Beautiful story and beautiful illustrations! The characters were a little difficult to keep straight, but the confusion was minor. Really enjoyed sharing it with the littles.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the cover, it really pulled me in. I liked the illustrations a lot. The story was pretty good too.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute storybook with lots of good vocabulary and beautiful pictures!

Thanks Net Galley for the preview!

Alma and the Beast started out and I didn't know that Alma was the hairy character. The story was short and sweet. I liked that there was an element of needing to understand other's and how they are different but that is okay. My critique is that the girls name, Mala was to close to Alma and got confusing.

Sweet, whimsical, and honestly a bit strange but I loved it Parallel worlds and beautiful prose. The silly take that takes us on a ride filled with compassion. The art is beautiful and I honestly just stared at some of the pages because of how wonderful it was.

Initially, I was a little confused by this book. It wasn't clear which character was Alma. Once that gets cleared up, it's a pretty standard plot. In trying to help the beast find her way, Alma realizes that their differences are only superficial. Pretty cute, though.

'Alma and the Beast' with words and pictures by Esme Shapiro is a wildly imaginative picture book about making new friends, even if they are different from us.

Alma lives in a very hairy land. She braids the trees and combs the grass and pets her ceiling. The bees leave strands of honey, and Alma's pet is a hairy butterfly. One day, she finds a monster that is a little girl from our world. The girl is very different from Alma, but she is also lost. Can these two very different creatures become friends?

I really liked this story of how our differences can be overcome and we can be friends with people who are different from us. I loved the world this story takes place in and the imaginative drawings. There is quite a bit of imagination here and I enjoyed the book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Very cute. I think the art appeals more to adults than it does to kids, though. I would still read this at a story time.

Alma and the Beast is a beautifully constructed version of a beloved fairy tale. In a play of Beauty and the Beast, you will find that roles have changed in Esme Shapiro's new version. The Beast is not who you think it should be, but you will love the flip of characters in this fun version.

In addition to the fun take of the new characters, Alma and the Beast is an illustration goldmine. Page-after-page of this book is covered in mesmerizing drawings. I am awe in the sheer talent that Esme Shapiro has in creating a fairy tale wonderland.

As a teacher, I am always on the hunt for fun versions of classic fairy tales. Alma and the Beast will absolutely be joining my fairy tale collection. My students will love seeing Esme's flip of the classic version. In addition, this book will be perfect for comparing and contrasting alternative versions and perspectives of the classic stories.

What a lovely book! The illustrations are lush and gorgeous, and the story is beautiful. Alma lives in a world where everything is made from or covered in hair, including herself. One day, she finds a mostly hairless beast in her yard, who is lost and trying to find her way home. Alma helps the beast get back to her world, which Alma finds strange- nothing is hairy there! The beast shows Alma her world, and the two become friends. When it's time for Alma to go home, she finally learns the beast's name- Mala. The story beautifully shows that when we meet someone who is different from ourselves, who seems strange and "other," we must remember that to them, we are the strange one, the "other." If we can learn about each other, to appreciate the differences about each other's worlds, maybe we all could be friends too!

I want every page of this book to be art on the walls of my library. Alma is a hairy individual who spends their day braiding the trees, combing the grass, and painting the roof. One day they meet a hairless button nose beast who is lost and just wants help. This story was magical and the illustrations make it next to perfect.

Reminds me of my favorite childhood book so naturally i love it! Very unique world, the trees are amazingly adorable, the art is also exquisite! My favourite kid book ive read this year!

So alma and the beast were not who I thought. That book cover did an awesome job. The artwork was different and beautiful. The story really works on your personal biases and shows that learning new things is fun and exciting but wanting to do your own thing is also ok.

An imaginatively illustrated story with a simple yet profound twist--the vibrant and intricate images burst off the pages, while the tale invites you on in inverted journey about strangers and friends and finding home. Alma's world is delightful, and its details will linger with me for a while.

I thought this book was very clever in subverting expectations and making the human the unknown. Alot of possible lessons about making assumptions, and how to treat others who are unfamiliar, in kind ways. The illustrative style is gorgeous and quirky, especially Alma's world of furry hairy everything. Very cute.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

A story about friendship and understanding, done in some standout artwork. Alma is what humans would call a beast. She's a hairy, wooly creature that spends her days braiding trees and feeding her butterfly creature pet. But to her, HUMANS are beasts. So when one day she stumbles upon a "hairless, button nosed beast" who is lost, she must come out of her comfort zone and learn about the differences that can exist between people.

I found the book to have a clear message, that sometimes all it takes is a little conversation to understand something that can initially be scary to you. I particularly like how this book subverts what could have been another story. Alma could have been a human who finds a hairy creature in the forest, but the little twist here is that it's flipped. A simple one, but one that could allow a young reader to mildly understand "how the other half lives" and that, at the end of the day, people can always find things that are similar between them.

Esmé Shapiro brings us the silly tale of Alma, a yeti like creature, who discovers a beast in her yard one day. The beast happens to be a little girl who has gotten lost. In Alma’s world things are a little different, everything is very hairy just like she is. She combs her grass and braids the trees and goes about her day. When she realizes the beast is sad because she is lost, Alma shows compassion for this strange creature and helps her find the way home. The beast’s home is decidedly less hairy than Alma’s and the beast shows Alma around, teaching her about the things she does day to day in her world. A clever little story of acceptance and being non-judgemental.

Esmé Shapiro writes a story with a very Alice in Wonderland quality, although it’s hard to tell which place is the wonderland. Her illustrations bring the story to life in vibrant, shaggy sort of way. Her illustrations are bold and in your face, drawing the reader in and keeping them engaged throughout the story. Alma and the Beast makes an amazing read aloud. A silly story wrapped up with big bold illustrations to draw in the listener and hold them on the edge of their seats. Alma and the Best takes you on a journey through the imagination and opens up your minds to creative inspiration.

I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I thought this one was interesting, but the artwork is kind of creepy.

***Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Alma and the Beast is a surprising treat! The illustrations are whimsical and the story bursts from the page with humor and heart.

An absolutely gorgeous picture book that flips the typical roll of monster and child. It's a clever switch that might help little ones deal with their own fear of the 'monster under the bed'.