The Lady and the Lion: A Brothers Grimm Tale by Jacqueline K. Ogburn and Laurel Long

The Lady and the Lion: A Brothers Grimm Tale by Jacqueline K. Ogburn (Author), Laurel Long (Author, Illustrator) is unfortunately out of print, but still readily available through used booksellers. The picture book is based upon what is perhaps the best known Animal Bridegroom tale from the Grimms, The Singing, Springing Lark. It is an ATU 425A The Animal as Bridegroom, the same tale type as East of the Sun and West of the Moon. There are eleven Animal Bridegroom tales from the Grimms in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World including this one.

It is a gorgeously illustrated book, one of the lushest versions of Beauty and the Beast around with vibrant jewel tones and detailed renderings. The style is reminiscent of Kinuko Craft who has many fans here at SurLaLune. It's a shame it is out of print.

Author's Note from the book:

This Grimms' fairy tale is also known as "The Singing, Springing Lark." It is an Aarne-Thompson tale type 425, "the search for the lost husband," a type that also includes animal bridegroom tales. The story combines "Beauty and the Beast" and "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." Our retelling condenses the action, but we chose to follow the dramatic spirit of the ending of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" in our treatment of the villain.

Book description:

Love and honor can overcome even the fiercest obstacles, as we see in this spellbinding fairy tale, with shades of "Beauty and the Beast." To save her father, a young woman must go to the castle of a menacing lion. She fears for her life, but finds kindness rather than danger there, for the lion by day is a gentle young man by night-a prince under the spell of a wicked enchantress. Soon the lady and the lion fall in love.

Unlike the more familiar tale, however, this story has only just begun. The prince is not yet safe from the enchantress, and it will take all of the lady's strength and courage, through a seven-year quest, to rescue him. Dazzlingly romantic and visually magnificent, this is a book for the ages-an exhilarating tale of virtue, heroism, and the power of love.