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The Beast with the Magical Horn
Eleanor Cameron's seventh book for children is an original fairy tale told in a modern style. It's the story of Allison, a common girl who falls in love with Prince Basil, and he with her. But Basil's aunt, the Queen, disapproves of the romance, and charges Allison with the seemingly impossible task of capturing seven mystical beasts and the secret of life. Only then will the Queen allow Basil and Allison's marriage.
The book features illustrations by Beth and Joe Krush.
The book features illustrations by Beth and Joe Krush.
74 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
23 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Cameron
28 books54 followersEleanor Frances Butler Cameron (1912 - 1996) was a Canadian children's author who spent most of her life in California. Born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1912, her family then moved to South Charleston, Ohio when she was 3 years old. Her father farmed and her mother ran a hotel. After three years, they moved to Berkeley, California. Her parents divorced a few years later. At 16, she moved with her mother and stepfather to Los Angeles. She credits her English mother's love of story telling for her inspiration to write and make up stories.
She attended UCLA and the Art Center School of Los Angeles. In 1930, she started working at the Los Angeles Public Library and later worked as a research librarian for the Los Angeles Board of Education and two different advertising companies. She married Ian Cameron, a printmaker and publisher, in 1934 and the couple had a son, David, in 1944.
Her first book came out in 1950, based on her experience as a librarian. It was well received by critics, but didn't sell well. She did not start writing children's books until her son asked him to write one starring him as a character. this resulted in her popular series The Mushroom Planet.
With the success of the Mushroom Planet books, Cameron focused on writing for children. Between 1959 and 1988 she produced 12 additional children's novels, including The Court of the Stone Children (1973) and the semi-autobiographical five book Julia Redfern series (1971–1988). She won the National Book Award for Court of the Stone Children in 1973, and was a runner up for To The Green Mountains in 1979.
In addition to her fiction work, Cameron wrote two books of criticism and reflection on children's literature. The first, The Green and Burning Tree, was released in 1969 and led an increased profile for Cameron in the world of children's literature. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s Cameron worked as a traveling speaker and contributor to publications such as The Horn Book Magazine, Wilson Library Bulletin, and Children's Literature in Education. She was also a member of the founding editorial board for the children's magazine Cricket, which debuted in 1973. In 1972 she and Roald Dahl exchanged barbs across three issues of The Horn Book, a magazine devoted to critical discussions of children's and young adult fiction. Her second book of essays, The Seed and the Vision: On the Writing and Appreciation of Children's Books, came out in 1993. It is her final published book.
From late 1967 until her death Cameron made her home in Pebble Beach, California. She died in hospice in Monterey, California on October 11, 1996 at the age of 84.[
She attended UCLA and the Art Center School of Los Angeles. In 1930, she started working at the Los Angeles Public Library and later worked as a research librarian for the Los Angeles Board of Education and two different advertising companies. She married Ian Cameron, a printmaker and publisher, in 1934 and the couple had a son, David, in 1944.
Her first book came out in 1950, based on her experience as a librarian. It was well received by critics, but didn't sell well. She did not start writing children's books until her son asked him to write one starring him as a character. this resulted in her popular series The Mushroom Planet.
With the success of the Mushroom Planet books, Cameron focused on writing for children. Between 1959 and 1988 she produced 12 additional children's novels, including The Court of the Stone Children (1973) and the semi-autobiographical five book Julia Redfern series (1971–1988). She won the National Book Award for Court of the Stone Children in 1973, and was a runner up for To The Green Mountains in 1979.
In addition to her fiction work, Cameron wrote two books of criticism and reflection on children's literature. The first, The Green and Burning Tree, was released in 1969 and led an increased profile for Cameron in the world of children's literature. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s Cameron worked as a traveling speaker and contributor to publications such as The Horn Book Magazine, Wilson Library Bulletin, and Children's Literature in Education. She was also a member of the founding editorial board for the children's magazine Cricket, which debuted in 1973. In 1972 she and Roald Dahl exchanged barbs across three issues of The Horn Book, a magazine devoted to critical discussions of children's and young adult fiction. Her second book of essays, The Seed and the Vision: On the Writing and Appreciation of Children's Books, came out in 1993. It is her final published book.
From late 1967 until her death Cameron made her home in Pebble Beach, California. She died in hospice in Monterey, California on October 11, 1996 at the age of 84.[
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 25, 2020
I am very glad I was able to track down this rare book from the author of my favorite childrens books, the Mushroom Planet series.
The set-up of the crabby/evil Queen devising seemingly impossible challenges for the commoner to prove herself worthy to join the royal family seems typical, but this delightful fairy tale from 1963 is female-forward with the girl and the unicorn doing all the heavy lifting plot-wise instead of the Prince.
That is my kind of book!
The marvelous illustrations were an extra bit of wonderful in a thoroughly enjoyable fairy tale.
I only wish it were longer. Which is the best compliment, no?
The set-up of the crabby/evil Queen devising seemingly impossible challenges for the commoner to prove herself worthy to join the royal family seems typical, but this delightful fairy tale from 1963 is female-forward with the girl and the unicorn doing all the heavy lifting plot-wise instead of the Prince.
That is my kind of book!
The marvelous illustrations were an extra bit of wonderful in a thoroughly enjoyable fairy tale.
I only wish it were longer. Which is the best compliment, no?
August 2, 2025
This children's book from the 1960s holds up well, at least to me, against the tests of time. It is unfortunately a very difficult book to locate. Even openlibrary.org did not have it available for checkout, though I think the copyright must be expired by now. I finally found a copy on Anna's Archive.
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March 24, 2016In this fairy tale-like story, a young woman rescues a unicorn from hunters. Then she meets a prince, doing the same thing. Of course they fall in love; but the prince's family has something to say about him marrying a beautiful peasant. The unicorn, however, is able to sort out the barriers that are in the way of the marriage.
Definitely slight; reminds me of The Humpbacked Pony fairytale from Russia. But a cute little read, with sweetly pretty illustrations. It's proto-feminist, with the girl standing up for her rights, if not really feminist...
Definitely slight; reminds me of The Humpbacked Pony fairytale from Russia. But a cute little read, with sweetly pretty illustrations. It's proto-feminist, with the girl standing up for her rights, if not really feminist...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews