Count of Monte Cristo

THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE! This is fantastic! The book is in full-color, and the cutsey illustrations are reminiscent of 1990's-era Sierra and LucasArts video games- in a good way. But let's get to the story adaptation. It's just stunning. Like all of the other kid's books, Dantes landing the ship Pharaon at Marseilles up to his escape from D'if is accurate. But what sets this apart and above all others is how the revenge part is handled. My jaw dropped as I read... EVERY major plot point is there! Includes Franz meeting Sin(d)bad on the isle of Monte Cristo (this is a first). Even the bloody stabbings and the poisonings, all by the correct culprits. I don't think I've ever seen anything this thorough before in a children's book. Magnificent! I think this one takes the crown for "Best Children's Version of Monte Cristo". The story portion is 112 pages, and Madhubun had wisely placed all of the educational activities at the end of the book, so the reader can skip them and simply be swept away and awed by the story with no interruptions. This is such a joy and a delight to read. Children who read this book will truly have the genuine Monte Cristo Experience.