When a new school year starts, it is customary for parents to prepare their children for the return with new clothes, a fresh pair of shoes and often a haircut. Though this ritual may not seem life-changing, it was for Turlock native John Paul Padilla.
As he returned to school one year, his schoolmates began taunting him about the size of his ears. “I thought I was like one of the regular kids, like everybody else,” said Padilla, who’s now 55. “But then Mom decided to cut my hair, and suddenly my ears were protruding, sticking out. And that’s when I noticed that kids were making fun of me.”
Padilla did not know it then, but it would set him on a mission to help others accept themselves while he found his own confidence. He is the author of a self-published children’s book titled “Johnny Big-Ears: The Feel-Good Friend,” which tells the story of Johnny, who endures teasing because of his appearance. Based on himself, Padilla hopes the book inspires kids to accept their differences and not judge others for looks or circumstances…