Ladybird Tales: Beauty and the Beast
#10 of 18 in Ladybird tales Series
What’s inside...
This beautiful hardback Ladybird edition of Beauty and the Beast is a perfect first illustrated introduction to this classic fairy tale for young readers from 3+. It features a sensitively retold story, retaining all the key parts from the beginning with Beauty's father traveling to the beast's castle, to Beauty returning to the rose garden to find the beast alone. The book includes beautiful color illustrations on each page, and is part of the Ladybird Tales series which includes other classic fairy tales, all based on the original Ladybird retellings by Vera Southgate. This edition is printed in the U.K., is 50 pages long, recommended for 3rd grade reading level, and has been in one family since the early 1970s.
Discussion points
How did Beauty's feelings towards the Beast change throughout the story?
What do you think is the most important lesson Beauty learned?
Why do you think the Beast looked scary but was kind inside?
Can you think of a time when you had to look beyond someone's appearance?
What would you have done if you were in Beauty's place?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the characters, and relate those feelings back to their own experiences.
Highlight the theme of inner beauty and kindness by discussing how appearances can be deceiving.
Ask your child to imagine alternative endings to the story, encouraging creative thinking.
Use expressive read-aloud techniques, changing your voice for different characters, to make the story more engaging.
Discuss the concept of empathy by exploring how the characters might have felt in various situations in the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Kindness and compassion
Explanation: In 'Ladybird Tales: Beauty and the Beast', Beauty exemplifies kindness and compassion by looking beyond the Beast’s appearance and discovering his true character.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of treating others with kindness and not judging people based on their looks. This can be applied daily by encouraging friendships with peers who may seem different from them.
Example Lesson: Courage and bravery
Explanation: Beauty shows immense courage when she agrees to live in the Beast’s castle in order to save her father. This act of bravery ultimately leads to the transformation of the Beast.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to face their fears and take brave actions even when they feel scared. This could be applied in situations such as standing up against bullying or trying new activities that seem intimidating.
Example Lesson: The power of love and redemption
Explanation: The transformation of the Beast into a prince by Beauty's love highlights the theme of redemption and how genuine care can change individuals for the better.
Real-World Application: Children learn that love and respect can have transformative impacts on others. They can practice expressing love and respect within the family and with friends, and observe the positive changes these emotions can bring.
Example Lesson: Sacrifice and loyalty
Explanation: Beauty’s decision to live with the Beast, her continued loyalty to him, and the sacrifices she makes demonstrate her strong sense of duty and loyalty to her family.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the value of being loyal and making personal sacrifices for the well-being of others, particularly family members. This can manifest in sharing, taking turns, or helping with household chores.
Example Lesson: Looking beyond the surface
Explanation: The story powerfully conveys the message that true beauty comes from within. The Beast, once feared and disliked, is revealed to be kind and gentle.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to appreciate people for their inner qualities, such as kindness or humor, rather than external aspects like appearance or material possessions.