Beauty and the Beast

After reading Betsy Hearne's Beauties and Beasts - an international collection of folktales that incorporate the theme of the beastly, or enchanted spouse - recently, I've been considering doing a Beauty and the Beast reading project. Yes, yes, I know: another of my themed reading extravaganzas! But this fairy-tale, and its many variants, has always had a special place in my heart, and I think it would be fascinating to examine the diverse ways in which different authors and illustrators have interpreted it. Jan Brett being an immensely popular picture-book artist, I thought her retelling would be as good a place to start as any.

This retelling of the classic French tale of Beauty and the Beast features the intricate illustrations one show more would expect from Brett, from the gorgeous costumes to the appealing animals characters. Rather than use decorative borders to foreshadow, and tell more of her story (as she so often does), here Brett contrasts her foregrounded scenes, in which Beauty and her animal companions engage in a variety of activities, with her backgrounded tapestries, which (as careful readers will soon realize) depict the animals as they would appear, sans enchantment.

Like a friend and fellow reader, I think Brett made some smart aesthetic choices in her Beauty and the Beast, concentrating on animals (always one of her strengths), and cleverly working a dual narrative into the artwork itself. I also appreciated the fact that her Beast is a boar, rather than the more "traditional" bear-like creature - a clear tribute to the work of Walter Crane (as noted in the jacket blurb). I was a little less impressed with the text, and the changes Brett had to make, in order to incorporate the animal servants (I think I prefer the "breezes" that appear in some other retellings). All in all, a lovely retelling, though not my favorite. show less

In Beauty and the Beast, retold and illustrated by Jan Brett, the story is again, pretty much the same, with a few HUGE differences. Again, the merchant has only three daughters, Beauty wants a rose, he ends up in the Beast’s palace, picks the rose, Beauty must stay with the Beast forever. When the father brings her back, the Beast gives him a huge chest full of gold and jewels, as if he is buying Beauty (whoa! Not a good message!)
In this palace, there are footmen and musicians and a cook, etc. but they are all animals. Beauty’s father is not sick, but she merely misses him. She returns home with the magic ring and a promise to be back by the next full moon, so three to four weeks (our Beast gets more and more generous). At home, show more she returns to society with her again rich family, and attends balls and the theatre and goes on dates and totally forgets about the Beast. When she finally dreams about him, and sees him sick and dying, she returns to him via the ring, pledges her love, and he and all of the animals are turned back into their rightful selves.
I do not like this Beauty. She is kind of selfish, gadding about with other men when she had made a promise. The rose and the ring are the magical gifts.
Brett did some interesting things with her illustrations. She made the Beast, who is usually portrayed as a cross between a lion, a bear and a wolf, into a wild boar. Also, she uses a peacock or a peacock feather on every page, but never makes reference to it in the story. It is extremely random, and I was hoping she would use it as some sort of symbol, but never did. This is my least favorite version of Beauty and the Beast. One Star. show less

“Beauty and the Beast” was interesting and very different from Disney's adaptation. However, I did not really enjoy reading this book. The font was very small and always below the pictures. Sometimes, I would be so caught up in reading that I forgot above the words were illustrations. With that said, the illustrations were beautifully done in a way that made them look almost real. The main idea in this book is that beauty is on the inside not the outside.

In a gorgeously illustrated retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Jan Brett captures the romance and mystery of this classic tale. After a merchant picks a rose from an enchanted garden, his daughter Beauty must travel to the castle of the Beast in exchange her father’s life. The kindhearted Beauty is very frightened of the Beast, but his gentle heart and the amusing antics of the servants soon put her at ease. Over time Beast falls deeply in love with the gentle girl, but uneasy of her own feelings she rejects him time and again. Still, the Beast cannot deny Beauty anything she asks, so he releases her to return home to her family. Brett’s fluent prose expresses Beauty’s wrenching emotion when she realizes she’s abandoned her show more love, and her struggles to awaken his deathly sleep are suspenseful.

Beauty and the Beast is a story that explores the true meaning of love, and proves that appearances are deceiving but that actions can speak louder than first impressions. Brett’s iconic art beautifully complements the classical narrative style. This book will evoke childhood memories in those familiar with the story, and those experiencing it for the first time will find it unforgettable. show less

As always, Brett's illustrations are lush and incredibly rich in detail. In particular, I enjoyed this rendition of the folk tale of Beauty and the Beast.

A rich merchant spoils his three daughters, two of whom are selfish, the other daughter, different than the other two, is other directed and lovely. When the merchant looses his fortune, it is Beauty who stays with him. In search of finding a means of living, on a snowy night he is lost and stumbles upon an intricate, lovely castle. He is provided with a meal, a bed and clothing. When he picks a rose for his daughter, the beast in the castle demands that he return with one of his daughters.
He is given enough money to move forward in life, but must give up a daughter.

When, show more brokenhearted, he returns home, it is beauty who agrees to return with him to the castle. Choosing to stay there, she is entertained by the beast and soon grows to warm to his charming intelligence.

Asking to return home one more time, agreeing to return, soon she forgets her promise. In a vision she sees the beast dying. Returning to him, she finds him near death. Promising undying love and marriage, the beast becomes a prince

They live happily ever after. show less

This retelling of the classic fairy tale will appeal to children because of its mystery, suspense, and romance, and to adults because of its exploration of the duality in human nature.

Jan Brett writes a beautiful story but the true star of the show are her gorgeous illustrations. I love how the stunning art in the central picture is augmented by the secondary story being told in the images in the side bar. She is a tee master of her craft.