Wait! No Paint!: A Break in the Wall

Wait! No Paint! tells the classic tale of "The Three Little Pig" in an original and refreshing way. The tale starts off in its usual way but then "the illustrator" spills juice on the first pig's house. Whatley uses soft and exaggerated paintings for the pig story but paints his juice class and paint tubes in a hyperrealist style to show the break in the fourth wall and the difference between the two worlds that have collided. At first only the readers know that the illustrator is interfering with events but soon the pigs do too, and when the illustrator runs out of red paint, the pigs turn pale and feel "sick" because they are now white. So, while this book at first seems like another rendition of "The Three Little Pigs" its actually a story that showcases the importance of color and art in creating a picture book. It teaches young readers visual literacy and the importance of color in setting tone and creating a complete story in a funny way. 

Title: Wait! No Paint!
Author/Illustrator: Bruce Whatley
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: 2001
IBSN: 0-06-028270-3
Elly's Rating: 4/5 Stars