Beauty and the Beast by Mahlon F. Craft; illustrated by Kinuko Y. Craft. 2016. Oil over watercolor on gesso panel.
Brief summary: A rich merchant has three daughters and lives well until he loses his fortune causing them to live in a small cottage. He receives news that one of his ships is found. He leaves his daughters with high hopes, but all of the cargo is used to pay off his debts. The father returns on his long journey empty-handed and exhausted stopping by a castle in the middle of a storm where he eats and stays overnight never seeing his host. He takes a rose as he leaves causing a beast to appear furious with the thief. The beast tells the father he will die unless the man switches places with one of his daughters which ends up to be Beauty. She arrives frighten of the beast but learns to love him over many dinners. The beast asks for her hand in marriage, but she refuses longing to see her sick father. He allows her to go for a week if she promises to return. She is overdue a few days and rushes back to find him dying, but he is revived by her kiss and turns back into a prince. They marry.
Comments: There are little twists and differences from the popular Disney version. The oil illustrations are stunning and capture the essence of the fairy tale. This is an excellent addition to any library.
