The Lady and the Lion: A Brothers Grimm Tale

Hands down the most beautiful picture book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I say I bought this to read to my daughter, but I really bought it so I can look at the pictures over and over again. I love fairy tales, this one re-affirms all the things I love about them. I bought this book years ago, but it is still my favorite. I wish Laurel Long was still illustrating more picture books. I would love to see more...

Richly beautiful and a lovely story.

This is a beautifully illustrated edition of the Grimm fairy tale. I am of the opinion that certain stories are always more enjoyable for children if there are pictures to look at. As it is, those of us who haven't forgotten the magic of fairy tales will enjoy this blend of Beauty and the Beast and East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon.

A perfect blend of gorgeous pictures and and romantic text. A must-have for any child's (or adult's) library. You won't be sorry!

great

The story is beautiful - a delightful mix of themes and lessons - a lady who knows what she wants and perseveres against all odds to rescue the prince... and the artwork is incredible! This book is a real jewel in my collection.

A combination of "Beauty and the Beast" and "East of the Sun, West of the Moon", this is the story of a young woman who goes to live with the Lion because of a promise made by her father. After finding out that the lion is under an enchantment that makes him a beast by day, but a handsome young man by night, the lady and the lion fall in love and marry, but she still pines for home. When news comes of her sister's wedding, she and her lion husband visit her family's home. But the visit ends disastrously when a splinter of light from the procession touches the prince and he turns instantly into a dove that must fly around the world for seven years. So the lady follows him for seven years, and just as the enchantment is almost complete, a mistake on her part allows the enchantress to snatch the prince and fly away with him. Now the lady must go to the enchantresses lair, and with some magical gifts, trick the enchantress into giving up her husband.This book gets a lot of love from my three daughters. We love the amazing, sumptuous illustrations that have the color and flavor of India.

I got this book after reading and enjoying  The Magic Nesting Doll  which was also a collaboration between Jacqueline K. Ogburn and Laurel Long. My 5-year-old daughter and I love fairy tales,and are always on the look-out for interesting new titles and retellings of famous fairy tales. This is a retelling of the Grimm's fairy tale "The Singing, Springing Lark." The story also has elements, of "Beauty and the Beast", and "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." The result is a rich and engaging fairy tale, which has been generously illustrated in the most glorious details and colors, making this one of the most beautifully-illustrated fairy tale books I have read.The third daughter of a merchant is compelled to go and live with a lion after her father inadvertently captures a singing lark which is in the lion's territory. When the sun sets, the young woman discovers that the lion is actually a handsome young prince who has been bewitched by a cruel enchantress as punishment for refusing to marry her. The young woman and prince/lion fall in love and marry but as in most fairy tales, the path of true love is not all smooth, and the lovers get separated. The young woman must now search for her beloved - a journey which takes her through many distant lands, and she is assisted by the gifts bestowed upon her by the sun, the moon, and also the north wind.This is truly a fascinating fairy tale, and a beautiful retelling which will not only captivate young children, but also adults and collectors.

and here we go with the next fairy tale .. i did not even notice how much i like reading picture books until recently when i checked out my bookshelves. this edition retold by laurel long & jacqueline k. ogburn and illustrated by laurel long was particularly difficult to acquire and it was only a used one at that (grr)!the author's note states the following: this grimm's fairy tale is also known as "the singing, springing lark. [..] the story combines "beauty & the beast" and "east of the sun, west of the moon." our retelling condenses the action, but we chose to follow the dramatic spirit of the ending of "east of the sun, west of the moon" in our treatment of the villain.PLOT: a merchant promised his three daughters to bring home gifts. pearls for the first, gold for the second and a singing lark for the youngest of the three. when he stumbles upon a castle's garden with a singing lark, he immediately climbs the tree to fetch the bird and instead ends up bargaining with the lion that he may keep the lark and his life but must give up whoever greets him first at home. of course, the youngest daughter then has to go to the lion. they spend time together, fall in love and marry. she discovers that he is in fact a prince who has been cursed because he refused to marry the wicked enchantress. not only is he a lion by day and a human by night, but if a ray of candlelight touches him, he becomes a dove, forced to fly across the world for seven years. the lady is the actual hero/ine of the story for it is she who rescues the prince (hee). [ side note: neither the lion/prince nor the lady are given actual names ]the book is richly illustrated with a lot of ornaments. the attention and love to detail that went into it, are apparent with a single glance. the illustrations are very dark and moody with bright splashes of color. the lady & the lion has an abstract feel to it, you will know what i mean when you take a look at them. the characters are bleh, but what it lacks in characterization and heart, it makes up in breathtakingly gorgeous pictures. it also seems as though its setting is somewhere in persia or northern india.SEE FULL REVIEW: [...]

This is an awesome edition. the illustrations are so beautiful. It is a truly beautiful book to have. A must have for any library.