*****= An all-time favorite
**** = Outstanding
***
= Above average
**
= Enjoyable
*
= Good, with reservations
***Beauty and the Beast
retold by Nancy Willard
wood engravings by Barry Moser
Reviewed October 1, 2004.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, San Diego, 1992. 70 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (J 398.2 WIL).
I discovered this lovely book hidden away in our Easy Books section.
Although it’s in the large format of a picture book, this book has more words,
and only has pictures every few pages.
Here’s a lovely retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales. The
story is mainly the traditional tale, although this time the merchant’s town
is old New York City. The details are fleshed out, and the story is
lovingly told.
This book gave me a charming half-hour with a well-loved story.
It made me want to reread Robin McKinley’s even fuller versions, Beauty
and Rose Daughter.
Book
Reviews by Sondra Eklund
