Beauty and the Beast

by Cynthia Rylant, Meg Park (Illustrator)

Beauty asks for little, finding joy in simple things and the company of her father. The Beast, shut away from the world in his great stone castle, knows only loneliness. Brought together by a stolen rose, each finds that love may call for sacrifice, but true love can bloom in even the darkest places. Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant tells a classic tale of bravery and transformation with stunning, lyrical prose, accompanied by Meg Park's soft yet vibrant illustrations. This new picturebook makes a beautiful keepsake that children will pore over for years to come.

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Beauty and The Beast, Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2017

About the author

Cynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting retelling of this classic tale in which Neo was able to take a front-row seat. A man who lost all his riches tries to get them back, only to find they have been stolen. When he comes upon a castle and is offered food and lodging, he must barter something away to protect himself. One of the man’s daughters agrees to sacrifice her freedom to save her own father, which puts her face to face with a beast. Their relationship blossoms, slowly, and true beauty shows its face. Neo liked the story and asked about the rose and why a pretty girl would want to stay with an ugly beast. I can see the early stages of rational reading and thinking. I may have a critical reader on my hands yet!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming retelling of the classic fairy tale. Despite being published by Disney, this is true to the original, with the older sisters asking for jewels, while young Beauty asks only for a rose, when their father goes to the city to try and salvage one last ship. The pictures are gorgeous as well, and I do believe this is my favorite picture book of this tale.

[Marquise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mmm... the original Beaumont version coupled with Disney visuals? Doesn't work well, because Disney's plot is different, and the artist's style here is like someone with lesser skills trying to imitate the motion picture's art from screen stills. The result is rather ugly, in my opinion.

[Brooke Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both my child and I enjoyed this version of beauty and the beast. The story was well adapted, and the illustrations were beautiful.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 3 stars
Art 4 stars

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty pastel illustrations, but shallow and rather clipped retelling, the latter making it even somewhat disturbing.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this version of the story. The illustrations are nice too.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Girl, sit down and let those fools do the emotional labor.

Very disney art, story doesn't hang.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love fairy tales and can't count how many versions of Beauty and the Beast I've read over the years. I think this one is perfect for very young readers. It might be the best version of Beauty and the Beast for introducing children to fairy tales.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This version of Beauty and the Beast shows is somewhat different than what I am accustomed to, the Disney’s animated version. I discovered this version on Ruth's Goodread shelves and Goodreads Popular Traditional Literature. I listened to the audio story on Youtube. You see beautiful hues of purple, red and such. Beauty’s family once lived in riches but fell on hard times when father’s business failed. There were three sisters. While two of the sisters complained about the unfair life, Belle never did. When cargo arrived that would restore their rich status, Beauty only wanted a rose. When father went to the port, all his belongings had been stolen, facing a long journey home. A blizzard set in but his horse led him to a Stone Castle, where he had fallen asleep. When he tried left the next day, he found a rose but he was confronted by a Beast when he attempted to retrieve the rose, and the Beast felt slighted because of his hospitality and would remain a servant. Convinced that he would not sacrifice any, he was sent home to tell them he had to leave but Beauty insisted and convinced her father to let her go assured someday he would release her. When Beast asked Beauty to marry him, she explained that she could not because she was not in love with him.Beauty’s father was ill, he allowed Beauty to go and she nursed her father to health. Beauty returned when she dreamed the Beast lay dying. Beauty could not imagine life without him and confessed her love which transformed him into a beautiful young man, breaking the spell, one only by love. This is a beautifully written and illustrated book with hues of purple, blue and red throughout. It is an easy read along with and can be used by students in 2nd and 3rd grade to compare and contrast with other Beauty and Beast stories.

[Kiersten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book title through a Goodreads search and located an e-book format through my local library. This picture book seems to be a take on the traditional tale by Jeanne Marie Le Prince De Beaumont instead of the Disney version. Although it is Disney Hyperion published, it did not resemble the movie version.
*SPOILERS*
This book tells the story of a family who has lost all their riches and live humbly now, but then a ship comes back to port with Beauty's father cargo. Her sisters are thrilled to be rich again, however, Beauty simply asks for a rose. However, the cargo was stolen and on the way home her father stayed in the castle where the beast found him and made him be his servant. The Beast allowed him to go home if one of his daughters took his place as his servant and Beauty volunteered. Different from Beaumont's version, Beauty is happy at the castle throughout her journey, however, she tells him she does not in fact love him. She leaves, only to come back to find the Beast dying and she professes her love to end the cursed spell and turn him back into a prince.

The illustrations in this book are simple and allow readers to follow along as an independent or read aloud read. I would use this book with K-2 in order to show them that there are different versions of classic tales they may know (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, 3 Little Pigs, etc.). Students can demonstrate the skill of comparing and contrasting the story elements in this version versus the Disney movie version they know.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this version while Googling Beauty and the Beast. I chose to read it because I have read other Cynthia Rylant books and enjoyed them. This is the basic Beauty and the Beast tale. There weren’t any additions or new aspects of the story. I watched someone read this aloud on YouTube. The reader didn’t seem to enjoy reading this book aloud. There was little to no expression or enthusiasm which made the book feel flat and boring. The pictures seemed vibrant and colorful, but the reader did not hold the book up close enough to the camera to see any details. The strengths were the colors used in the illustrations. There were more weaknesses than strengths though. There was nothing new to this version of the tale. It is unclear why this was published when so many exact same versions already exist. It didn’t develop a friendship let alone a believable relationship between the Beast and Belle. This book doesn’t stand out in any particular way, and I wouldn’t use it in the classroom without a lot of discussions. I hesitate to even think about putting it in my classroom library but it could be read to students in 1st and 2nd or in a unit for older students in high school to analyze the ways in which fairy tales are harmful to impressionable young people.

[Phair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho-hum version. Very stripped down story and illustrations that owe a lot to the Disneyfication of the tale right down to a depiction of the yellow flounced ball gown . Beast is a hunched grey thing with goatish horns and features somewhere between a wolf and a lion or saber-tooth cat. I wouldn’t give a second glance to the transformed prince who looked like a pre-teen. Totally lacking in originality and magic.

[Miss Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Very uninteresting and undeviating prose.

There were changes:

*The cargo is stolen so the dad has nothing to bring back.

*There is only one rose in the garden that Beauty's dad cuts.

*No magic mirror, no enchanted rose, etc.


Art was passable.

[Bethany F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story as written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Meg Park, tells the story of a young girl Beauty whose simple pleasures and love for her family is captured beautifully. The story begins by describing Beauty, the youngest of three daughters raised by a once very wealthy man that soon lost his wealth due to the failure of his business. While the two older daughters did nothing but complain about their lack of wealth, Beauty remained happy and sang often. Soon the father's wealth was about to be restored when a ship sailed to port with what was thought as the father's riches. The father asked his daughters what gifts they wanted and the two oldest requested emerald necklaces, while the youngest simply requested a rose. However, as the father traveled to the port, all of his riches were gone. To add to his struggles, a strong winter storm fell upon him as he traveled back, and he got lost. His horse brought him to a stone castle in the woods and upon entering, he was greeted with a meal and a warm bed to sleep in. The next morning, as he was leaving to return to his daughters, the old man found a single rose, and clipped it in hopes to give it to Beauty. He was met with the great and ghastly beast who told the man that he must stay with him and be his servant for the rest of his days. As the man begged to reconsider as his daughters would be lonely without him, the beast agreed to let him go in return for one of his daughters.

As the man traveled back, he would not let any of his daughters go, and attempted to give his goodbyes. Beauty however convinced her father that she would go and that the beast would let her go eventually. The man agreed to let Beauty live with the beast. She enjoyed her time with the beast and did not live as a servant, but as a companion. Beauty's dreams sent her back to help her sick father and nurture him back to health, and she promised the beast she would return. Beauty kept that promise, only to find Beast almost dead himself. Confessing her love for the Beast, the spell that cursed him into the Beast by the hand of an old evil woman whom the beast refused to marry her daughter, was broken. Beauty and the Beast did indeed live happily ever after.

Cynthia Rylant's use of beautifully written prose sets the tone for this magical text. The very first page begins with "to be unloved is a great misery, and the loneliness of it nearly impossible to bear...neither power nor riches could save him. What he needed was Beauty..." In addition to the textual beauty, Meg Park's illustrations capture the magical and enchanted elements of the fairy tale. This text would be appropriate for elementary students for use in comparing and contrasting elements of different versions of the fairy tale. Students could also discuss character traits of each of the characters as evidenced by their actions in the text. For example, the Beast's character was very different in this version in that he was not angry, mean, or violent as depicted in other versions of this tale.

[Jackie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version of Beauty and the Beast is another retelling of the classic version we are all familiar with. There are certain parts of the storyline that have been reconstructed, but many points are the same.

The story starts with a family of three daughters and a father. One day, Father goes to port to retrieve his lost cargo. Each daughter was to receive a gift from the port, and Beauty asked for a single rose. Father gets lost on his journey home and takes refuge in a castle. When he is leaving to return home, he cuts a single rose from the garden for his daughter. The beast appears at this point and demands a member of his family becomes a servant in exchange for losing his only rose. Beauty sacrifices herself, but she has a pleasant experience while living with the beast. Beauty begs to return home when her father becomes ill, and the beast lets her go. However, Beast starts to die along with the castle while Beauty is away. The story ends with Beauty returning to the castle, professing her love to the beast and saving him.

I found this version of the traditional tale on Librarything.com and the Goodreads shelf provided by this course. I chose this version to review because I liked the visual aspects of the book the most. The setting in this story follows the European style (i.e. castle, forest, etc.). The author did little to describe the setting to readers, but the illustrations enticed readers.The warm, yet dark color tones helped portray the theme of the story. The illustrator used many shades of purple which alluded to the darkness within the beast, but still left the reader to sense his good and tender side.

While this is a picture book, I think this story is appropriate for all age levels. I think teachers have an opportunity to be really creative in how they choose to incorporate this book in instruction across different grade levels. There is a chance to teach students how to further analyze the characters given the brief descriptions the story provides of beauty, the sisters, her father and the beast. This can lead to a deeper compare and contrast activity with the characters from multiple versions of the story as well. In this particular version, Beauty has two sisters who are very different from her. Students can study a theme of kindness, or another behavior to be imitated, and the rewards that follow. These activities mentioned can be used with many different age levels of students, and there are so many valuable learning opportunities that can be incorporated with this story. While this is simply a traditional tale of an old classic, I still appreciated this book.

[Kathryn (Dragon Bite Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally published on my blog, Nine Pages .

I thought because this was marketed (at least by Barnes & Noble) with all of the books and merchandise for the new live-action Disney remake of its animated film by the same name that this story would follow the Disney story, but instead Rylant stayed nearer the Perrault version of the story and devoid of any talking furniture. Beauty (not Belle) is the youngest of three sisters and her father is a merchant whose fortune is lost at sea. Her older sisters when the father’s ships are recovered want emerald necklaces, but Beauty wants only a rose. On the way back to home from port, the father is caught in a storm and shelters in a castle that seems deserted except that a feast is laid out for him. On his way from the castle, he spots a rose in the garden and remembers his youngest’s wish. As payment for the rose, the Beast, master of the castle, demands the father’s enslavement but allows him to return first to his family to say goodbye. Beauty demands to go to the Beast in her father’s stead. The Beast gives Beauty endless days of leisure, fine clothes, wonderful food. He reads poetry to her by the fire at night. And every day he asks if she is happy. One day he asks her to marry him, and she refuses. The Beast accepts her answer. She returns to her father to care for him in illness, then returns when she dreams that the Beast is dying. Her realization that she loved the Beast restores him to his human form: a man with darker skin than Belle’s.

Meg Park, who I’ve admired from a distance for some time for her softness, bright, jewel-like colors, and expressive characters, makes nods to the Disney cartoon in her illustrations: The Beast has the same basic shape, though he is perhaps more wolfish, Beauty’s design is close to Belle’s, though her hair is more auburn and her outfit more seafoam green than sky blue. Beauty’s horse is a palomino but not a Belgian Draft. In these ways and more she deliberately strays from the Disney retelling but harkens to it enough to highlight that both stories use Perrault as the basis for their tale.

I really enjoyed introducing young enthusiasts to a retelling nearer the Disney version.

[Jennifer Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this retelling of a classic fairytale! In this book a girl named Beauty is the youngest of three daughters. Her father discovers that a lost cargo ship carrying all his riches has been found and asks his daughters what treasures they want him to bring back for them. While the older two daughters want riches, Beauty wants only a rose. The father discovers that all his treasures have been stolen and gets trapped in a snowstorm when he takes refuge in a castle. On his way home he sees a rose outside the castle and cuts it for his daughter. The Beast that evidently lives in the castle becomes enraged that someone tried to steal his last rose and tells the father he must be his servant forever. The beast allows the father to go say goodbye to his daughters and when he does so, Beauty insists on taking her father's place in the castle. Beauty enjoys living with the Beast and they get along. The Beast lets Beauty go when she has a dream that her father is ill, and she is able to nurse him back to health. Beauty then has a dream that the Beast is ill and returns to the castle to find him nearly dead. Beauty tells the Beast that she loves him. Her love turns the Beast into a handsome prince, and it is revealed that he was under a spell that a wicked witch put on him when he refused to marry her daughter. I loved that this version of the story still told the classic fairytale but is slightly different than the Disney movie version that some children may be familiar with. I would use this book as a read-aloud or include it in a classroom library. The illustrations in this book are fun and engaging to look at. I would love to read multiple versions of this story with a class or even read this version and have them watch the Disney movie version of the story so we could do some compare and contrast activities with the different versions.

[Abigail Bristow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Fairy Tale
Awards: None
Audience: I would recommend this for ages 4/5 up to 7/8 as this is a fairy tale book that also has very limited text in a picture book format therefore younger ages would be capable of reading this/having guided reading with it and the older 7-8 yr olds would certainly be capable of independently reading this style of literature.

A. The main characters are somewhat "flat" as they are very traditional to the classic "Beauty and the Beast" story. Beauty is a charming young woman and Beast is the strong but intimidating character whom she fall in love with and later reveals to be a dashing young prince. The father is feeble and old and Bell's sisters are barely involved and rather selfish and dissatisfied with everything.

B. I am familiar with the Disney version of this book as well as a faint remembrance of various children's book versions that I read as a child but cannot recall the author's names.

C. This is a story I would use for storytelling both with a child or with a whole group as it could work either way. It would be a great one-on-one reading however the text is limited and the pictures are large which would make it a great option for group storytelling and the group could discuss, make predictions, and note details as it's being read to the whole group.

D. A question I would write at the UNDERSTAND level of Blooms Taxonomy would be: "Describe the emotions Beast felt when the old father of Beauty picked the rose."
- Answer: He was very angry as he was yelling at the father and gave him a punishment because the rose that was picked was his only rose."

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast retold by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Meg Park follows the traditional tale of Beauty and the Beast. In the beginning of the story, Beauty asks for her father to bring her a rose. Beauty’s father wanders to the Beast’s castle where he picks a rose for her. Beast catches Beauty’s father taking the rose and tells the father that he either has to be his servant or he can bring back one of his daughters to be his servant. Beauty selflessly volunteers to take her father’s place in being the Beast’s servant. While Beast appears tough and mean on the outside, he is kind to Beauty and they develop a relationship. Cynthia Rylant does a nice job of including details of the original plot, while also bringing more depth to the story by describing the characters emotions This makes the story much more interesting and helps the reader feel more of a connection to the characters. The illustrations in the book are beautiful with vibrant colors. While the setting of the story is not really discussed in words, the illustrations bring the magical world of the story to life.

I found this book when googling beauty and the beast tales and was able to locate an ebook version on the my local library's website. The ebook was easy to find and read. I would recommend this book for kindergarten through second grade. It would be great to use as part of a storytelling unit, along with other folktales, to have students develop their storytelling skills and reading fluency. This book, along with other traditional folktales, could be used as part of a reader’s theater in the classroom.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has beautiful and very pastel-based illustrations that remind me of Disney but otherwise I have never seen Disney explore this type of story so was rather confused that Disney is the publisher.

Although the story focuses on a much older version of telling, the author chose to change the message and replaces the Beast's own need for growth into a story where he is the victim times two. We see a gentler creature who is also quite emotional in his beastly portrayal but there is otherwise really no arc besides rejection of the wrong person may mean a lifetime of punishment.

Meanwhile the story ends rather clipped as well with a mention of Beauty returning home with no time limit, her sisters really don't reappear and there is a suggestion that some time passes. Again any urgent liability has been removed from the main character who just happens to think again at a rather random yet fortuitous time about the other.

Where this book lacks in story and plot it does make up for in illustration if you like Disney's magical era of art. This Beast portrayal may have to be one of my favorites for he doesn't really seem too much like a monster but rather almost a giant cuddly kitty, which is probably the reason that his Beauty falls for him.

All in all it was decent for an adaptation, especially if you want to skip the growth arc and focus more on the emotional demons. Otherwise enjoy the art and just move on.

[Dana Jarrard-Lameyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a class assignment on traditional literature I chose this telling of Beauty and the Beast. I’ve always loved the Disney version, and I was curious to see what this one was like. Honestly, the story itself didn’t totally hook me—it’s written in a very calm, poetic style, which might be nice for some readers, but for me it felt a little slow and kind of distant. Not bad, just not super engaging to me.

BUT the illustrations by Meg Park? Totally gorgeous. The artwork is really what makes this book shine. The colors are rich, the characters are expressive and sweet, and every page feels magical. The artwork has an animated quality that shows the indication of movement really well. It was a very pretty book that I would probably keep on hand for my daughter to look through.

I’d say this one is probably best for kids around 6 to 8. It could be a nice option for a classroom if you’re doing a fairy tale unit or want to compare different versions of the same story. The writing is a bit more formal, so younger kids might need a little help understanding some of it, but it could spark some good conversation.

Overall, not a personal favorite in terms of the storytelling, but the illustrations are beautiful, and I can see it being a hit with the right audience

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book retelling of the French fairy tale in which a young woman goes to live with a Beast to pay the debt of her father, and eventually breaks the spell of the Beast by loving him.

Though this is published by Disney Hyperion, this is not a retelling of the Disney movie version of the tale. It is a more traditional retelling including the aspects that Beauty is the youngest of 3 sisters, her father is a merchant, and the look of the Beast isn't quite the Disney look (though Beauty does still look a little bit Disney Belle-ish). There are no magical, singing servants; they are invisible. There's no mob out to kill the Beast, he's just dying of heartbreak. It's much closer to Beauty by McKinley than any other retelling I've read (though this lacks the amazing personal growth of Beauty herself that McKinley gets to include in her longer retelling). The illustrations in this are beautiful, and it is a delightful, concise, more traditional retelling. Definitely recommended to fairy tale fans.

[Tonia Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This version of Beauty and the Beast as retold by Cynthia Rylant reminded me of Cinderella in some sense. Beauty had two sisters that were only concerned with the wealth that their father had. One day his wealth was recovered on a ship. He asked his daughters what they wanted – the two sisters wanted emerald necklaces, and Beauty wanted only a rose.
Concern for wealth versus the desire for the simple things in life was a highlight of this version. The need for wealth tends to be a focus for most people whereas fewer people look for the simple things to make them happy. It makes me think about the status of our word presently – living for the simple thing as survival of COVID-19 versus seeking wealth and popularity. The latter has been compromised because of the virus.
Meg Park, the illustrator, did a good job keeping to the way that Disney uses pictures to tell stories. Published in 2017, the picture looked Disney-authentic. A beginning reader could use the pictures to tell the story.

[Ana Jagielko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book searching for retellings of the classic Beauty and the Beast story. From what I could see this book has not won any awards. Cynthia Rylant’s Beauty and the Beast is such a sweet and easy-to-read version of the classic story. Beauty is super kind and brave, and the Beast is actually really nice once you get to know him. The story is very similar to the Disney version which most kids have had the opportunity to watch. The illustrations add to this story to bring the castle and characters to life. I'd recommend this title for kids around age 6–10. The main themes are focused on kindness, courage, and looking past appearances. In the classroom this book could be used to compare and contrast to other Beauty and the Beast stories. It could also be used in a social emotional learning activity to talk about the lessons on being kind and brave.

Overall, this was a great version of the classic story and I plan to use this during our upcoming reading unit!

[Lorna James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cynthia Rylant’s Beauty and the Beast is a lyrical and heartfelt version of the well-known tale. The poetic language paired with Meg Park’s soft, elegant illustrations brings a sense of grace and warmth to the story. Unlike darker versions, Rylant’s retelling emphasizes emotional transformation over fear showing that love and kindness can reveal one’s true self. The moral message is simple but powerful: real beauty is found in compassion and courage. Students can easily relate to Beauty’s selflessness and curiosity, making it a strong anchor text for discussing empathy and perception.
In grades 3–5, teachers can use this text for comparing and contrasting traditional and modern retellings. It pairs well with lessons on character traits, theme, and moral development. Students can write journal reflections about what “inner beauty” means to them or act out scenes to explore dialogue and emotion. This story also supports SEL lessons about kindness and acceptance.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful read of Beauty and the Beast. It seemed to follow the Madame De Beaumont version of the fairy tale, which includes Beauty's sisters. Beauty's humility and courage shine through when she decides to put her father's life before her own in order to bring peace to her family. The Beast falls in love with her, but when she decides to attend to her father's needs before her own once again, the Beast feels the impact of her sacrifice and learns what it means to love until it hurts. Yet, his sacrifice doesn't go unnoticed by her. The story about sacrificial love is set against lush and colorful pencil drawings. The lines are soft and gives the book a sweetness and style all its own.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars, but I gave it a boost because the illustrations were so pretty.

This version of the story takes us back to the original telling, with Beauty having sisters (who randomly disappear a third of the way through) and asking her father for a rose. Usually, there's the bit about the sisters being the ones to convince Beauty not to go back, but that plot point is gone here.

The story is still too abrupt here, but that's hardly Rylant's fault. The Beast accepts Beauty's rejection with grace, and lets her go home, but then all of a sudden, she realizes she does actually love him. There's only so much even the most talented author can do with that.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version of "Beauty and the Beast" is a vibrant, illustrated picture book that is more of a challenging read compared to the other children's books because of it's sentence structure and length. The story line is the same. Before starting school, a lot of children have already heard of this book or have seen the movie. I think this book is a good choice due to the fact the child can read the book and also see the movie to bring the book to life and develop a better understanding. The plot of the book can also teach the child a lesson to not judge others based off their looks and to always do what is right and to accept other people for how they are.

[Rosabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for anything written by Cynthia Rylant and anything Beauty and the Beast, so I was delighted to come across this book. Even though it's a "retelling" it was closer to the original in many ways than the Disney version that has made the story so popular. I like the way Ms. Rylant helps the reader to understand and identify with the lonely beast. I think the illustrations were perfect in aiding the storyline--they are simple, yet evoke much emotion. I have a number of Beauty and the Beast books, ranging from picture books to novels, and this one definitely ranks pretty high among them.