French Ministry of Education Cancels Jul’s Illustrated 'La Belle et la Bête' for CM2 Students

The decision, citing age-inappropriate themes, has been criticized by the author as politically motivated censorship.

The Ministry of Education canceled an 800,000-copy order of Jul's modernized 'La Belle et la Bête,' citing unsuitable themes for 10-11-year-olds, such as alcohol and social media.
Jul, the author and illustrator, condemned the move as censorship, alleging it was based on false pretenses and politically motivated discomfort with diverse representation.
The book, originally endorsed with a preface by Minister Élisabeth Borne, was intended for the annual 'Un livre pour les vacances' program to encourage summer reading.
The publishing house plans to release the book independently, but logistical challenges may prevent an alternative book from being distributed on time.
The Ministry had previously expressed reservations about the illustrations in December 2024, which Jul claims were addressed in the final version.