Beauty and the Beast

I love Beauty and the Beast. It’s one of my favorite fairytales. This is a wonderful telling of the story that’s loosely based off of Marie Le Prince Beaumont who abridged the story from the original story and novel by Madame de Villeneuve (which I was lucky enough to get to read.) In my opinion I think Beaumont’s abridged version of the story is a little bit better than the original novel. In the novel there’s more of a backstory to Beauty and the prince who was transformed into a beast. I didn’t find a problem with it though. It was nice to read something a bit more fuller of the tale of Beauty and the Beast than the iconic short tale that everyone knows about. I guess I just prefer the abridged version because I’ve heard it a lot growing up or have watched a lot of adaptations of it told with the Marie Beaumont’s version in mind.The book is nice to give to a child as a way for them to be introduced to the story of Beauty and the Beast until there old enough to read the Marie Beaumont’s story with more words. They can probably read the novel when their maybe twelve or thirteen or older than that.So yes overall this book was sweet. I just gave it four stars because I didn’t like how Kinuko Craft wasn’t consistent with the Beast’s look. On the front cover he looks great, perfectly decently monstrous looking. I was very expectant of continually seeing him with that appearance until the very end but on the page where Beauty is wearing a white dress with seashells and beads in her hair sitting with the Beast with her hand in his paw he looks completely different. It’s like he’s some kind of wolf-Beast with spots and light colored patches of fur. I was so confused at first and was wondering if I was seeing this the same Beast from the cover but no it wasn’t. Only the page where Beauty is begging the Beast to visit her father does it show the same illustration of him on the cover. And after that on the page that he’s on does he become almost a mix of the cover beast and the beast that I mentioned sitting and talking with Beauty. I don’t mean to make this a big deal or a nit pick it’s just something I didn’t like because I’ve never seen anyone think to change up the Beasts appearance where he looks different almost every day. People are usually consistent when their telling the story or making a movie. The only change you really see is when he changes into a human prince at the end. I can understand though if she changed his appearance to test Beauty in some way to see how bothered she can remain by his monstrous looks instead of focusing on his character. After re-reading the book I’ve learned to like all the different looks of the Beasts throughout the story.Edit: I change my mind I’ll just give five stars. It seems silly to only give it four for that one thing I didn’t like. Kinuko’s art is too beautiful for any less stars.

What a beautifully written book for all ages.

Beautiful book

If you have not yet discovered the award winning team of Kinuko and Mahlon Craft, do yourself a favor and check out their gorgeous books. Each one is lavishly depicted. The oil over watercolor in their version of Beauty and the Beast is breathtaking. I cannot wait to share these books with my granddaughters. If they're anything like me, they'll be enjoying these beauties for years to come. A wonderful retelling that will capture your heart.

Very nice quality book and a great story

A beautifully detailed retelling with exquisite art utilizing transparency techniques, fascinating images, and several double page spreads. The story flows and reads like poetry. The illustrations draw the viewer into this world with endless detail and compelling composition, so each illustration becomes its own story. Beauty & the Beast is a dreamlike story of love... for daughter and father, and Beauty and her beast...

We have purchased so many Craft fairy tale books simply because of the illustrations. We wanted to avoid the Disney fairy tale versions and purchase something a bit more artistic and imaginative. My daughter adores the pictures and admires each and every detail. Regarding the text, we typically opt to summarize or edit out parts of the fairy tales we think are not age appropriate.

I love these books! My 8 year old granddaughter gets lost in the stories and the illustrations. She'll find a quiet space and read through each book until done. The illustrations depict the stories in wondrous detail. These are NOT Disney renditions, but what Disney wishes it could convey. I plan to buy all the Craft illustrated (written) books.