Goldilocks Returns by Lisa Campbell Ernst, Lisa Campbell Ernst (Illustrator), Lisa Campbell Ernst (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Ever since she snooped around the house of the three bears, Goldilocks (now Goldi) has been feeling guilty. She wants to do something nice for the bears. What if she stops by one day, replaces the icky porridge with Rutabega Breakfast Bars and all her favorite foods, fixes Baby Bear's broken chair, and cleans the house until it gleams? Perfect! When the bears return home, they'll hardly recognize their home! They'll LOVE it!

(Or will they?)

Publishers Weekly

"Fifty years after vandalizing the Three Bears' house, Goldilocks clearly has some issues to resolve as she sets about doing some unsolicited home improvements on the trio's house," said PW. "A campy spin on a classic story." Ages 4-8. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Imagine what you would find if you checked in on the heroes and heroines of folk tales years later--when they are all supposed to be living happily ever after. Lisa Ernst imagined Goldilocks fifty years after her fateful visit to the home of the three bears and finds her feeling terrible about her horrid behavior so many years ago. Determined to make amends, Goldilocks heads for the bears' home, only to find them gone again. With great enthusiasm, she adds locks to the doors and healthy food to the pantry (to replace the old porridge), fluffs around the cushions in everyone's chairs, and redecorates with plastic flowers, perfumed spray and yard upon yard of pom-pom fringe. All very silly, of course--and not at all pleasing to the returning bears. The cartoon illustrations are big and busy and the story is corny, but the book is a perfect door opener to get children to create futures for their own favorite fairy tale characters. 2000, Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Karen Leggett—Children's Literature

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-An enjoyable sequel to the classic tale. Now middle-aged, Goldi has opened a locksmith shop "to help people protect themselves against snoops" and alleviate her guilt over what she did to the Bear family years ago. Still haunted by her past, she decides to visit the Bears to make amends. She finds them living exactly as before, even though Baby Bear is also now middle-aged. Goldi arrives just after the Bears have left for their morning walk and begins by installing locks on their doors (to deter intruders like herself). She then goes on to adjust the upholstery in the chairs and the beds, redecorate, and replace the Bears' unhealthy porridge with celery juice and fat-free rutabaga bars. When the Bears come home, they are more upset than ever, until the next morning when they leave for their walk and spy a young blond girl approaching their home. In the hope that she will undo Goldi's efforts, they continue merrily on their way. Ernst's cartoon-style art, done in pastel, ink, and pencil, work well and add bits of additional humor, especially in the double-page spread of the shop. Children will appreciate Goldi's attempts at repair, especially her "improvement" of the Bears' food. All in all, a solid addition to the world of fractured fairy tales.-Ellen A. Greever, University of New Orleans, LA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

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