A Tale of Two Beasts by Fiona Robertson

I'm partial to Robertson's picture books. I enjoy her visual humour and her eye for quirky details.

A Tale of Two Beasts begins with a quote from Mark Twain,

"There are two sides to every story, and then there is the truth."

We then set off into the deep, dark woods with a Little Red Riding Hood style character returning to her Grandma's house. But on the way she spies a strange little creature stuck in a tree. She rescues it and takes it home as a pet.

But the pet runs away...then returns on the last page...but why?

Except this is not the last page.

The next section follows a happy little creature hanging around in his favourite tree, singing and minding his own business when this terrible beast kidnaps him and forces him into captivity!

He plans his escape and is eventually successful. But out in the deep, dark woods it has turned cold and the little creature decides to sneak back to steal the warm clothes the terrible beast had made for him.

Their final confrontation helps them both appreciate each other for who they are as they learn to become friends.

A great way to introduce differing points of view to young children.