The Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is probably one of the most beautiful and poignant fairy stories a child is ever likely to read and indeed is probably now one of the most popular thanks to having been "Disneyed" to the limit by book, film and stage play. However, in this stylish and rather stunning version of the tale Geraldine McCaughrean has managed to turn back time to present a simple story which perfectly captures the true essence of the mystery and romance of young Beauty and her unlikely hero. Gary Blythes striking oil paintings add a depth and lustre to the retelling of this classic tale, reveals the drama of the world of Beauty and her Beast with a clever blend of darkness and light which so perfectly complements the richness of McCaughrean's text. This combination makes the book perfect "read-together" material for younger children or a read-alone pleasure for older children who will revel in the magical reality of the words and pictures. There can be few people who are not familiar with Beauty and the Beast in some form or other, but Geraldine McCaughrean and Gary Blythe have worked together to ensure the tale will live on through further generations without the aid of saccharin. (Age 6 and over) --Susan Harrison


Genre: Children's Fiction