Tales as Old as Time:
Beauty and the Beast Books
for Kids of All Ages
by Jennifer Clare
In Disney’s animated feature film “Beauty and the Beast,” Belle describes her favorite book as being filled with “far-off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!” The same, and more, can be said about the movie itself, making it, and the original story it’s based on, one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. And book lovers — who so relate to Belle’s bookish ways — love it even more. With so much excitement around Disney’s new live-action version of the story, readers are clamoring for more of this treasured tale. Here are nine books to keep the Beauty and the Beast magic, and story, going for young readers.
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Burgeoning Bookworms
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Quiet Time with Belle
This board book is great for helping the littlest of readers settle in for some down time. Follow along as Belle relates the many ways she — and you! — can still have fun while being quiet.
(Ages 0 - 3) -
Belle Is My Babysitter
Mrs. Potts asks Belle to look after Chip while she works in the kitchen. Chip is sad because he can’t participate in field day with the other village children (on account of the fact that he's a teacup), so Belle plans her own field day for the two of them. They spend the day catching sugar cubes, running obstacles courses, and having fun together.
(Ages 2 - 5)Available from: -
Beauty and the Beast
This version of the story is closer to the original version of the tale. Beauty’s father is heading into the city to try to salvage a ship and asks his daughters what they would like him to bring back for them. Her two older sisters greedily request jewels while Beauty asks only for a rose. After taking the last rose from the Beast’s garden Beauty’s father must become his servant, but Beauty convinces him to let her go in his place. Beautifully soft, pastel illustrations perfectly compliment this poetic retelling.
(Ages 3 – 5)
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Early Readers
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Beauty and the Beast Big Golden Book
Available from:Young fans of Disney’s animated film will love this Big Golden Book version of Beauty and the Beast. Colorful illustrations from the movie and simple text make it easy for beginner readers to follow along with a story they already know and love.
(Ages 3 – 6)Also available from: -
Beauty and the Beast
Available from:Following the original French fairy tale, it's Jan Brett’s richly drawn illustrations that bring this version to life. An 18th century setting, exotic animals that replace teacups and candlesticks as servants, a beautiful woman, and a boar-ish beast are all brilliantly rendered in pastel shades done with colored pencils and watercolors. Pay close attention to the details, especially the tapestries in the background, as they reveal the true identities of the Beast and his servants.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from:
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Middle Grade Readers
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Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book
The tale of Beauty and the Beast takes on added dimension with this imaginative story within a story. Conflicted over wanting to return to her father and her emerging feelings for Beast, Belle decides to forget her troubles by getting lost in a good book. When she comes upon Nevermore, a mysterious book that grants her access to a different world, Belle’s offered an escape from the castle and an invitation to a life of sophistication she’s only dreamed of. But Nevermore is not quite what it seems. Will Belle find out the truth before it’s too late or be trapped within its pages forever?
(Ages 9 – 12) -
As Old as Time: A Twisted Tale
Available from:As Old as Time takes Disney’s classic story a step further, adding an element of horror and a few surprising twists. Belle discovers that her mother is the enchantress that cursed the Beast and his castle. It isn’t love that will break this curse, but rather unraveling a dark secret about their two families. Alternating between Belle and Beast’s present efforts to break the curse and her parents’ past, this book delves further into the characters and creates a much deeper story of a tale we already know and love.
(Ages 12+)Also available from:
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YA
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Hunted
Hunted is a beautiful addition to the many treasured YA fairy tale retellings. Spooner honors the original Beauty and the Beast fairy tale while also weaving in touches of Russian folklore that add depth to the story. When Yeva’s father loses his fortune and moves the family into the forest, she is relieved to be back in nature and hunting again. One day her father goes missing in the woods and Yeva sets out to find him. Her search leads her to a land she’s only heard about in her father’s stories, the Beast’s land.
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Beast
This YA retelling only lightly borrows from the original fairy tale. Huge, hairy, and with horrid features, life has not been easy for 15-year-old Dylan. Even his best friends call him The Beast. When he one day falls off the roof and breaks his leg, Dylan finds himself in group therapy for self-harmers. There he meets Jamie, the Beauty to his Beast. But had Dylan been paying attention, he would know that Jamie is a transgender woman. Will finding out be the end of their relationship? This modern day twist on the old tale reminds readers that appearances don't always match what's on the inside.
