This is a beautifully illustrated and written book! It is a well loved and favorite in our home. We love that it teaches about the importance and power of kindness, even when you are scared. This should be in every home library! ( )

--received through librarything's early review program--

Super cute illustrations in a peacefully told story about empathy and acceptance (and lots and lots of hair) ( )

A quirky, vibrantly-illustrated fantasy about finding friendship across differences. I love the way this story turns all your assumptions upside down from the very beginning (on first glance at the cover, you probably thought "Alma" was the one above the title and "the beast" was the one underneath, didn't you?). It's a subtle, compelling approach to helping readers think about aspects of their own culture and everyday lives that they might take for granted - instead of hitting us over the head with examples from the real world, we see Alma's routines of braiding trees and combing grass contrasted with the human child's gardening routines, and their mutual bewilderment. There's a satisfying symmetry to the book, starting at the beginning of Alma's day and ending with bedtime for the human child. Between the whimsical illustrations and a smattering of nonsense words, the book gives a sense of entering a slightly surreal world reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland or maybe Oz. Overall, a quiet and enjoyable - if slightly odd - story. ( )

I received this book through Early Reviewers. I decided to read it to my third graders and get their opinion. They loved it! The little twist at the beginning was fun. They really enjoyed the story and how it ended. It’s a keeper for my classroom library. ( )

Alma loves her life braiding the trees, combing the grass, and pet her roof. But one day an almost entirely hairy beast wanders into Alma's world and once Alma gets over her fear, she realizes the beast is scared too and just wants to go home.

Gorgeously rich illustrations make this picture book stand out. The story itself is simple and sweet and there is a sweet mirroring going on between Alma and "the beast" as they travel between Alma's world and the beast's. Another sweet read that will be making its way to my nieces's shelves. ( )