The Beast is a magical blob of goo that will horrify and disgust readers and happily route for its demise. I can hear the screams of "Eew!" from kids paying rapt attention as the story unfolds. Don't let the gooey essence distract you from seeing the wily cunningness at the heart of this Beast lest you be his next victim. Ebenezer Tweezer has one goal in life—to keep on living. And he's been doing a good job of that for over five centuries. He's able to do this because of potions given to him by a magical Beast he met as a child. To keep the potions coming, he has to bring food to the Beast (who is only slightly more mobile than a caged bird). In return, the Beast magics money, treasures, and other gifts for Ebenezer. A book review for avid readers of The Beast and the Bethany series Ebenezer Tweezer is a youthful 511-year-old. He keeps a beast in the attic of his mansion, who he feeds all manner of things (including performing monkeys, his pet cat and the occasional cactus) and in return the… Read More

Now notorious prankster Bethany, along with her new feathery friend Claudette, is determined that she and Ebenezer are going to DE-BEAST their lives and Do Good. But Bethany finds that being a notorious prankster makes it hard to get taken on for voluntary work. And Ebenezer is secretly missing the beast's vomity gifts. And neither of them are all that sure what 'good people' do anyway … It’s being made into a big budget Hollywood Movie with Warner Brothers already and I can see how it can lend itself terrifically well to the big screen.It happened with me for the very book that I am going to be reviewing here: (though not given to the use of adjectives much, I break the rules and.....) the hilarious, the fabulous, the must-read, the heart warming, the amazing.....DRUM ROLL.... THE BEAST AND THE BETHANY. The book is about Mr Ebenezer Tweezer. He is not the most likeable man to start with, he is selfish and has a Beast that he feeds to get what he wants. One of these things is eternal youth, I mean come on he is 511 years old! He has found himself doing what he wants when he wants and not caring about others. This all starts to change when the Beast is demaning a child to eat. The most exciting new children's book of 2020 and a modern classic in the making. The Beast and the Bethany has all the classic macabre humour of Roald Dahl with the warmth and charm of Despicable Me, finished off with a gleeful bite of Little Shop of Horrors! This book should be on every little monster's birthday and Christmas list. Tell the amazing dad in your life that you love them with this super cute colouring in sheet! Choose from two designs and dedicate your creation to someone you love this Father’s Day. Read More

I haven’t read a good middle grade book for some time and now I have read this book it has raised the bar high. I have a young nephew that doesn’t read but I know that he would love this book. From the Beast and his antics to Bethany and hers. I’m glad to have found an author that appeals not only to children but to adults as well. mean come on we all have our inner child wanting to read a book like this! I think many children will find some pretty grossed-out humour in this book. Bethany is pretty obnoxious. Then… There’s The Beast to contend with. Ebenezer has gone to great lengths to get the beast what it wants, including the Titanic. Now a child, who unfortunately may not be to its taste after-all and what can be done to remedy it. Readers will have to find out why not in the book… I have even talked the head into a little revamp of the library so that we can display them properly! And now Bethany enters! Bethany is like the most naughty and incorrigible child that I have come across in a book. She lives at an orphanage and constantly pulls out vile and dirty pranks on the other children at the orphanage. The head of the orphanage just wants to get rid of the girl however no one wants to adopt such an unruly child. Well, wouldn’t say “no one” because there IS one person who is exactly looking to adopt someone like Bethany and that’s Ebenezer. Yes, Ebenezer is looking for a child to adopt who is as notorious as can be possibly imagined!But as soon as you're about to name him the true villain of the piece, he shows a little bit of a conscience. A teeny, tiny hint of one, but a conscience. Then, like the Grinch's heart, that conscience grows three sizes. And once he accidentally befriends The Bethany? Suddenly, this villain becomes something approximating a hero. Then when Bethany reciprocates his kindness, his friendship, well, then you can't help but cheer him on and wish him all the success. Parents, caregivers, teachers—you get where I'm going with this. Bethany is stuffing worms up Geoffrey’s nose as she’s removed from the orphanage by Ebenezer Tweezer, yet it’s not for a chance at a better life. Rather, it’s to fulfil the beast’s latest request for a meal- ‘ a juicy, plump, little child’. Now that you have seen/ read it for yourself, can you resist this modern day retelling of a favourite fairy tale? (I couldn't have and so hopped on to the blog tour organised by the very amazing Dave of The Write Reads. *Rubs hands gleefully*) It's actually not as easy as he initially thought, but he eventually brings one home and sets to fattening it up a little bit for The Beast. In those few days, Ebenezer starts to think that maybe there are things more important than living to 512.

It opens on a scene introducing two of the main characters, Ebenezer Tweezer and Bethany and instantly letting me know who they are and how they are as characters. They are the most interesting. The opening line promptly gives a lot about Ebenezer. It says… Ebenezer Tweezer is a youthful 511-year-old. He keeps a beast in the attic of his mansion, who he feeds all manner of things (including performing monkeys, his pet cat and the occasional cactus) and in return the beast vomits out presents for Ebenezer, as well as potions which keep him young and beautiful. But the beast grows ever greedier, and soon only a nice, juicy child will do. So when Ebenezer encounters orphan Bethany, it seems like (everlasting) life will go on as normal. But Bethany is not your average orphan ... year old Ebenezer Tweezer isn’t a nice man. He lives with a Beast in his attic who he feeds all manner of things and in return the beast vomits out anything Ebeneezer wants. Days before his 512th birthday the beast feels hungry again, and while Ebenezer needs the beast to give him a special potion to help him stay young (a potion he receives every year) the beast wants a special meal in return. The Beast tells Ebeneezer to find him something new…he wants to eat a human child!Make your own paper boat with The Bedtime Boat. In the story, Chandan watches his paper boat as it moves up and down with his breath. You can try it for yourself with any small toy or make your own paper boat. Don’t worry if your mind wanders, just try… Read More