I have expressed just how much I love the books by Chris Van Allsburg. This is the book that introduced me to his amazing world. His black and white (or more grey) images really add a level of eeriness of this Beauty and the Beast inspired story.  I say Beauty and the Beast inspired – mainly because of the ending – but there is more to it than that -just like all of Van Allsburg’s books you are reading a story on a different level then anyone else.  When you read one of his stories your reaction may be different then the person sitting next to you reading over your shoulder.