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Beast Feast
This dinner doesn't want to be eaten...
Emma Yarlett's Beast Feast is all about a soft-hearted beast who wants to enjoy a feast. Unfortunately for the beast, Dinner is a child who really doesn't want to be eaten.
Beast is asking his friends for recipes but then the quick-thinking Dinner starts talking to him. Will he be able to change the beast's mind? This fun story has Jolly Postman-style letters to open for extra interactivity.
Emma Yarlett's Beast Feast is all about a soft-hearted beast who wants to enjoy a feast. Unfortunately for the beast, Dinner is a child who really doesn't want to be eaten.
Beast is asking his friends for recipes but then the quick-thinking Dinner starts talking to him. Will he be able to change the beast's mind? This fun story has Jolly Postman-style letters to open for extra interactivity.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 3, 2019
About the author
Emma Yarlett
48 books125 followersEmma Yarlett graduated with honors in illustration from University College Falmouth in 2011. Her other work includes a nonfiction book by Julia Donaldson and animation for the Waterstones Children’s Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 8, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
One day Beast caught something tasty for his dinner, a little boy, who he called ‘Dinner’. He was so excited about eating the little boy that he decided it would be perfect to share him with his friends, so he wrote to them inviting them to his dinner party.
Each of Beast’s friends wrote back with certain demands which ‘Dinner’ helped out with. One friend wanted his portion to be salty so ‘Dinner’ talked Beast into going for a swim in the ocean. Another friend wanted his share to be slimy, so ‘Dinner’ suggested they go to the swamp.
Over the next few days, Beast realised that he was having a lot of fun with ‘Dinner’ and that he didn’t want to eat him anymore, but his friends were coming and he didn’t know what to do as they would be angry if he didn’t serve ‘Dinner’ to them.
Beast Feast is an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable children’s book about a Beast and his upcoming feast, in which he intends to serve up a little boy. However, the little boy is very crafty and makes the beast become his friend.
The book has amazing, colourful illustrations throughout that capture the story perfectly and also includes letters to open from Beasts friends.
The story is beautifully told and although it might feature a beast wanting to eat a small child there is nothing in the book to be afraid of. I can see this being a book that children want to read over and over as well as giggle along with.
It would make a great read for the upcoming Halloween, although it is a book that will be enjoyed at any time of the year.
One day Beast caught something tasty for his dinner, a little boy, who he called ‘Dinner’. He was so excited about eating the little boy that he decided it would be perfect to share him with his friends, so he wrote to them inviting them to his dinner party.
Each of Beast’s friends wrote back with certain demands which ‘Dinner’ helped out with. One friend wanted his portion to be salty so ‘Dinner’ talked Beast into going for a swim in the ocean. Another friend wanted his share to be slimy, so ‘Dinner’ suggested they go to the swamp.
Over the next few days, Beast realised that he was having a lot of fun with ‘Dinner’ and that he didn’t want to eat him anymore, but his friends were coming and he didn’t know what to do as they would be angry if he didn’t serve ‘Dinner’ to them.
Beast Feast is an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable children’s book about a Beast and his upcoming feast, in which he intends to serve up a little boy. However, the little boy is very crafty and makes the beast become his friend.
The book has amazing, colourful illustrations throughout that capture the story perfectly and also includes letters to open from Beasts friends.
The story is beautifully told and although it might feature a beast wanting to eat a small child there is nothing in the book to be afraid of. I can see this being a book that children want to read over and over as well as giggle along with.
It would make a great read for the upcoming Halloween, although it is a book that will be enjoyed at any time of the year.
November 8, 2022
What a funny little book! Beast finds a delicious little boy (whom he calls Dinner throughout the story) and decides to share the fun with his friends, inviting everyone to a big Beast Feast. As the RSVPs trickle back in, Beast is given very specific instructions from each of the party guests of how they would like Dinner to be prepared (extra muddy, chilled, salty, etc.) and Beast sets about trying to make it happen.
But, Dinner is not a passive victim. Instead of simply allowing himself to be eaten, he comes up with fun diversions to keep Beast at bay. For example, someone wants him to be salty, so instead of letting Beast sprinkle him with salt, he suggests a swim in the ocean.
Beast starts having so much fun, he realizes he doesn't want to eat Dinner anymore. But, with a troop of hungry guests on the way, how will he be able to get out of it?
This is a super-cute book with bright illustrations, silly monsters, and lift-the-flap letters from each of Beast's friends. A great little book!
But, Dinner is not a passive victim. Instead of simply allowing himself to be eaten, he comes up with fun diversions to keep Beast at bay. For example, someone wants him to be salty, so instead of letting Beast sprinkle him with salt, he suggests a swim in the ocean.
Beast starts having so much fun, he realizes he doesn't want to eat Dinner anymore. But, with a troop of hungry guests on the way, how will he be able to get out of it?
This is a super-cute book with bright illustrations, silly monsters, and lift-the-flap letters from each of Beast's friends. A great little book!
January 6, 2021
One of my son’s favorites at age 5.
August 11, 2021
Humorous | Participatory | Mild spookiness (Appeal terms from NoveList) - Hilary
October 27, 2021
Again, Ms. Yarlett delights readers, with her illustrations, with her recipes (those "Dinner" ones and those monstrous ones) and with her "Beastly Letters to Open."
February 24, 2022
I read this to Julianna tonight. She gives it 1 star. I agree. She says she did not like that the beasts wanted to eat the kid lol. Weird story but cute ending anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2019
Beast has found a scrumptious boy for dinner. He has to make sure he’s served perfectly to share with all the other beasts he’s invited around for the dinner party. They’ve all got difficult requests, like making sure their dinner is salty, chilled and slimey enough. “Dinner” has some fantastic ideas on how to satisfy those requests, and Beast finds himself having so much fun. Eventually, Beast starts to think maybe he doesn’t want to eat this Dinner after all. But what can they do with all the dinner guests arriving the next day?
This book is funny and sweet all at the same time. With beautiful ‘replies’ to open from the dinner guests (in a range of different envelopes or folded paper parcels) it’s a fun experience for a whole range of ages (including me 😄). The illustrations are bright and silly in the way kids adore and there’s a lovely lesson about friendship.
I’d definitely recommend this one for both a book to read together with younger children or for primary school kids to read on their own!
This book is funny and sweet all at the same time. With beautiful ‘replies’ to open from the dinner guests (in a range of different envelopes or folded paper parcels) it’s a fun experience for a whole range of ages (including me 😄). The illustrations are bright and silly in the way kids adore and there’s a lovely lesson about friendship.
I’d definitely recommend this one for both a book to read together with younger children or for primary school kids to read on their own!
July 23, 2023
Hot Pink Beast captures a child for dinner. Dinner looks so delicious, Beast decides it calls for a feast of sorts. Invites go out to his beastly friends and the RSVP’s roll in (as cute fold outs). But his friends are a bunch of picky eaters. Dinner must do some quick thinking in order to get out of the predicament and have fun along the way. As the days go by, Beast finds he can’t look at dinner in quite the same way, but the guests are arriving. Brilliant illustrations and a story to chuckle at.
June 11, 2020
Where to begin. This is my first time reading an Emma Yarlett book. This is an amazingly creative book. So imaginative. Silliness on overload. I was laughing out loud. The "recipes" on the inside front cover are worth the book on their own. Readers will laugh, giggle, and probably say gross a few times. The invitation "replies" are done so thoughtfully, with each one folded in it's own special way. The story has a great message of change and growth. The author takes bold chances with her humor and also by having the main monster or "villain" colored pink. I thought pink was only for princesses?? That being said, this book may not be for everyone. The replies have a lot of small font. Two of them have cursive writing, which I'm not sure is even taught anymore. Also, young readers might not get the humor. However, more adventurous parents will see this book as a wonderful way to expand a child's imagination. Even if kids don't get all the meaning at first, they're sure to be intrigued by a parents laughter, which surely will have them coming back for more. I could see this book being a favorite of an older sibling to read to a younger one. Sneaking off from the parents for a bit, to enjoy the story over again. The kind of book that aunt or uncle who's a little off the beaten path likes to share with their neices and nephews. Well done.
May 9, 2020
I purchased this book from a friend at her USBORNE books online party - and wow! This is an adorable book! A purple-pink monster captures a little boy, he aptly calls "Dinner" and plans a dinner party with his beast friends to enjoy the boy. Throughout the book and the insteresting dietary preferences, the Beast is looking to accomodate from his guests, he and "Dinner" spend some quality time together and by the time the big day rolls around, "You don't look much like Dinner, anymore" says the beast.
This is a delightful book and I have purchased copies for all of my nephews. I would like to get a few more copies to have on hand for baby shower gifts. Definitely the best kid's book I've read in a long time!
This is a delightful book and I have purchased copies for all of my nephews. I would like to get a few more copies to have on hand for baby shower gifts. Definitely the best kid's book I've read in a long time!
July 5, 2023
This book is DARLING!! Beast catches a young child for dinner. Then he invites several friends to come for a dinner party. One by one, his friends reply to his invitation (with fun letters included in the book!) but ask for specific requirements such as fattening up Dinner, chilling Dinner before cooking him and making sure Dinner is salty. With each request, Dinner comes up with a creative (and fun and painless!) way to meet their requirements. By the day of the dinner party, Beast doesn't want to cook his new friend. What will he do? Will the party be ruined?
December 26, 2024
کتاب رو کادوی نوئل برای دختر دومی گرفتم. عاشقش شد. قبل ازینکه بخونم براش، خودش نشست و تصویرهاش رو نگاه کرد و داستان ساخت براشون. تصویرسازی کتاب خیلی بامزه و جذابه. داستان هم بامزه است و بچه ولی میخنده هر بار که میخونمش. داستان یک هیولاست که یک بچه رو شکار میکنه و دوستهای هیولاش رو دعوت نیکنه که دلی از عزا دربیارن ولی بچه کمکم دل هیولا رو به دست میاره و با هم دوست میشن. برای مهمونی هیولاها یک عالم شیرینی و چسفیل آماده میکنن و خلاصه بچه زرنگ قصه جون سالم در میبره.
December 9, 2024
Qué maravilla de cuento, uno de mis preferidos, y también de mi hijo, al menos por el momento. La historia es divertida y muy bonita, nos habla de la amistad y de la importancia de conocer a los demás antes de juzgar. Las ilustraciones son dignas de admirar y los personajes son de lo más estrafalarios.
Reseña: https://www.arte-literario.com/2024/1...
Reseña: https://www.arte-literario.com/2024/1...
December 12, 2024
A truly delightful and funny story that I can read over and over again! I love "Dinner" as a character and how Beast ends up becoming friends with him. Each individual monster has such a unique tone as well! I have recently purchased the new edition with the letters that can be opened - so much fun! I can highly recommend!
April 9, 2020
My kids loved this book! It’s a cute story about a monster who is going to have a feast and serve dinner... that is until dinner becomes his friend. Such a cute story. We are really enjoying this author a lot!
September 23, 2020
"Beast Feast" is such a fun story! My 4 year old typically requests this book before bed or naps. The illustrations are fantastic and I found myself enjoying this story as well. This book is a must have for any child's library.
November 15, 2020
This is my favorite book by Emma Yarlett. Dinner is so witty and fun, it's easy to see why the Beast has an issue with his meal plans. Whatever will they do to satisfy all the guests' dietary requests explained in their letters of reply?
December 31, 2021
This is a family favorite, of course the first time I read it to them as a read aloud I had prepared a beast feast so now they request the book and feast. Included it in my 2021 year because I was the 2nd grade mystery reader and we had a class beast feast too!
January 10, 2023
Un album épistolaire au style génial. La mise en page est dynamique et colorée, les illustrations sont truffées de petits détails à prendre le temps de découvrir. Un livre pour les petits monstres en chef qui aiment cuisiner et rigoler.
June 3, 2020
A favorite in our house!
November 19, 2020
Such a clever, fun book
November 22, 2020
One of our favorites! This book is filled with stunning illustrations.
December 18, 2020
Cute and clever. Would be fun to read with "That is Not a Good Idea!"
January 13, 2021
Great recipes ;-)
November 3, 2021
Such a cute 📖 📕
November 23, 2023
Very cute. My kids didn’t enjoy it as much as I did but maybe they will.
February 13, 2024
This book is SO CLEVER. It’s everything you want in a kids book—humor, things to physically interact with on the page, a good moral with heart. Love love love.
August 28, 2024
this book was so cute! i also read it to the two cutest boys in the world so maybe im biased
kind of reminds me of the gruffalo
kind of reminds me of the gruffalo
August 26, 2025
This was super cute
November 24, 2019
This is such a funny book and perfect for kids who like a fun read and some monsters. ‘Beast Feast’ is a hardback book which is a bit wider and shorter than A4 in size and is filled with thick matt pages with colourful illustrations, text and some fun extras. Beast has managed to catch dinner and he wants to share his feast with all his monster friends, but Dinner won’t stay quiet and keeps giving Beast suggestions on what to do.
This really is a funny book with such a simple story. Beast writes to all his friends inviting them to his Beast Feast, but as he gets the replies back, one by one, he’s given instructions by his monster friends on how to cook it, one for example wants the dinner to be very slimey, so Beast sets about preparing dinner in the way that’s suggested. But for every letter and suggestion Beast gets, Dinner (a child) gives him a different idea on what to do to make him more ‘tasty’. I like the way this book goes, every few pages there is a new letter from one of Beast’s friends and the letters aren’t just printed on the page but are actually there for you to open. Some are just folded pieces of paper while others are letter shapes that need opening and another is elaborately folded (though easy to open and close). Each letter is very fun to read and makes the story all the more fun as you feel so engaged in opening the letters and reading not only the main text, but all the extra bits like who it’s from, letter headers, etc.
The story is simple and ends in a fun way which actually put a smile on my face. I don’t want to give away the ending but it’s a good story about friendship and I like what happens with Beast and Dinner as they spend more time together. The illustrations are just brilliant. I like the way every one of the characters looks, especially Beast being pink and all the added extra things you see in the pictures and the inside covers. On the inside of the covers are recipes, gruesome icky recipes for things like Fingernails and Chips. It works well though if you look at the back inside cover after reading the storyrather than at the start as there are recipes that sort of continue the story that takes place in the book. So read the whole book from one inside cover to the other.
I really like this book and keep looking at it again and again and I know so many children will love it too. It has a really good story that I feel is even better than the author’s previous book I’ve read ‘Dragon Post’ and I just can’t help but love the added fun and details of the letters and all the extra recipes. I even love the way the back of the book looks like an envelope and the fact that the child is always referred to as Dinner. The whole book will just make you smile and both girls and boys (and many teens and adults) will enjoy this fun and silly story.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
This really is a funny book with such a simple story. Beast writes to all his friends inviting them to his Beast Feast, but as he gets the replies back, one by one, he’s given instructions by his monster friends on how to cook it, one for example wants the dinner to be very slimey, so Beast sets about preparing dinner in the way that’s suggested. But for every letter and suggestion Beast gets, Dinner (a child) gives him a different idea on what to do to make him more ‘tasty’. I like the way this book goes, every few pages there is a new letter from one of Beast’s friends and the letters aren’t just printed on the page but are actually there for you to open. Some are just folded pieces of paper while others are letter shapes that need opening and another is elaborately folded (though easy to open and close). Each letter is very fun to read and makes the story all the more fun as you feel so engaged in opening the letters and reading not only the main text, but all the extra bits like who it’s from, letter headers, etc.
The story is simple and ends in a fun way which actually put a smile on my face. I don’t want to give away the ending but it’s a good story about friendship and I like what happens with Beast and Dinner as they spend more time together. The illustrations are just brilliant. I like the way every one of the characters looks, especially Beast being pink and all the added extra things you see in the pictures and the inside covers. On the inside of the covers are recipes, gruesome icky recipes for things like Fingernails and Chips. It works well though if you look at the back inside cover after reading the storyrather than at the start as there are recipes that sort of continue the story that takes place in the book. So read the whole book from one inside cover to the other.
I really like this book and keep looking at it again and again and I know so many children will love it too. It has a really good story that I feel is even better than the author’s previous book I’ve read ‘Dragon Post’ and I just can’t help but love the added fun and details of the letters and all the extra recipes. I even love the way the back of the book looks like an envelope and the fact that the child is always referred to as Dinner. The whole book will just make you smile and both girls and boys (and many teens and adults) will enjoy this fun and silly story.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews