Review: An astounding compilation
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 12, 2014
I truly enjoyed this collection of Beauty and the Beast stories and beautiful illustrations. Up until this reading my only acquaintance with the fairy tale had been the Disney film from the 1990s. I was surprised to learn that there were so many versions of the tale from so many cultures and eras including one based upon Greek mythology.The Beast himself was different throughout the versions as well. He was not only a "beast" but in some versions a bear or a lion and in others a snake; the common thread being that he was ugly and displeasing to look at. The fact that there are so many varieties of this story throughout history seems to point to the fact that we collectively believe that being kind and virtuous will always prevail in any situation, even when facing the most unbearable situation. An excellent lesson wrapped in an entertaining story to share with children.If you enjoy fairy tales or wish to share them with your children, I highly recommend this fine collection.