Modernised version of Beauty and the Beast causes uproar - A modernized version of Beauty and the Beast has caused controversy in France, leading the Ministry of Education to cancel 800,000 copies of the book. The book's author and illustrator, Jul (Julien Berjeaux), criticized the decision, calling it "censorship" based on "false pretexts." The modernized tale, aimed at fifth-grade students, included depictions of Beauty's father drinking and references to social media, which the ministry deemed too adult for children aged 10-11. The ministry argued that the themes of alcohol, social media, and complex social issues were more appropriate for older students. Jul, however, defended his work, claiming that the book was playful and magical, and suggesting the real issue was the modern depiction of the characters, which might not align with traditional views. Despite this, the book had been approved by the Ministry of Education, with Minister Elisabeth Borne praising its "new modernity" in the preface. The cancellation came just before the printing was to begin, and the Ministry of Education announced that another book from a previous year’s initiative would be distributed instead.
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