I love bestiaries. I love the illuminations, and the weird descriptions of creatures, and the entire concept of a book full of wonderful beasts! This picture book is a lovely introduction to some of the fantasy creatures you might meet in the pages of a real-life bestiary.

Visually, this book is a real treat, and I spent a long time looking at each page to capture all the details. The colours are incredible. You can see from the cover image how bright and enthralling they are – it’s really pretty and also very true to the actual look of an illuminated manuscript. The dusty brown of the courtyard evokes the parchment pages, and the beasts absolutely shine out from it, holding the eye and the imagination.

The story itself is very sweet, involving Geoffrey, a young boy who “borrows” a bestiary from a scribe and spends the rest of the day making up tales about a knight with his name who meets the beasties from the pages! As he mentions each beast, it pops out of the bestiary and comes to life, but Geoffrey is oblivious… It’s not a particularly convoluted plot, but it works to show off the creatures, and is, in a way, a bestiary itself! There’s a lot of subtle humour in the story, which I think would make this appeal to adults as well as children, and there’s plenty of charm in the writing. It would make a really cute gift, especially for historians who have young kids!

Five out of five stars!

This is a lovely introduction for children into Medieval times! The artwork is fantastic, and it introduces some mythical creatures that are not as well-known along with some familiar favorites. The text in the back is very informative, and the legends from actual bestiaries would make a lovely addition to any bookshelf.

A gorgeous book on medieval manuscript artwork by the Getty Museum. The book drew its inspiration from the museum's exhibit "Book of Beasts: The Bestiary in the Medieval World" and features illustrations from their collections.

The main story is sure to delight young children. The story is fun and fresh, and the artwork is beautiful—detailed, colorful, and mimics medieval scribal techniques. For older children, the book has a section on medieval life in a castle and the medieval bestiary with actual illustrations of beasts and explanations as to their meaning. As a fan of children's picture books and an amateur student of medieval manuscripts, this was a book after my own heart.

The whimsical story follows an ordinary peasant boy dreaming of life as a valiant knight in the Late Middle Ages (thirteenth century): Sir Godfrey the Gallant, Sir Godfrey the Glorious, Sir Godfrey the Goodhearted. His favorite book is about medieval bestiaries but filled only with pictures. He is hoping that when the castle scribe ultimately finishes the book, it will tell a heroic tale of a bold, brave knight. As he goes about his chores, his imagination takes flight, and the mischievous animals walk out of the pages of the book, causing him to flex his knightly skills. Some of the beasts help him with his chores and interact with the regular farm animals.

This review will be posted on Cogitations & Meditations at the end of May.

A whimsical flight of fancy, Don't Let the Beasties Escape this Book provides the reader with a thrilling story. As young Godfrey, a castle servant, goes about his chores, he conjures up a fantastic tale in his imagination, using an unfinished picture book as his guide. Young readers will be thrilled to see what Godfrey doesn't, as the creatures come alive and leap out of the book's pages. This is a fun, interactive tale of imagination and life in the middle ages. It would most appeal to readers in grades kindergarten through second grade, and would be a popular addition to any elementary library collection.

When a peasant boy can’t resist looking at the bestiary book an illuminator is working on in the castle, he makes up a story about the animals and his chores suddenly get a lot more interesting than even he realizes.

I definitely recommend reading the back of this book. (In fact, it might make it an even better experience to read the back matter first and then the story.) It was fascinating to learn more about original bestiaries and how those inspired this tale. There’s also good information for kids on normal life in Medieval times. The book will likely introduce readers to some mythical creatures they haven’t met before, and it is a lightly humorous tale with vivid illustrations. The back matter includes opportunities for kids to separate fact from fiction in what original bestiaries said about various animals. The story itself also presents a great way to introduce text boxes and how those can relate to the story in different ways. In this book the text boxes could be interpreted as a narrator comment or an old-style chapter heading while the text on the page is the story the boy makes up. A great book to use when studying Medieval times with kids, for kids curious about book history, and of course, fans of those mythical beasties.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful book for anyone who likes manuscripts, beasts both real and fantastic, and stories about kids with overactive imaginations. Godfrey (or, as he sees himself, SIR Godfrey) is a medieval boy who would rather look at the bestiary in production for the lady of the castle than do his chores, and much like the Sorcerer's Apprentice, he imagines the creatures described in the bestiary helping him.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, in part based on manuscripts in an exhibit at the Getty, and somehow April Lee manages to draw in a modern style that feels medieval. The one drawback of having to read this on my computer is that it's meant to be read as a physical book, with illustrations often spanning a two-page spread, which is frustrating when you have to zoom in to read the text. This is no fault of the book or its creators, just a comment that you should get a physical copy (I have no idea if it will be released digitally) because that's the best way to read something like this. Like the bestiaries they replicate, the pictures are colorful and lively, with something fun happening even in the smallest details.

The book ends with a historical note that puts bestiaries, and what medieval people got from them, into context-- most people had no real way of knowing what was out in the world far away, and many of the creatures were actually believable-- compared to a rhino, a unicorn doesn't sound all that strange. I really like this. There's a major misconception in our popular culture that people in the Middle Ages were stupid and believed ridiculous things like unicorns, dog-headed people, that the Earth is flat (which they didn't, by the way). The truth is they weren't stupid, they just didn't have the cumulative knowledge we have today, and many things medieval people believed, or at least what they presented as some level of factual, aren't really that strange considering the information they had. Bestiaries are a good example of this, and this book portrays that well. It also includes a section of descriptions and images of creatures from actual bestiaries, which is another good historical note.

This is definitely a book I hope to someday have a physical copy of to read to my young cousins in the hopes that they'll become medievalists. Or at least in the hopes they'll like it.

My Review: This is such a fun children's book, I loved the art style, it really suited the story's setting. It is a great book to read with slightly older children as opposed to very young toddlers, as they will be able to grasp the lesson in the book better. Kids will see that their chore list might not be so bad since they don't have to clean up the barn or start the fire for dinner, but they will also see that imagination can make the job go quicker and make it a whole lot more fun. We really had a fun time with this book, and loved that at the end there are some great descriptions and history on the various beasties released in the book.

My Rating: We really enjoyed this one, even though Munchkin is pretty much done with picture books, he was still really able to get a lot out of this story! The illustrations were beautiful and fun to look at the details of the beasts. We give it a rating of Four Paws!

One of the most magical things about childhood is the ability to take a mundane task and make it fun and exciting through imagination. As we grow older, we seem to lose this ability - or at least, lose the feeling of freedom to use it. Godfrey is a young boy who, upon finding a bestiary on the way to beginning his chores, allows his imagination to take over. Suddenly, he's no longer just sweeping and cleaning and working, but he's on endless adventures. Each quest just so happens to help him accomplish his real-life chore, but it certainly doesn't feel like "work" anymore to Godfrey.



This book was enchanting and sweet and fun. The illustrations are so engaging. Each picture lends to the impression that Godfrey's imagination is so much bigger than just himself. He is often a small piece of a picture, with the adventure he's having filling the entire page with vibrant color and dynamic action.



My two children adored this book. My son, especially, who is 9, has returned to read this book over and over again. I highly recommend this for all middle-grade readers.

The artwork in this book is gorgeous! Who doesn’t love mythical creatures and a good story. While a children’s book by intent, there is plenty here to appreciate as an adult and particularly as a parent. Adults as much as children will look forward to reading this book and being captivated by the detailed colored pencil artwork throughout. Sheer eye candy, I love the illustrators style and color templates. A great introduction to the fantasy genre and mythical animals for children, highly recommend!

This was absolutely adorable and reminds you that children of all ages and all eras can use their imagination. The artwork was really good too.

I think I'm being followed....

Godfrey, a peasant boy, finds a book about beasts while doing his chores. As he reads, he imagines himself defeating the mythological creatures, who unknown to him, come to life and inadvertently help with his chores.

Godfrey is sent to do his chores but he gets sidetracked by a BOOK! (Yes, a book!). It's about medieval times - and conjures up all sorts of beasts (none are really evil!). Delightful reading - but might be a bit tough for a very young reader.
And the underlying premise - books are chock full of wonderful escapes!

Beautiful illustrations and full of information! A great addition if you love to learn about Beasties!

Books about books are always wonderful and Julie Berry's little gem is no exception. Don't Let the Beasties Escape this Book is a cute little story led by a boy, a book full of beasts, and some magic (ie: imagination). I love how there are so many different beasts shown here (including a dragon and unicorn!) and immediately wanted a book that conjured up a unicorn for me to play with! (lol)
The illustrations and parchment-like background of each page really fit in nicely with our setting of the medieval ages. There are pieces here that may help a child understand what it is was like to live in the Middle Ages.
Overall this is an adorable book that I would definitely purchase for a child of any age. It may be a tough lengthy for a bedtime story; but certainly isn't as complex (or annoying) as Dr. Seuss can be. Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book is an excellent addition to any child's bookshelf (and it may even reach my own print shelf).

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

I love mythology, and the fantastic beasts, gods and demons, the demi-gods, and of course the humans who are portrayed in mythical stories. I also enjoy reading about the medieval period, about life and its travails and its beauty at that time vs ours. And when a book blends all of this effortlessly and with gorgeous illustrations too, well, that is like found treasure. Julie Berry’s ‘Don’t Let the Beasties Escape This Book!‘ is one such book.

This book is a Getty publication and the Getty museum is a recent discovery of ours (well, more than a year now). We loved exploring every nook and cranny of the museum (maybe not) and wondered why we had not visited it on one of our many earlier trips to Los Angeles when we finally did spend time there in Dec 2018.

My Thoughts:
In this book, the reader meets Godfrey, a young boy who is sent by his mother to complete a list of chores with an admonition not to forget them this time! But of course, he gets distracted by a bestiary(an illustrated book of beasts) he finds, and his imagination takes him on adventures. He is completely unaware that the book is magical and that he is releasing the beasts from the book when he says their name out loud, and also oblivious to the fact that he is actually getting his chores completed with their help!

Each and every page of this book is a visual treat and totally frame-worthy! The illustrations are stunningly vibrant, detailed and so full of action, while lending to the story effortlessly. The magnificent and mythical (as well as real) beasts portrayed here seem to pop out of the pages.

This book was based on/inspired by an exhibition at the Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles titled Book of Beasts: The Bestiary in the Medieval World.

This book is a worthy addition to any library – in print, definitely – even if just to look at and admire the glorious and detailed illustrations. And of course, the story is a fun read too. The commentaries at the end of the book are a big plus as an introduction to medieval life, to bestiaries and more.

Side-notes
While the story’s text itself makes itself ideal for reading to young readers (might be difficult for younger readers to read it all on their own), the informative commentaries at the end are better served for older elementary and middle-grade readers. And of course, adults will love it.

Conclusion
If you did not already realize I was going to say so, go get this book – for yourself and as a gift!

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley for the digital review copy of the featured book. These thoughts are my honest opinions of the book.

Godfrey, is a young boy who “borrows” a book about beasts from a scribe and spends the rest of the day making up tales about a knight, aptly named Godfrey, Godfrey the Gallant, the Glorious, the Goodhearted, who meets the beasties from the pages! As he mentions each beast, it comes to life, but Godfrey doesn't notice. The story doesn't flow smoothly, but it works to introduce various creatures.

I read this to my granddaughter, but it didn't work. She is too young for it, but she did like "the monsters" and wanted to talk about the illustrations. On the other hand, my grandson loved it. The illustrations were amazing, full of detail and colour. He asked all kinds of questions and we shared the information in the end pages about medieval life and mythical creatures. He enjoyed the story and thought Geoffrey was funny when he didn't notice the creatures that kept appearing. I always enjoy a book that has some subtle humour that I will enjoy and this one has some of that. This is a great book to share with young people who enjoy history, magic & fantasy, as well as mythical beings. I definitely recommend this one to schools and public libraries.

In this tale about a medieval bestiary, Godfrey is supposed to be doing the list of chores his mother has given him, but he's much more interested in the illuminated bestiary being created for the lady of the castle. As the wizard-ish artist looks on, Godfrey tells the farmyard animals the tale of Sir Godfrey encountering some of the beasts from the book, not realizing they are appearing as he names them- soon a lion, a unicorn, a griffin, a bonnacon, and a dragon have joined in the fun, managing to help with the chores while an oblivious Godfrey continues his story. Once the last chore is done, the artist manages to get the book back, and puts the beasts back where they belong. The book is appended by a note to the reader explaining how it was that people believed these stories, an explanation of how books were made and what life was like in a medieval castle, and examples of illustrations from real medieval bestiaries.
I enjoyed the story and notes at the end, but it's the artwork that really shines in this book. The illustrations are bright and richly colored, with lots of detail and charm. There's lots to interest young readers in this fun book!

#DontLetTheBeastiesEscapeThisBook #NetGalley

My son was only half into this. He liked parts and was bored during the rest. I guess this just wasn’t for him. It might be for another little one though!

Funny book with lovely pictures, and a very nice information section at the end. Perfect for reading together with a child who recently learned, or out loud to one who doesn't read just yet.

The following review was written by my 7yo:

1: What was the book title?

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book!

2: What was the book about?

A little boy -called Godfrey- who was told to do his chores.
Unfortunately, he found the book of monsters, and then lots of beasts appeared when he said their names.
It did NOT help him do his chores.

3: Did you like the story? Why/Why not?

Yes, I liked the words, and the character Godfrey, but I didn't like the way the pictures were drawn.

4: What was the best bit about the story?

All of it.

5: What was the worst bit about the story?

None.

6: Would you recommend the book? Why/why not?
Yes and 3 year old's +.

7: How many stars would you give this book out of 5? 5

===
Set in medieval times, Godfrey, a young peasant boy, is tasked with household chores, but cautioned firstly not to daydream and not secondly to disturb a visiting artist who is working on an illuminated bestiary. Godfrey, of course, discovers the book, and as he goes about his chores imagines himself battling ferocious, mythical beasts and from Lions to Dragons and others in between.

Beautifully illustrated, Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book is a delightful read, showing the power of a child's imagination in getting things done.

I liked the inclusion, after the story, of excerpts from actual Bestiaries, and the encouragement for children to imagine themselves in the 13th century, not knowing about all of the weird and wonderful animals we take for granted in the 21st century.

The kindle version didn't do the book justice, splitting pages and breaking the flow of the text and images. It looked far nicer through Digital Editions on my desktop (and I'm sure will be nicer again in print).

**I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The illustrations are vivid and reminiscent of illustrated medieval texts. While the story is fairly simple, it's a fun imaginative jaunt with fantasy creatures, and the end pages provide a bit of historical context that adds some depth to the book overall.

This picture book is very fun. Godfrey, a young man doing his chores in medieval times, imagines up creatures such as griffins, unicorns, and dragons. This would be a great picture book to read to kids to remind them of the power of their imaginations, and how books can help their imaginations to grow. Very fun!

This is a hard book to put an age on. It is a picture book - the illustrations by April Lee are wonderful! I think they are some of the best I've seen in a long time.

The story is simple enough for a small child to hear read to him and understand. The illustrations give it all a sense of wonder an humor.

The last part of the book contains a note (by two other authors) to the reader followed by "The Bestiary." This part of the book is certainly for older children with information about life in the medieval times.

I thought it was a delightful story, but I confess that I have a hard time deciding which child it should be given to given the dual nature of the writing.

I read this book to my children as a bedtime story.
They loved it. My daughter said it was "Amazing" and my son said "I'm so glad they didn't kill the dragon!"

The illustrations were the best part of this book for me - so bright and detailed. The story was cute and a great length for bedtime story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing us the chance to experience this book.

What an absolutely beautiful picture book. Godfrey, a young peasant boy in Medival England, happens to glimpse a Beastiery as he's going about his chores. He entertains himself by spinning a story about brave Sir Godfrey and the beasts he encounters, unaware that every time he says an animal's name it appears from the book! Chaos ensues as Godfrey tries to get his chores done and more importantly - hide the beasts from his mother!

I love the art style in this book - lots of picture books are stylised, but this is very realistic, even though it's dealing with some fantastical topics. Godfrey is good natured and I enjoyed following the story. Kids will love pointing out all the choas he's oblivious to as he goes about his day. A great read.

A richly illustrated bestiary with a narrative twist. While the prose was disjointed and wordy for me, I can imagine other readers taking their time to wander through the illustrations.

I loved the fantastical creatures and the gorgeous art! The story is told as if a story would have been told in the medieval ages from a child his age.

As Godfrey does his chores, he spins a tale and each time he says the creature's name, they are able to leave the book. As a fluke the mayhem they cause also helps Godfrey do his chores, but he doesn't notice until the end of the day, and back in the book they go for the day.

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
#DontLetTheBeastiesEscapeThisBook #NetGalley

Soooo good! I love everything about this book. The story is very original and the illustrations were wonderful. A forgetful farm boy is sent by his mother to do chores, but of course he gets distracted and "borrows" the wizards story book. The story releases the many mythical creatures who help the farm boy accomplish his tasks, while he remains totally oblivious to them. I think children of all ages will enjoy this tale! It's going to find a home on my shelves!

I found a copy of this book at my local library as I couldn't download it to my Kindle.

With detailed illustrations, the story of a young boy more interested in reading than completing his chores plays out. All ends well with the help of the beasties. There are informative pages in the back that make this suitable for more than just young children.

I was browsing the 'read now' catagory on Netgalley and I found this lovely magical children's book. Ever since I started working at the library I've been surprised at how well written children's book can be. And the art in some children's books are just WOW *insert heart eyes* And this cover immediately made me want to pick this up because DRAGONNNN

Drawing style: The era in which this story is set is medieval like and the drawing style looks like it's older and a little faded which is such a lovely detail that makes this book a whole.

Writing style: The writing in the book is a little more complicated than I would expect in a children's book but if an adult is reading it to their child then I'm sure they will help their child understand everything. The style does make everything sound fun and magical.

The bestiary at the end of the book was a nice touch and really makes sure that the child who reads this book knows what kind of mythical creatures are in this book.

A picture book for slightly older kids, largely because of the illustration style. The plot is farily simple but requires a degree of visual interpretation skills to fully grasp.

Oh my goodness – The pictures in this book are absolutely gorgeous. The colors are rich and vivid and just wonderful to look at.

Thoughts:
One of the first things I noticed in this medieval-times picture book was the font. Different picture books often use different fonts based on the story – some have a whimsical touch, some are more standard. But here at the beginning, as we are introduced to the tale “neglected chores” a font you might usually associate with medieval times is used. It’s really quite a small thing, but a nice touch and helps put the reader into the middle-ages setting.

The story revolves around Godfrey, his chores, the nearby bestiary book being painted, and his day-dreaming of becoming a knight. He picks up the book – because let’s be honest a picture book of beautiful beasts is a lot more interesting than chores – and begins to daydream. But what’s fun is how Godfrey’s daydreams use the animals from the book to actually do the chores for him and not he-himself that finishes the chores. I even learned more about the mythical creature the bonnacon, which is one I am not as familiar with as I might be a dragon or unicorn.

At the end of this book, the author provides some information about bestiary books and what they might have been printed on as well as what life might have been like in a castle. At the end is also a complete list of the beasts in the bestiary with a description of both what they looked like as well as their characteristics.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Getty Publications for the reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

Julie Berry's, Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book was a really engaging book that kept me interesting in knowing what would happen to Godfrey next. I would recommend this adventurous book to all children and even some adults!

'Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book!' by Julie Berry with illustrations by April Lee is a picture book to teach about medieval bestiarys.

Godfrey is a young peasant boy working in a courtyard. He finds a bestiary. He starts making up a story with the animals drawn within. Before he knows it, there is a lion running around, then a unicorn, a griffin, and others. Godfrey finds himself in trouble, until he gets some unlikely help.

The book finishes with information about read bestiaries as well as medieval life. The story is fun and the illustrations are really nice.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Getty Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

A fun children’s book with beasts and monsters galore! Drawing on historical elements from the middle ages, this book is surprisingly informative as well as entertaining.

If you have a kid who thrives on imagination, definitely check out Berry’s Don’t Let the Beasties Escape This Book! (Due to the many pictures, I think this would be more enjoyable in a print copy than as an e-book!)

Thank you to Netgalley for a complimentary copy!

A great adventure in imagination with superb illustrations. A good introduction to medieval times and thinking creatively.

This story is about a boy living in medieval times. His mother gives him a list of chores he needs to complete. On his way outside, he spies a book about beasts. As he conjures up each one, they appear in all their fantastic glory – bright and colorful; comical, amazing expressions; and great medieval forms. “Sir Geoffrey” is able to tame each of the beasts while performing acts of feat which in the end accomplish his chores. All of this as a wizard looks on.

A good lesson in being able to accomplish tasks while having fun is evident. Children of all ages will find something to enjoy.

I received an ARC from Getty Publishing through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review

This book was different than I thought. I thoight that it was going to be more like the child reading was trying to keep the beast in the book, but it was actually the young character letting beasts out. As he does they seem to befriend him and help him with his chores. The way the book was written, it was a bit difficult to read to my child. The illustrations were beautiful and the story was cute.

I wanted to really like this one, but I think it was trying to do too much at one time. I was very distracted by all the elements, including the words of the story he was reading from the book; the animals coming out of the book and doing different things; and the little labels at the top that were supposed to be, titles? Maybe description of what he was doing? I have no idea. However, this was a cute story, just wish it wasn't so choppy.
#Dontletthebeastiesescapethisbook! #Netgalley

I’m assuming that this book is being published as a sort of companion to this earlier one, “Book of Beasts,” which is a scholarly examination of medieval bestiaries.

“Don’t Let the Beasties Escape This Book!,” however, is aimed towards children and shows a bit of what a bestiary actually was, what beasts might be found in one and what they did, as well as showing young Godfrey on an “adventure” that he makes up as the day goes along. I enjoyed his imagination as he seeks to impress the castle kittens, piggy, dog and chickens with his prowess all while inadvertently letting loose some potentially terrifying beasties. It’s also fun to watch how they manage to get Godfrey’s chores done for him and his reaction when he realizes just what he’s let loose. I did hope to see a bit of remorse on his part for what he did and some character growth in regard to not actually doing anything that his mother had asked him to do. Especially since it’s made clear that young Godfrey has slacked off in the past. Alas, I didn’t see any of that.

But what is there are some absolutely gorgeous illustrations that are a joy to see and that I’ve gone back and reexamined – along with reading the book again – several times. B+ for those while a C for Godfrey’s failure to achieve any of his chores and no remorse about that.

I absolutely loved this children's book. Illustrations are lovely, and so is the story. I like that this book includes additional information about the medieval era and medieval bestiaries that help children understand the story better.

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! was written by Julie Berry and illustrated by April Lee. It is currently scheduled for release on September 10 2019. Godfrey, a peasant boy who works for the lord and lady of the castle, finds a bestiary, or illustrated book of beasts, on the way to do his chores one morning. He begins inventing his own story, placing “Sir Godfrey” at the center of numerous heroic deeds. Sir Godfrey battles a lion, tames a unicorn, defeats a griffin, conquers a bonnacon, and triumphs over a dragon. Godfrey does not realize that each time he says the name of an animal, it magically emerges from the book, causing mayhem and inadvertently accomplishing his chores. The laughs pile up and the tension mounts: When will Godfrey realize that all this outrageous stuff is going on?

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! is illustrated in the style of manuscripts from the middle ages. The images and colors are beautiful and I enjoyed looking at them. The text of the story is written in rhyme, and also carries the feel of a middle age tale. It felt a little clunky to me, but oddly enough I think that was deliberate to fit with the style they were working for. I have to admit that my favorite part of the book was not the actual story, but the beastairy and information about the Middle Ages included in the backmatter. I have always been fascinated by that sort of thing and I was glad to see that kind of primer to the medieval world included here.

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! is a stylized and interesting read, but I do not think it is for everyone. Those interested in creatures and medieval life will enjoy it, but I think some will not enjoy it quite as much.

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book was a delightful and colorful read. The book follows Godfrey, a young boy living near a castle in Medieval Europe. Godfrey is tasked with completing his chores for the day and his mother warns him to not disturb the book maker who is working on a book for the lady of the castle. Being the rambunctious kid he is, Godfrey sneaks the book off its desk and begins to read. Magical beasts begin to appear and Godfrey's day of work gets sidetracked.

At the end of the book are sections on the beasts featured in the book as well as information about life in Medieval Europe. I found the section on why people from the Medieval time period believe in magical creatures to be super interesting. This section would be great for readers who want to learn more about mythical creatures, but some readers may skip over it, since it is fairly dense with only a few accompanying illustrations. 

Overall, I found the story to be just okay; Godfrey didn't learn anything while slacking off during the day. I would have appreciated some character growth or acknowledgement of the chaos he was causing by releasing beasts into the castle. The great redeeming factor for this book was the illustrations. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations in this book. The colors were vibrant and mimicked tapestries from the Medieval era. Since I read this book as a digital edition, some of the images were split in weird places; this problem would be fixed with a physical copy.

I would rate this book 3 stars overall, 2 for the story and 4 for the illustrations.

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! is a humorous children's book based on the idea of a magical bestiary which comes to life, releasing the fantastic beasts described within as young Godfrey goes about his daily chores in the castle.

Due out 10th Sept 2019 from Getty publications, it's 40 pages and will be available in hardcover format. This is a beautifully illustrated children's book with a simple story full of imagination by Julie Berry and wonderful illustrations by April Lee.

There's a certain amount of magical realism in the book, with an artist/scribe who is more of a wizard and a magical bestiary which leads "Sir Godfrey the Glorious" to his imaginary adventures.

The end of the book has a nice discussion of illuminated medieval bestiaries and some of the realities of daily life for people living in the middle ages.This would be a superlative reading circle read or library selection. There are questions at the back of the book which will stimulate further conversation and (hopefully) research on the part of the young readers. This would also make a great bedtime or 'read-to-me' read; with a fantastic scope for potential silly voices for the person reading.

Four stars. Gorgeous art and a worthwhile subject.

Godfrey, the son of peasant farmers, is distracted from his chores by the Book of Beasts, which an artist is working on for the lady of the castle. As he pages through the book he imagines the adventures of a “mighty hero, a bold knight … why, Sir Godfrey the Glorious, of course!”

While Godfrey goes about his chores he tells the animals about Sir Godfrey’s adventures, unaware of the chaos that begins to unfold as he names each of the beasties in the book.

I knew I needed to read this book solely because of April Lee’s incredible illustration of the dragon on the front cover. Over the past couple of months I’ve read this book at least four times but each time I finished reading I couldn’t decide what I wanted to say about it. While I am in awe of the detailed drawings of all of the beasties and know I would have been drawn to the colours of the griffin, bonnacon and dragon as a child, I don’t think child me would have really enjoyed this book.

I found the details at the end of the story about life in an English castle and the different beasts interesting but am certain I would have bypassed this information if I’d read this book as a child as my interest in history and mythology didn’t make themselves known until I was an adult. I was distracted by the text within the scrolls, which didn’t seem necessary as the illustrations clearly told those components of the story.

This book was inspired by ‘Book of Beasts: The Bestiary in the Medieval World’, an exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Getty Publications for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.

This is an interesting book, but I was expecting it to be a little more... something. I am not really sure what. It's an interesting example of a bestiary and it's an interesting way to show people what a bestiary is. But the story didn't really engage me so much and I did find the Illuminator very strange-looking.

I'm a sucker for magical creatures of any kind, but even if I weren't I think I'd love this story. The illustrations are intricate and beautiful, and Godfrey (with his tendency to get distracted from his chores) was very relatable. I also loved that the book included discussion questions, and a bestiary at the end! The story is short enough to hold the attention of preschoolers, but beautiful and interesting enough that older children (and adults) can enjoy it as well.

I just reviewed Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! by Julie Berry. #DontLetTheBeastiesEscapeThisBook #NetGalley

What do you know about beasts? About dragon, unicorn, lion? This is an illustrated book of those beasts, packed in a story for kids. Therefore, interesting! The author didn't only tell us on such beasts, but their abilities, and a background story how these (mostly) surreal animals exists.

A picture book inspired by an exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Museum, <i>Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book!</i> follows a medieval peasant boy named Godfrey through his day. Although his mother gives him a list of chores to do and reminds him that he must not forget any of them, Godfrey is distracted by the book being created for the lady of the castle. He borrows the book to look at the illuminated images inside and begins to make up a story about the beasts in the pictures. Godfrey doesn't realize that saying the names of the beasts will summon them from the book. A lion, unicorn, griffin, bonnacon, and dragon all appear as the tale of "Godfrey the Glorious" becomes more and more elaborate. Luckily, even though Godfrey is distracted by the adventure he imagines, the creatures manage to complete all his chores for him without his notice - until the dragon lights the fire in the cottage.

Back matter includes an explanation of what a bestiary was, and about how life in a medieval castle worked. Families like Godfrey's would not have their own books, but would hear tales of fantastic beasts. Those tales were a mix of true facts from distant explorers and myths and legends. Without cameras, television, and other media we are accustomed to today, people had no way of knowing which stories were true or not. Examples of various beasts shown in the books form the exhibit are shared along with descriptions of the beasts and their powers.

This would be a helpful book to use when talking about fake news. The comparison of tales from beastiaries and the incredible stories shared across social media and the Internet could start a discussion about what can be proven and what is only rumor. It is also a fun book just for the glimpse into medieval life and fantastic beasts.

A charming story, beautifully illustrated with magnificent animals. A pleasure to read or to read to someone! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!
#DontLetTheBeastiesEscapeThisBook #NetGalley

Thanks to netgalley for providing a copy of this book for our review! This one was a good introduction to mythical creatures from the Middle Ages. The text was a little choppy but it was still an enjoyable story about a boy who had a little trouble finishing his chores. The illustrations and facts at the end of the book were great! This one is set to be released on Sept 10.

The idea for this book was great, but I think instead of having the page of facts about life in a castle at the back, it would have been better had those ideas been incorporated into the actual story and illustrations. As it is now it feels like it’s jumping between age groups. Also the relationship between the beasties arriving and the chore that they accomplished felt a little choppy in the text, and the illustrations didn’t relate at all. For instance, Godfrey supposedly tamed the lion by wrestling him, but all we saw was Godfrey drinking milk from a bucket, and the lion hardly looked like he was slinking away with his tail between his legs. The unicorn was never fed a pear (and those weren’t harvested yet anyway) nor did he ever have a rope around his neck. The Griffin never flew away in terror, and he didn’t attack the unicorn (thankfully), but merely landed in the pear tree, which did nothing to harvest the pears since they were still happily attached to the branches. The bonnacon obviously blew the leaves away, but there was no stream and no forced bathing to remove the stench, which was a shame since most children could surely relate to a bonnacon who doesn’t like bathtime either. Aside from that the illustrations were charming, with the exception of the artist/warlock who looks creepy. Godfrey and his mom both look wonderful, and Godfrey’s facial expressions are endearing. The bestiary images and descriptions at the back of the book were interesting and entertaining to look at and read, but again the book didn’t feel like it had a consistent age group.

I was given a copy of this book for free, but that did not affect my review.

I loved this nook as an introduction for children. The illustrations are colorful and beautifully done.

I was given this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I loved the illustrations for this book, the story telling aspect was a little confusing. We're told about the making of the book, but that plot point is quickly abandoned in exchange for random beastie shenanigans. I liked it, but I feel like it didn't do what it set out to. It just felt lost.

A beautiful and imaginative picture book with captivating illustrations. Wonderful storytelling and meticulously detailed illustrations combine to create an immersive reading experience.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

The illustrations are beautiful and really make the pages come alive.

This is a fun read-aloud story for kids and contains images for each beast mentioned. The little historical blurb may not be a fun read for the age range targeted by this book, but it is interesting and could be read aloud while showing some of the pictures in the book.

I read an ARC provided by NetGalley for my review.

This is an excellent introduction to medieval life, books, and bestiaries. There is quite a bit of information included at the end to assist parents and teachers if they wish to use it as an educational tool. The illustrations a gorgeous. The only reason for the star deduction is that many kids in the targeted age range will need help with understanding the words and context of the main story.

This colorful child's book is a simple introduction to medieval life and mythical creatures. It's a tale of imaginative hijinks, with folk-style illustrations. Personally, I found the ending "Note to Readers" to be most interesting, with its explanation of how medieval people would have understood never-seen creatures, and connections to the art that inspired the book.

What a cute little book! I really enjoyed it, and it is something that I look forward to buying for my children. The illustrations are gorgeous! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this awesome little story about beasts.

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! by Julie Berry and what a beautiful colourful book this is.
I know a little boy who would love to have this book in his collection of books.

In this book you meet Godfrey a lovely peasant boy who works for a great lord and lady of a big castle. One morning on his way to do his chores at the castle Godfrey drifts off into his own imaginative world and now is now a noble knight Sir Godfrey. He meets and battles with a lion, tames a unicorn, defeats a griffin, conquers a bonnacon, and triumphs over a dragon. Godfrey does not realise that every-time he says the name of an animal, it magically emerges from the book, causing mayhem and inadvertently accomplishing his chores. WoW..........This book is a fun read and will have a small child talk about these beautiful colourful beasts and make up their own stories. The illustrations are very colourful and beautiful.

This book would make a great birthday or even a great Christmas present.


Thanks to NetGalley and Getty Publications for the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest. I loved it.

Julie Berry takes us into the heart of thirteenth century medieval England where young Godfrey sits in the yard surrounded by the castle walls. His mother, a maidservant, tells him he will need to help out with chores. Godfrey is known to forget his chores while he drifts off into his own imaginative world with the noble knight Sir Godfrey.
An artist is in residence painting a Book of Beasts for the lady of the castle. Godfrey spies the book and decides to look through the paintings as he tells a fanciful story about the beasts in the book and how his imaginary Sir Godfrey battles them. It just so happens this is a magical book and when Godfrey names the beasts (lion, unicorn, dragon etc) they come to life from the pages. As Godfrey continues his story each beast escapes and gets up to mischief behind Godfrey’s back. As they play they inadvertently complete Godfrey’s chores for him.
The story ends with all the beasts hiding in Godfrey’s home until the artist comes and zaps them all back into the book.
The story portrays the beasts in a fun and whimsical way as they get up to mischief behind Godfrey’s back. The illustrations are a story within themselves and bring a new element of entertainment to the story as we see the yard animals reactions to the beasts arrival.
The book also contains engaging backmatter with information on life in the Middle Ages and a mini-bestiary drawn from original 13th Century manuscripts along with typical legends and lore.
I would recommend this book for any child 3+years.

I think this book has a really unique and fun story line. The illustrations are beautiful, and it would be a great book to read aloud. I think it will inspire children to use their imaginations. I enjoyed this title.

From Getty Publications, these whimsical, wonderful Medieval inspired illustrations are worth the price of admission alone.

The episodic stories are meant to be jump-off points for the reader's own flights of fancy, fun and mischief. There is a simple setup of a boy who neglects his choirs while day dreaming of ancient world fantastical beasts such as a bonnacon (a bull with horns curved inward and a horse's mane). What happens next is up to you. Stay and participate or move on to the next episode. Some readers may find this role playing construct jarring.

Note that reading this book in digital format via the good folks at NetGalley is less than ideal and doesn't do justice to the amazing artwork. Would love to get my hands on a print copy.

Charmingly illustrated in muted colour pencil, Don’t Let the Beasties Escape This Book is a humorous and enjoyable read for the monster-, mythical-creature- or medieval-loving child. This picture book is short enough to fit into a rushed bedtime routine, but rich enough in detail to invite readers to search for all the different things going on on each page.

My 5-year-old was immediately drawn to the enticing cover with its giant, looming dragon, and he loved following the adventures of Godfrey, distracted by his lively imagination and oblivious to the chaos left in his stead as he goes about fulfilling his daily chores. There are plenty of giggles and gasps to be found in this book, as the text and illustrations grow more and more excited and busy until our own bestiary seems so full of monsters that it’s ready to spill over into this side of reality.

The notes to the reader at the back of the book present a wonderful opportunity to talk about what life may have been like for people living in medieval Europe, about myths and legends and bestiaries (which inspired this very book!), and introduce a few lesser-known monsters children may not be familiar with to expand their knowledge of lore.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

An interesting blend of history and fantasy. A young boy in medieval times does his chores, while riddling away stories of mythical creatures read about in a book. His imagination comes to life on the page in illustrations that echo the style of bestiaries from hundreds of years ago, bright but with a bit of antiquity. As fantasy converges with reality, the story ends and the author then explains how years ago, before things like the internet, it was easy to believe tales of strange animals. Which would you believe exists, if described only by word of mouth: a narwal, a rhinoceros or a unicorn?

I liked the way this book ties history with fiction. The idea feels very original to me as a sort of meta examination of history, mythology and the limits of the imagination.

This was such a weird but interesting book, I think that part of my issue was that my Kindle copy split up the pages and they were out of order because of it. I moved to my computer to view it in Digital Editions and everything was much better.


This book was about a boy that needed to get his chores done but he normally gets distracted. Today however he has picked up a book and when he reads a beasties name it appears and just so happens to help him out which the things he has forgotten to do. The story itself is adorable and a lot of fun, I think both parents ans children will really enjoy it.


However, I think what makes this so much better is the fact that is it also a learning tool that talks about illuminated manuscripts and the beasts that were often found as images in them. For an art nerd like me this is huge, but where I had issues in this book was also this aspect. It is a little hard to tell which age-group this book really is for. It tells this amazing kids story but then gets very technical in the end with all the historical information.


I think because this book looks like it is for an older audience and because of the historical information bit this might sell best for an older crowd but it is delightful and if you are looking for educational and beautifully illustrated, this is a great addition to your library.

Review will go live closer to release date.

I received this as a Kindle version through NetGalley and I don't think the digital version did it justice at all. I loved the idea of the story and I think the images are wonderfully bright and fitting to the story... to the extent I could follow the story.

The digital version split image screens and seemed to either miss pages of the story or present them out of order. I did get the gist: Godfrey is a young peasant boy directed by his mother to get his chores done rather than dwadle and forget what he is doing. He finds a wonderful bestiary (medieval book of mythical beasts) in the barn and a wizard helps the animals to come alive. Although each creature creates a new mess, they inadvertently help complete the chores.

I can only hope that the hardback book presents the vignettes in better order. I shared the Kindle version with my bright, six year old granddaughter. She also liked the images and was able to read along on the shorter story descriptions. She wasn't interested in the long descriptive explanations.
If you are interested in these mythical creatures I would suggest looking at the hardback. The illustrations deserve at least a 4.0 and I give the story a 3.0, so I settled for a 3.5 rating overall.

A young boy with a vivid imagination gets distracted from his chores when he finds a magical book of beasts. While he fights lions, unicorns and dragons he somehow manages to complete his chores. An adventurous story sure to entertain young children while introducing them to medieval times and mythical creatures. The bestiary is sure to be read and re-read by animal loving children.

This was a fun children's book which takes its inspiration from the fantastical creatures people believed existed back in the dark ages and earlier: unicorns, basilisks, griffins and the like, and pretends they really do exist in mischievous (but harmless!) forms that can come out and really disrupt your daily chores if you're not careful. They might even help in a purely accidental way! The drawings are amazing and detailed, and the colors wonderful. The book was a delight. I commend it as a worthy read for children - and even adults too. Why not?

The illustrations in this book are so detailed and stunning; they draw the reader in. This is a magical picture book that will entertain and delight for hours as readers will long to enter into this mythological world.

Thank you to Getty Publications for allowing me to provide a review on "Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book" written by Julie Berry and illustrated by April Lee. Upon receiving the digital version of the book, I was enthralled by the bold and beautiful colors and Lee's imagination and talent in creating each image. As I began reading the book, though, I had a bit of difficulty following the story line. This may have been because I was reading the digital version which had several pages with no words. In a printed version, I believe this book would be truly engaging not only for a child but for the adult reading it.

An imaginative young boy admires the pictures in a book of beasts, creating a story about a brave knight but fails to notice the animals come out of the book and help him with his chores!

I received an electronic ARC from Getty Publications through NetGalley.
The illustrations are spectacular and bring the beasts to life in vivid colors.
The basic plotline involves a young peasant boy told to do his chores. Instead he finds the Book of Beasts being created for the Lady of the Castle. He uses his imagination to create a story of himself as a knight defeating beasts. The wizard brings the beasts to life and they complete the chores while being woven in Godfrey's tale. At the end, his mom returns, the wizard returns the animals to the book, and Godfrey gets the credit for the chores being done.
Don't miss the explanatory text at the end. Berry explores life in a medieval castle and includes information on the various beasts. She also explains why it was hard to determine fact from fiction when describing animals at that time.
The story feels disjointed - simply some vignettes to handle the chores to be done. Some of the pieces feel forced while making the animals solve the problems.
2.5 rating though the artwork alone would bring it to a 4 star rating.

This is a great story of Godfrey whom uses his imagination to get his chores done. There is high-level vocabulary for students to challenge themselves and be challenged in the classroom setting. The story was easy to follow and the pictures were vivid.

A highly imaginative fantasy picture book where all the mythical beasties come to life! There wasn't much of a plot but it was still a fun read. The art work by April Lewis was fantastic, bright colors, lots of detail. Godfrey can't read his book because he has chores to do, when, lo and behold, the beasties start doing his chores for him. I wish the beasties could have stuck around longer
. Good explanations at the end of the book, explaining the different creatures. Loved the lion protecting the kittens. This book would work as supplemental reading for perhaps ages seven and up.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley!!

Let me start this by saying i adored the illustrations in this book! This children's book contains information about life in the medieval ages.

Setting out on his daily chores, Godfrey becomes distracted by a bestiary full of fantastical creatures who, when accidentally released from the page, help the young boy unwittingly accomplish his tasks while his imagination runs wild. A humorous and informative introduction to medieval illuminated manuscripts, not to mention the beasts -- and chores -- of the Middle Ages.

Goodreads Rating: 2 stars

A companion book to Book of Beasts for kids. It has some pretty illustrations in it, but I think they tell the story better than the words do. It just wasn't engaging, but it did introduce a few beasties and the information at the end of the book elaborates the historical aspects of the story and what a bestiary is.

Godfrey is tasked with completing some chores around the castle grounds, but he picks up the work-in-progress bestiary from the scribe's bench and starts making up a story interweaving all the creatures so far illustrated. Whenever he speaks the name of one of the creatures, they pop off the page and help him accomplish his chores.

While I'm sure he was just caught up in narrating his story, I still thought it was too naive of Godfrey to not to notice the beasts coming to life around him. It also doesn't encourage the best message, suggesting you should ignore your chores and they'll just magically get done.

The illustrations were vividly done and while I didn't exactly like some of them (the griffin looked too much like a phoenix), the overall palette and layout was better storytelling than the story itself.

A good book for reading in class and using as a jumping off point for discussions about creatures, but as a story on its own, it just simply wasn't engaging.

I was intrigued by the title and cover art. However the story was only so so. A boy is doing his chores and unbeknownst to him the animals of the book come to life and help out. Better for older kids.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Mom: I was very interested in this book, just by the look of the cover. The illustrations and artwork within were great! Overall, I found the story cute. Most of the books story is narrated by the main character, Godfrey, telling his own story about the beasties – mythical creatures – in the book he “borrowed.” This was generally fine, but there were also parts spoken by other characters without attribution – it took either of us a minute to realize what was being said and realizing it was actually Godfrey’s mother speaking, etc.
There are also scrolls across the top of certain pages with “In which Godfrey [does a thing].” These tended to be clunky and didn’t add to the story.
MC: I really liked the pictures and I thought it was fun how the creatures did Godfrey’s chores for him.
Mom: The Note to the Reader and The Bestiary, at the end of the book were great additions to the book providing excellent introduction to the original artwork from the medieval era and overview of the time period.
MyChild: My favorite part was how the lion made friends with the kittens.

Illustrations are beautiful and engaging. I was excited to read this book with my kids, but the wording and phrases used weren't as easy to get through as most children's book. The concept is great, but my kids were a little confused at times, and at the end they gave it a solid "eh". I think it seemed a little too formal / less juvenile than they are used to. I think this is one that they will really love in a few years, or even after a few readings once the language & story become more familiar.

Sono infinite le incombenze in un castello del 1200: lo sa bene Godfrey, che invece di sognare avventure e cavalleria deve nutrire il pollame, accendere il fuoco, raccogliere pere, spazzare - ed è solo l'inizio!

Ma come resistere alla tentazione di dare una sbirciata al ricco volume che un miniaturista sta decorando con immagini di animali fantastici su incarico della castellana?

E come resistere alla tentazione di nominare quelle bestie - unicorni, draghi, grifoni, leoni - nel raccontarsi un'avventura di Godfrey l'Intrepido?

Solo che Godfrey non sa che nominare le bestie è evocarle - e per fortuna che il caso le porta ad aiutarlo a sbrigare le sua mansioni, prima di rientrare fra le pagine!

Un volumetto ricchissimo, sia nelle bellissime illustrazioni sia nel garbo con cui credenze e vita comune nel Medioevo vengono presentate; utili e leggere le note storiche alla fine del testo, che invece è pieno di fantasia e ritmo.

Una vera gemma.

I quite liked this, although mostly my opinion is based on the wonderful artwork, which is detailed, expressive, vivid, and rather fun, all at the same time. If you feel your child needs to know about bestiaries and mediaeval books of beasts, this is a good way to deliver that lesson. A young serf gets so wrapped up in his imaginary monsters and fantastical creatures that they come to life, and manage to do all his chores for him. The actual education at the end doesn't really merge with the story, but either way these ancient volumes are brought to the modern, young audience, and I think fun is had. I certainly learnt about a creature I'd never even heard of before. More or less five stars for the art, and overall a strong four.

I <i>loved</i> the artwork for <i>Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book</i> by Julie Berry and illustrated by the wonderfully talented April Lee. Travel back in time to have a look at some of the fantastical creatures that made their way into a medieval bestiary and the young boy who reads a very magical book aloud that he probably should have left alone. I think this book is an amazing way to get children interested history as they learn about the ways in which animals were documented in the past. And, even more wonderfully, there's even a bit at the end for those kiddos who want to read a little bit more into the work that was being put into the book that our dashing young main character, Godfrey, finds at the beginning of the story that touches base on what bestiaries are, how they work, and what impact they had on the past. While I loved the book already, I have to admit that this piece was something I was exceedingly excited about.

Our story begins with young Godfrey talking to his parents, peasants who work up at the castle who warn him to leave the scribe who is writing the newest addition to the king's bestiary collection be whilst he goes about doing his chores for the day. Of course, Godfrey who has a wild imagination and great dreams of being a brave knight--who didn't in that time period, though?--doesn't listen to his parents and sneaks in to take a peek at the book before snatching it up to imagine an adventure for himself. The scribe, someone whom is easily identified as a wizard seems to have been up to some mischief of his own and as Godfrey imagines his adventure, he reads aloud from the book. Each time he names a creature, it finds its way out from its pages.

This is a wonderfully amusing and engaging read, one I had great joy moving through. I found the main character relatable and fun, definitely someone that I would have looked up to had I read this story as a child. It's certainly the kind of book that I would love to get a kid of my own at some point in the future, if I ever have one. It's definitely a tale right up my alley and one I had a blast reading.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

There are several features I look for in a good children's picture book. Does the book offer something new to children's literature? Can the book's content be appreciated on more than a basic comprehension level? Is the message relatable? And a personal preference of mine, Is the author and illustrator one and the same person? I am happy to say that this delightful book hits all of these criteria. And as a bonus, Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book!, portrays a historical period in an accessible manner. I'm impressed with the Berry's sense of wit, the playfulness of her narrative, and her attention to crafting a story containing multiple perspectives. What a treat!