Beatrice and the Basilisk
by Bruce McCandless III
My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Children’s fantasy
Beatrice and the Basilisk is a very short parable about a girl who tends to take on too much, and that’s before she starts to be stalked by a basilisk (dragon). There’s a clear lesson to be learned here, though I’m not sure who the lesson is meant for—I’m not sure how many kids Beatrice’s age are quite as “do it yourself” as Beatrice is here. Some of the vocabulary, descriptions, and a somewhat disturbing death scene, also lean more toward an older audience. But the main character is a child, and the book is less than 100 pages, which certainly make the book seem like it’s meant for kids.
Either way, this short read is intriguing; I understand that the dragon and other fantasy elements aren’t necessarily the point of this book, but I have to admit I’d like to know a lot more about the dragon, Mrs. Knowles, and why Beatrice is tied up with all of this. Still, even with these questions, I could see children enjoying this short story, though parents may want to read through it first or along with their kids, if only to help them understand what may be above their heads.
Find out more about Beatrice and the Basilisk
If you’ve read this book, or read it in the future, feel free to let me know what you think!
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