Beauty & the Beast

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 14, 2016

Review

Kuniko Craft's illustrations are the star of this retelling of the Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's version first published in France in 1756. Created in artist's oil paint on a gesso panel, each page features a lush drawing with detail and depth. Children would most benefit from being read this story one-on-one as they can pore over the pictures while the long pages of text are read. The text is not the Disneyfied version, but true to the original story and, as such, pulls no punches. The cruel sisters of Beauty are turned to stone statues at the end to "repent for your selfishness and spite..." and Beauty is rewarded for her honest heart and lives a happy life with her Beast until the end of their days and "those were many indeed." A great book for fairy tale enthusiasts and a gorgeous addition to a collection, especially one interested in preserving the original stories and enhancing them with top-notch artwork.

Overall Book Score: very good