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Fabulous Beasts
"Beisner's fabulous paintings in glorious colors illustrate Lurie's splendid tales of mythical animals, creatures immortalized in legends kept alive in remote parts of the globe."-Publisher's Weekly. "Beisner and Lurie have produced a fabulous beast themselves."-School Library Journal
32 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1981
33 people want to read
About the author
Alison Lurie
63 books206 followersAlison Stewart Lurie was an American novelist and academic. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her 1984 novel Foreign Affairs. Although better known as a novelist, she wrote many non-fiction books and articles, particularly on children's literature and the semiotics of dress.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 14, 2019
This enchanting picture-book catalogue of the world's mythological creatures presents fourteen fabulous beasts, with a double-page spread - one page of text, and one colorful illustration - devoted to each. Here the reader will encounter the unicorn, rarest of all beings, with its extraordinary horn, and attraction to young maidens. Here is the dragon, "compounded of earth, air and fire," sometimes fierce, and sometimes friendly. Here too is the famed Pegasus, that winged horse of Greek mythology; the immortal Phoenix, eternally consumed and reborn in flame; the fierce Griffin; and the deadly Basilisk.
Less well-known, at least to this reader, were creatures such as the Barometz, the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, whose legend may be an attempt to explain the cotton plant; the Swedish Gullon, a gluttonous forest-dweller with the body of a dog and the face of a cat; or the Catoblepas, a shy Ethiopian beast with the head of a dog and the body of a buffalo. Also profiled are the Persian Simurgh, who features so prominently in the tale of Prince Zaal; the fire salamanders of Europe and Asia; the Roc, those massive birds of Madagascar; the Mimick Dog, with its incredible ability to sound like other animals; and the Clayk, the Tree Goose that hatches from tree-grown melons.
A well-known children's literature scholar, who has explored the worlds of folklore and fantasy in her essays, collected in Don't Tell the Grown-Ups: The Subversive Power of Children's Literature , Alison Lurie delivers a delightful sampling of creatures in Fabulous Beasts. The accompanying artwork by Monika Beisner is colorful and expressive, emphasizing the magic and enchantment of the topic under discussion. All in all, a wonderful title for readers with an interest in the creatures of myth.
Less well-known, at least to this reader, were creatures such as the Barometz, the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, whose legend may be an attempt to explain the cotton plant; the Swedish Gullon, a gluttonous forest-dweller with the body of a dog and the face of a cat; or the Catoblepas, a shy Ethiopian beast with the head of a dog and the body of a buffalo. Also profiled are the Persian Simurgh, who features so prominently in the tale of Prince Zaal; the fire salamanders of Europe and Asia; the Roc, those massive birds of Madagascar; the Mimick Dog, with its incredible ability to sound like other animals; and the Clayk, the Tree Goose that hatches from tree-grown melons.
A well-known children's literature scholar, who has explored the worlds of folklore and fantasy in her essays, collected in Don't Tell the Grown-Ups: The Subversive Power of Children's Literature , Alison Lurie delivers a delightful sampling of creatures in Fabulous Beasts. The accompanying artwork by Monika Beisner is colorful and expressive, emphasizing the magic and enchantment of the topic under discussion. All in all, a wonderful title for readers with an interest in the creatures of myth.
August 21, 2019
A collection of the most mythical animals with brilliant illustrations.
July 1, 2017
This is one of those older books that is a trip-upon treasure in a library. The beautiful illustrations and fabulous creatures within pages capture not only the eyes but the imagination but yet it is one of those books that I fear will eventually disappear especially with the newer Harry Potter fantastical animal guide at the forefront.
The book is done two pages per creature with the lead page being a page-long description of the creature, the history of it and sometimes where it is found. It goes over habits that it was known for, what people history would use it for and even several different sub-types or color variations.
Again the pictures are beautiful on the opposite page. Bright, colorful and detailed they fit straight along with the medieval like capitols.
The only thing is this is definitely a beginner's guide for not all the information was correct or some of the most important information was missing from the animal given. Will be a good encourager for the beginning fantasy fan.
The book is done two pages per creature with the lead page being a page-long description of the creature, the history of it and sometimes where it is found. It goes over habits that it was known for, what people history would use it for and even several different sub-types or color variations.
Again the pictures are beautiful on the opposite page. Bright, colorful and detailed they fit straight along with the medieval like capitols.
The only thing is this is definitely a beginner's guide for not all the information was correct or some of the most important information was missing from the animal given. Will be a good encourager for the beginning fantasy fan.
November 27, 2014
A child’s bestiary, but a wonderfully illustrated one.
Each animal gets a picture and a page of description. Each description is about the animal’s general myth or story. The language is engaging and there are sly notes of humor.
The illustrations are wonderful. I particularly like the one for the Catoblepas. The blue Pegasus is nice too because it connects to the idea of Poseidon.
A good book for a child interested in magical creatures.
Each animal gets a picture and a page of description. Each description is about the animal’s general myth or story. The language is engaging and there are sly notes of humor.
The illustrations are wonderful. I particularly like the one for the Catoblepas. The blue Pegasus is nice too because it connects to the idea of Poseidon.
A good book for a child interested in magical creatures.
May 16, 2012
There are some rather unusual creatures included in this bestiary---the Simurgh, Vegetable Lamb, Gulon, Catoblepas---but, alas, the copy I read was missing at least one of its pages.
November 26, 2015
This is such in incredible book. The descriptions of the creatures is magical and gets the imagination really going. The pictures are truly beautiful. My only wish is that this book had more creatures to explore.
January 4, 2020
Many years ago Monika Beisner, the illustrator, held an exhibition in Malta (illustrations from the Metamorphosis) which is how I knew of her (I even have a papercutting of an article about said exhibition, it was such a cool concept). I tried to find a book by her and I think I had not managed to get hold of the one that I wanted so I bought this one. I don't regret it.
This book is like a mini encyclopedia about fabulous magical beasts. The content is so as if they are saying these beasts were or are real which makes it more magical. The illustrations are out of this world. There is also a variety of beasts, not just the common greek/roman beasts but from all around the world. I learned of quite a few new ones.
The most hilarious one was the mimic dog - if insulted they will follow the person all day and mimic their behaviour until people laugh at that person!
This book is like a mini encyclopedia about fabulous magical beasts. The content is so as if they are saying these beasts were or are real which makes it more magical. The illustrations are out of this world. There is also a variety of beasts, not just the common greek/roman beasts but from all around the world. I learned of quite a few new ones.
The most hilarious one was the mimic dog - if insulted they will follow the person all day and mimic their behaviour until people laugh at that person!
February 3, 2022
The illustrations and descriptions are beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews