Beauty & the Pea

Hilary Robinson's Beauty & the Pea is a rhyming picture book for 5 year olds that squashes two favourite fairy tales into one.

What happens

A shopkeeper stops at Pea Castle and helps himself to a feast. What he doesn't know is that the castle belongs to a beast.

The beast was once a prince, until a wicked witch cast a spell on him. To break it he needs a kiss and a pea. And a princess who likes flowers.

So when the shopkeeper picks a red rose on his way out, a booming voice wants to know who it's for. It's for his daughter, Beauty. And the beast has a plan.

If you know your fairy tales, you'll see where this is going. The beast makes up Beauty's bed very carefully, with a single pea tucked under the mattress. Will she feel it? And if she does, what does that mean for the spell?

The fun is in spotting the joins. Half of it is Beauty and the Beast and half is The Princess and the Pea, and they slot together surprisingly well. Little ones who know both stories will love catching the moment the second one sneaks in.

It's all in rhyming verse, so it bounces along when you read it aloud. There's a great "How dare you!" for your best big booming beast voice. And the beast is much more sweet than scary. He hangs lace curtains and leaves a rose on Beauty's pillow!

It's short, so it works nicely at bedtime. The rhymes are the kind a child will soon be joining in with, and some might want to have a go at reading the lines themselves.

If your child is very attached to the proper versions, you might get a stern "that's not how it goes!" (which is honestly half the fun). Who doesn't love a story that mixes things up a bit?

What to read next

If they enjoy this one, Cinderella and the Beanstalk is another mix-up in the same style. Jack swaps the cow for a magic bean, and it's Cinderella who looks up and wants to climb.