Goldilocks And The Three Bears (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Barbara Mc Clintock (Illustrator) "Once upon a time, there lived a little girl named Goldilocks, who was very, very good, except that sometimes she forgot to do things that..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-The creators of The Gingerbread Man (1998) and Aunt Pitty Patty's Piggy (1999, both Scholastic) have produced another excellent rendition of a favorite folktale. Like their earlier titles, Goldilocks has a 19th-century look and feel throughout, yet keeps the tale accessible to today's children. Aylesworth's text is faithful to the traditional elements of the original, juicing up the plot with folksy, conversational asides. Goldilocks, not the bear family, is the focus of this retelling, and both author and illustrator imbue her with plenty of spunky charm. Children will identify readily with this protagonist, who is not so much willfully naughty as she is "very, very good, except that sometimes she forgot to do things that her mother told her to do. Yes she did." Indeed, the old-fashioned language, combined with McClintock's flouncy, hair-ribboned envisioning of the girl, evokes another intrepid literary adventurer: Alice in Wonderland. The artist's watercolor, sepia ink, and gouache illustrations are pastel and dainty yet full of life and action, thanks to the hilariously exaggerated expressions the child makes while testing porridge, chairs, and beds. This is a handsomely designed book, with heavy ivory pages, delicate frame borders, and an Edwardian typeface that changes in size to serve the story. A recipe for "Mama Bear's Porridge Cookies" will help children make the porridge-is-oatmeal connection. At once antique and immediate, this Goldilocks will sassily invite herself onto library shelves everywhere.
Eve Ortega, Cypress Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Reviewed with Diane Stanley's Goldie and the Three Bears.

PreS-Gr. 1. Is there room for two more versions of Goldilocks? Yes, if it's space for these two. Although as different from each other as peas and pies, both are delightful and will attract their own audience, with some children preferring the traditional story and others gravitating to the fresh and funny version. Although Aylesworth follows the standard telling, he adds decorative touches in the text. McClintock's art is also traditional. Executed in watercolor, sepia ink, and gouache, her pictures have a nodding acquaintance with Tenniel's artwork for Alice, but the Victorian sensibility is interrupted here and there with some humorous details, particularly the expressions on Goldilock's face. Stanley's Goldie is a modern-day kid. She has definite likes and dislikes about food, clothes, and even friends: Jenny is too boring; Alicia is too snobby. One day, Goldie gets off the school bus at the wrong stop and wanders into a strange house. Children may think they know the rest, but in the end, the little bear girl turns out to be just the friend Goldie has been looking for. Stanley's art, so sophisticated in her biographies, is delightfully childlike here, with lots of fun in every scene. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; Complete Numbers Starting with 1, 1st Ed edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439395453
• ISBN-13: 978-0439395458
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #313,270 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect, Traditional Goldilocks, November 28, 2005

By	teachermom (Midwest) - See all my reviews

Traditional tales like Goldilocks are a great way to expose young children to language. It can be difficult to find traditional versions of classic folktales with good illutstrations. My three-year old loves this version of Goldilocks and is totally engrossed in the detailed illustrations every time we read this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Rendition of a classic, November 10, 2005

By	Musical Powers "music aficionado" (NY) - See all my reviews

I must admit it was the illustrations that lured me into purchasing this book and am now a real fan of Ms. McClintock. Somewhat reminiscent in style of the Victorian Illustrator and cartoonist for PUNCH, Sir John Tenniel of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" fame. Now if only this duo would do Grimm's "Hansel and Gretel" all would be right with the world! It would be so nice to see more illustrators such as Ms. McClintock give a child's imagination something from which they may take pleasure. I think we may see this illustrator follow in the path of such illustrious names as Kate Greenaway, Anne Andersen, Gennady Spirin, etc.! Bravo and many thanks!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Classic!, November 19, 2006

By	Spiff (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This is a beautiful Goldilocks book with the most amazing illustrations you will find anywhere! Illustrations make or break a book for me, and this one does not disappoint. My daughter is almost 3 and wants to hear this story over and over, and I love to read it to her.

VERY highly recommended!!