lens on the other sex to expand our definition of what it means to be a boy. In The Heart of a Boy, Kate shows us that, just like girls, boys are silly, messy, spirited, and fun. But they are also tender and vulnerable and sometimes sad. Kate’s photos present something desperately needed in our well-meaning cultural conversation about boys—she shows us their enormous, wonderful hearts.”—Michael Ian Black

• 2019 Nautilus Book Award—Nautilus Book Award