Karen Beaumont

Reading Karen Beaumont's I Like Myself! - a self-esteem picture-book with both textual and visual references to the classic work of Dr. Seuss - this morning on my morning commute, and then comparing my reactions to those of almost every other online reviewer, I once again have that strange feeling that I am out of step with the current zeitgeist. I know that the received wisdom these days when it comes to child development is that the promotion of self esteem is paramount, but the sing-songy show more self affirmation here just felt a little... well, narcissistic. Our cute-as-a-button narrator informs us that she likes herself, and she informs us repeatedly. In any and all circumstances. Regardless of what others think. Because "I'm me," she tells us...

Perhaps this one struck such a sour note with me because I read it at the same time as another picture-book (Eric A. Kimmel's Rosh Hashanah story, Gershon's Monster) that emphasized how disastrous the consequences can be, for ourselves and for others, when we refuse to really acknowledge our transgressions, but I finished this story with the feeling (one I've had increasingly, of late) that it was promoting, however unintentionally, feelings at the expense of ethics. Don't mistake me: I want children to like themselves, generally speaking. But I'm not on board with the message that they should always like themselves, in every circumstance, and regardless of the feelings and opinions of others. That sensation of self loathing, when we do wrong, is called conscience, and it would be a pretty horrific world without it.

Now, I understand that this is meant to be a lighthearted picture-book 'romp,' and I imagine that there are those who will respond by thinking I am either a) taking it too seriously, or b) underestimating the importance of self esteem building, in a negative world. All I can say in response is a) I'm a pretty serious person, and b) although I do believe feelings are important, if forced to choose between feelings and ethics, I'd choose ethics every time. show less

I like myself! By: Karen Beaumont

In my opinion, this is a funny and sentimental book. I like how the author uses her imagination to help encourage young kids to gain self-confidence. The illustrations provided are very colorful and lively, which make the book more engaging for the reader. Once I looked at the bright cover of the book and heroic title, I immediately wanted to continue reading. Humor is incorporated throughout the rhyme and allows the reader to appreciate the joyous main show more character. I also like how the author uses descriptive yet clear language. This is seen when she says, “I like me wild. I like me tame. I like me different and the same.” This specific quote is very catchy and sends a message regarding the importance of always being yourself and accepting your flaws. The message of the story was for all humans to love themselves, regardless of what other people think. Throughout the book, the author explains that there is no ideal image of beauty and each person should love themselves for who they are as an individual. Beaumont shares various different features of a person to show that all children are different in their own unique way. The little girl in this book is extremely creative and shares inspirational messages with the audience. For example, she says, “even when I look a mess, I still don’t like me any less” proving that everyone has their own identity and nobody should be judged based on their physical appearance. Overall, I believe this book taught the readers to be proud of who they are despite other people’s thoughts. show less

Using the song "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More" as a starting point, author Karen Beaumont spins a rhyming tale about a young boy who just can't seem to stop painting - especially himself! Full of exuberance, and a love of bright colors, his painterly instincts break out, even after his mother had forbidden him from continuing. The only thing that can put an end to his artistic depredations is... running out of paint!

Although unfamiliar with the song upon which it is based, I found I Ain't show more Gonna Paint No More! quite entertaining, and was reminded a bit of stories like A Day with No Crayons, about a girl who marks up her bedroom wall, and Oh, Were They Ever Happy!, about a group of children left home alone on a Saturday, who paint their house (and themselves). These sorts of associations are always welcome to me, and increased my enjoyment of Beaumont's tale and artist David Catrow's colorful illustrations. Recommended to all young would-be painters, who feel they simply can't contain the creative impulses within... show less

I really enjoyed reading "I Like Myself!" by Karen Beaumont. This story was extremely engaging, with a funny rhyme throughout which caught my attention while reading. Additionally, this book promotes self-love and uniqueness, which is important and could often be forgotten about or disregarded now a days. The pictures in this story are also very well done, bright, and large. The only thing, however, is that little children may not understand the true meaning of liking themselves and show more embracing their differences - they may just think that saying it repeatedly could get the job done, where that is not the case and there is so much more behind actually liking themselves. I would recommend this book for younger readers/to be read to younger readers. show less