The narrative retelling isn't much to speak of, but the artwork has a wonderful darkness to it that I very much enjoyed. ( )

Beauty and the Beast by Mary Pope Osborne is a classic story which originated in Europe, France. The language is lively and had many similarities to the Disney movie I am familiar with. The book's story did not have as many conflicting characters as the movie but the theme of the story that beauty is deeper than appearance remains the same in both. The Beast was hideous with a frightening figure. All he wanted was for someone to love him for who he was, and not see just his appearance. After having nightly talks with Belle at dinner, and letting her go home to see her family, Belle discovers how Beast is not as scary as she thought. Belle agrees to love the Beast for who he is and then discovers his true appearance of the prince. ( )

This early picture-book from Mary Pope Osborne, better known these days as the creator of the immensely popular Magic Tree House chapter-book series, offers a simplified retelling of the classic French fairy-tale of Beauty and the Beast, retaining the basic structure of the original by Mme. Le Prince de Beaumont - the rich merchant with three sons and three daughters, the family's unexpected reduction to rural poverty and the futile journey to recoup some of their losses, the palace in the forest and the fateful plucking of the rose, Beauty's subsequent self-sacrifice, and her life with the Beast - but greatly reducing the text, and adapting it in a rather modern, colloquial fashion.

The result, unfortunately, is a narrative that is oddly disjointed, with dialogue that had me giggling at its unintentional hilarity:

"Tell me! What are you doing - stealing my roses?" yelled the Beast again. "My roses are my prize possession!"
"Oh, I'm sorry! Forgive me! Forgive me!" cried the poor man.
"I won't forgive you!" roared the Beast. "You will die for this!"
"Oh, please, no!" cried the merchant. "I only wanted one rose for my youngest daughter!"
"You have daughters?" asked the Beast.

I'm sure it wasn't intentional, but the foregoing put me strongly in mind of some slapstick comedies I have seen ("No! No! No! - Yes! Yes! Yes!"), and certainly didn't communicate the sense of terror - or, at the very least, menace - that should accompany the Beast's first entrance into the story.

Sadly, the lackluster text is in no way redeemed by Winslow Pels' illustrations, which I found rather dreary, and oddly out of step, stylistically speaking, with the story. What on earth was up with Beauty's hair?!? Why, in the musical scene, was she playing an accordion and tambourine? There was one image - the one in which Beauty's father struggles through the snowy forest - that I found appealing, but one painting simply isn't enough to save this venture! Unless you're determined to read every version of Beauty and the Beast on which you can lay your hands, skip this one, and try the lovely retelling done by Marianna Mayer instead. ( )

While reading this book, I enjoyed comparing it to the Disney version. This story is very different. I personally like this version better. The illustrations were my favorite part. This story was sort of a cross between the Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella I already know. This story focused more on Beauty's back-story rather than the Beast's. Instead of a magic mirror, the Beast gives Beauty a ring. These differences were very intriguing. This book was beautiful. ( )

Book Description: N.Y., New York: Scholastic Services, 1987. Pictorial Wrappers. No Jacket. First Edition. 1 printing. Unpaginated. (40 pp.) A paperback original title. Retelling of the classic tale with many colour illustrations by Pels, several containing subtle visual clues to physical intimacy between Beauty and her Beast. This title is quite difficult to find. Very Good. 9¾" - 12"