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

When Mama catches her son 'paintin' pictures on the floor/and the ceiling/and the walls/and the curtains/and the door,' she sticks him in the tub and declares, 'Ya ain't a-gonna paint no more!' Fresh from his bath, the child rescues his hidden supplies and says, 'So I take some red/and I paint my…/HEAD!' Subsequent rhymes move from neck down to feet as he adds gobs of color to different areas. Since the last word of each verse comes on the following page, readers get the satisfaction of show more completing the anticipated rhyme and seeing each newly painted body part with each page turn. Catrow splashes color all over, uses white space cleverly, and includes playful flourishes, such as a marching row of ants on the boy's arm and Easter egg designs on his leg. Elongated figures and exaggerated expressions match the silly tone of the story, and the concerned dog who observes the antics is particularly amusing. With rhymes that invite audience participation and scenes that draw the eye, this is a strong storytime choice. Based on the song 'It Ain't Gonna Rain No More,' show less

Shoe-La-La! by Karen Beaumont is about a group of girls trying to pick out the right pair of shoes for an upcoming party. It's a fancy dress up party and I guess the right shoes will make all the difference — but don't ask me, shoes have never been my thing.

Anyway, with lots of flouncing rhymes, the girls go through trying every last shoe in the store. The elegantly dressed shop employee gets more and more distraught looking as the piles of shoes grow.

But time is up and alas, alack, no show more shoes! What's a girl to do? Personally I'd go with wear sensible shoes, but these girls have a different plan. They decide to decorate their own shoes with arts and crafts and bits and bobs at home.

OK, I like the creative solution. My artistically inspired daughter adores that option. But a gendered, very pink book about girls (even a diverse cast as this one) going gaga over shoes and dress up and fancy balls, is disappointing. It would have been better if there was less pink and maybe a boy or two. Or maybe even some non-binary kids to make the experience more inclusive. show less

I think that this is a very catchy and interesting book for young kids. It deals with an issue that many kids get in trouble for at some point in their young lives – drawing on things on which they are not supposed to draw. The illustrations are drawn originally in black and white and are then colored in with what looks like water colors to represent the paint that the little boy is using in the story. There is a pop of color on each page, immediately drawing the reader’s eyes to the show more page. The illustrations also go along perfectly with the story, highlighting each body part as the little boy paints it. This teaches young kids body parts, allowing them to connect the word arm, for instance, with an actual picture of an arm. The language in this book is also very repetitive and uses rhyming words to draw in the reader. For example, each page includes a creative way to say how he is painting a different body part. On one page, the author writes, “Still ain’t complete till I paint my… FEET!” One thing that I am unsure of with this book is the use of slang language. I like the rhythm and feel that it gives to the book, and it undoubtedly makes the book more interesting. However, I would not want children reading this book to then think that it is acceptable to use words such as “ain’t” or “ya’ll” in every day, formal conversation. Overall, I liked this book, and I believe that the central message is to teach kids the different parts of their bodies. show less