I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!

Karen Beaumont. 2005. I AIN’T GONNA PAINT NO MORE! Ill. By David Catrow. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0152024883 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

REVIEW
Beaumont tweaks the old tune “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More” to present this playful ode to painting with whimsical illustrations by David Catrow. A child’s paints have been put away because: “One day my mama caught me / paintin’ pictures on the floor / and the ceiling / and the walls / and the curtains / and the door, / and I heard my mama holler / like I never did before . . . .” His furiously frustrated expression is flawlessly depicted in a double-page spread with his dog and him in the tub. Mother commands: “Ya ain’t a-gonna paint no more!” On the next double-page spread, the child is the only subject of any color except for the hidden paints. However, the sheer bliss on his face as he begins to paint his head immediately catapults us into a lively look at colors and body parts. Because the text rhymes and the ending rhyme is on the following page, children participate with enthusiastically shouted interjections. The painter begins shedding his pajamas as he paints his body parts along with his dog’s with more elaborate designs. Soon there is only one body part left to paint!

The overall design is delightful. The end pages are splashes of colorful, spilled paint or perhaps, abstract art. The text is printed in large multi colored fonts that add to the silliness of the story. Throughout, as the boy’s bemused companion, the dog’s expression is hilarious. The painting of the boy, his dog, and his surroundings grows more and more exuberant until the final page with its gentle letdown and logical conclusion. A great read aloud and a sure treat for multiple readings.

CONNECTIONS
Invite children to choose a simple folk tune and alter the words to illustrate a concept.

RELATED BOOKS
Also by Karen Beaumont:
I LIKE MYSELF. ISBN 0150202136

By Cay Geisler