Parents' Guide to

Beauty and the Beast

By Terreece Clarke, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Captivating art shapes West African-set fairy tale classic.

Beauty and the Beast Poster Image

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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is a wonderful retelling of the classic tale using West African imagery to breathe new life into the vision and prose. The story is enhanced with new details, such as the addition of more siblings for Beauty and a less violent and temperamental version of the Beast. He isn't unhinged and full of rage as seen in other portrayals, which is a nice touch. The story stays upbeat with great pacing, which will go a long way in keeping little readers' attention.

The richness of Pat Cummings' illustrations takes the book to new heights. Each page is full of detail and rich colors. The choice to cast Beauty as a West African is endearing for all audiences, not only for readers of color, because it shows that a classic fairy tale can be about any form of beauty and does not have to conform to any one standard.

Book Details

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