Beauty and the Beast
Beauty’s family loses everything, and when her father takes a rose from a hidden castle, she bravely agrees to live with the Beast in his place. But in this retelling, the Beast is more than it appears… it is a reflection of Beauty’s own untamed side, leading her to discover courage, love, and her true self.
This story has been written and illustrated by real humans.
Read along with the animated video
Listen to the audiobook
Read ‘Beauty and the Beast’ online for free
© Storyberries. All rights reserved.
Let’s talk about ‘Beauty and the Beast’!
Spark a conversation with your child and connect the story to real-life lessons.
Vocabulary
- Abode
- A home or place where someone lives.
- Vainglory
- Excessive pride in oneself or one’s achievements.
- Corset
- A tight piece of clothing once worn to shape the body.
- Kinship
- A close connection or bond between people.
- Pelt
- The skin and fur of an animal.
- Grotesque
- Something very strange or ugly in appearance.
- Obstacle
- Something that makes it hard to go forward or succeed.
- Revelation
- A surprising or important truth that is discovered.
Context
Beauty and the Beast – The Inner Rose is a dark fairy tale retelling that explores themes of identity, love, and transformation. It blends familiar fairy tale elements such as magical castles, enchanted roses, and mysterious beasts with deeper explorations of selfhood and emotional growth.
The rich imagery of dreams, gardens, and the rose symbol invite reflection on how stories teach resilience and self-discovery. This version also highlights the tension between social expectations and inner truth. Children reading this story can gain cultural knowledge of a classic fairy tale while also learning about courage, compassion, and the power of embracing their authentic selves.
Discussion questions
Spark a conversation with your child and connect the story to real-life lessons.
Identity
- How does Beauty’s name shape the way she feels she must act?
- Do you think people should always live up to others’ expectations of them? Why or why not?
- In what ways does Beauty discover her own identity when she meets the Beast and realises it may be part of herself?
Family
- Why does Beauty take her father’s place at the Beast’s castle?
- How do Beauty’s sisters behave differently from her when the family loses everything?
- What do you think this story shows about how families rely on one another in times of hardship?
Feelings
- Why is Beauty at first afraid of the Beast when she sees it?
- How does the Beast show both strength and sadness?
- What feelings change for Beauty as she learns that the Beast may reflect parts of her own heart?
Personal Power, Self Love
- What does Beauty discover about her strength when she accepts the Beast as part of herself?
- How does facing the Beast help Beauty understand what it means to love even the darker parts of who she is?
- Do you think self-love includes caring for the parts of yourself that feel difficult or strange? Why might that be important?
Buy the paperback
Love the story? Own the book
Visit the Storyberries Bookstore
PS: Your support means the world to us! When you make a purchase through an Amazon link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us spread the magic of free stories to children across the globe. Thank you for being a part of the Storyberries family!
FAQs about ‘Beauty and the Beast’
What is ‘Beauty and the Beast’ about?
What themes are explored in this story?
How does Beauty change throughout the story?
What values can children learn from this story?
How can parents use this story at bedtime?
How can teachers use this story in class?
Who are the main characters?
How can this story support literacy and learning?
What activities can extend the story experience?
What is the recommended age group?
What similar stories can I read?
Credits
This story was brought to life by these awesome real humans!
- Written by: Jade Maitre
- Illustrated by: Anthony E. Leah
- Edited, designed and narrated by: Jade Maitre
- Music video from “Air Prelude” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Errigal” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Winner Winner!” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Temple of the Manes” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Dragon and Toast” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Modern Vibes” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “To the Ends” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Lift Motif” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Somewhere Sunny (ver 2)” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The post Beauty and the Beast first appeared on Bedtime Stories.
