The Beast

Jean Free, a library consultant, was an elementary-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

A small girl falls off her father’s snowmobile and is taken to a cave
by Beast, a huge monster who is covered with white fur, and has walrus
tusks and a long, flexible nose. Here an Old Woman lives who tells Girl
the story of how she left her family when her parents wouldn’t allow a
marriage to the man she loved, and how she came to live with Beast.
Later Old Woman returns to her village and is allowed to marry her
lover, but when he dies she returns to the Cave and the Beast. The story
concludes with Girl being found and returning to home.

Bartels, a Newfoundland author, has written The Beast with extensive
knowledge of northern legends. The mythic quality of the book is
evident, but the language does not support the ideas of the story. It is
often awkward and does not read well orally. The characters have no
names but are obviously meant to be the universal inquiring child, wise
old woman, and a monster figure. The wonderful illustrations, by
award-winning Canadian artist Gilles Tibo, sensitively interpret the
story and add marvelous movement and color.

The Beast has possibilities as an additional picture book for primary
children who are reading Arctic stories. Unfortunately it lacks the
quality of lasting literature. Recommended with reservations.