From the Publisher

Some stories become favored childhood classics with good reason, such as the tale of Goldilocks. Here, in an abundantly funny retelling, the timehonored drama unfolds. This outrageously frilly, jump-roping Goldilocks skips through the bears' house, reciting saucy rhymes as she goes. Her wide-eyed glee makes a hilarious contrast with the genteel bear family, and children will love poring over the wonderful visual details, such as the bear-related knickknacks slyly scattered throughout the cottage.

Another outstanding collaboration from Caralyn and Mark Buehner, Goldilocks and the Three Bears is perfect for sharing with children, adults, and fairy-tale collectors alike.

Publishers Weekly

A Goldilocks with jump-rope rhythm who speaks in rhyme injects some freshness into the Buehners' spin on the favorite nursery tale, starring Papa Bear, Mama Bear and "Little Wee Bear." Though Caralyn Buehner doesn't stray far from the original set-up—three bowls of porridge, three chairs and three beds all figure into the mix—her bear family's humorous dynamic and contemporary-sounding exchanges will feel both fun and familiar to young readers. The bears' fair-haired visitor, who bursts on the scene singing, "Tra-la-la and tee-hee-hee,/ Won't you come and jump with me?" to an empty house, makes for an entertaining and fittingly irritating protagonist. Mark Buehner's lushly layered oil-and-acrylic paintings feature a pleasantly plump and nattily dressed ursine clan and a rustic, cozily appointed home. Images of the wild-eyed Goldilocks in her bright yellow frock and red cowboy boots, jump rope in hand, will likely not be soon forgotten. Ages 4-up. (Mar.)

Children's Literature

This version of the well-known fairytale takes a light turn as Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Little Wee Bear decide to take a walk while waiting for their porridge to cool. As soon as they leave, Goldilocks comes skipping rope along the walk up to the house and sings, "Tra-la-la and tee-hee-hee./Won't you come and jump with me?" When she does not hear any answer, she bangs so hard on the door it pops open and she pops right in to try the chairs, the porridge and, of course, the beds. As might be expected, she falls asleep in Little Wee Bear's bed and is found there when the family of bears returns home. When they wake Goldilocks, the bears are frightened, but not as much as the little girl who finds herself staring up at three unhappy bears. After she jumps out the window and runs away, Mama Bear once again makes porridge and this time it is "just right." The oil paint over acrylic illustrations add the humorous touch. The reader is advised to search for hidden pictures within the illustrations but the details in the pictures, while adding much to the story, make the hidden objects extremely difficult to find.

Product Details

• ISBN: 0803729391
  
• ISBN-13: 9780803729391
• Format: Hardcover, 32pp
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Pub. Date: March 2007
• Sales Rank: 165,583
• Age Range: 4 to 8