Beauty & the Beast

As in his other pop-up adaptations, Sabuda skillfully masterminds a 3-D version of this classic, with care paid to every detail. Mini-booklets relay the story, while the pop-up architecture provides depth and dimension; the artwork recalls stained glass, adding to the fairy tale flair. In the opening spread, the beast's gloomy, bruise-colored castle looms while accordion-style panels expand toward readers as Beauty's father explores the castle. Sabuda's beast is quite monstrous, with a bedraggled mane, demonic horns, and a serpentine tail. His transformation into a "handsome young man" in the final spread is comparatively subtle, and the story ends a bit abruptly, but the message about inner beauty is delivered with grace. Ages 3–up. (Oct.)