Angela Barrett and Max Eilenberg

It would be impossible for me to pick my favorite version of Beauty and the Beast, so I have to narrow it down by genre.

My favorite picture book version is written by Max Eilenberg and illustrated by Angela Barrett. The text sticks closely to the Beaument version while keeping the characters fresh and relatable. The illustrations are highly imaginative. After so many versions of the Beast have been conceived, I'm sure it's hard to come up with creative new versions that are believably scary and loveable at the same time. If I were to ever create a movie version of Beauty and the Beast (I don't create movies or anything--only in my head) I would model the sets off of these pictures. I just love the third picture down, all the mystical creature candelabras. There's another picture in the book I couldn't do justice to because of the size of my scanner, of the father stumbling upon the castle for the first time. The castle looks breathtaking and formidable at the same time, and I can almost feel the still, cold air as the father gazes in awe. If you want to see the picture, buy the book!