Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PW found this ``beautifully executed retelling . . . distinguished by the use of luxuriant color and a wealth of visual detail.'' Ages 4-8. (July)

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Once upon a time deep in the forest there lived a family of three bears. A little girl wanders by their home and seeing no one home goes inside. Classic story, with beautiful watercolor illustrations of the three bears who discover that Goldilocks has been eating their porridge, sitting in their chairs and sleeping in their beds while they have been away. 1996 (orig.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2 Brett's retelling, adapted from Andrew Lang, is strong and smooth. These well-heeled Scandinavian-looking bears live in a house that would put yuppy collectors of country homes and folk art to shame, and the elaborate, imaginative, and richly colored designs bear repeated viewings. Every tuft of beary fur is clear, every item of clothing is ornamented, and every article of furniture is carved, patterned, or decorated. Bear motifs are repeated throughout, including carved bear beds, handmade bear porridge bowls, and a solid bear door. Brett's use of borders continues to expand upon the storyline. Here wide woody borders in the double-page spreads contain elements of the action occuring elsewhere. They alternate with simple narrow borders in the single-page illustrations. Personality emerges nicely. The ``little, small, wee'' bear bumbles into everything, and the great huge bear is alternately gentle and gruff, but the middle-sized bear attracts little direct attention. Goldilocks is somewhat less successful. At first, her face is finely drawn, but in later pages it's a bit flattened. Overall, some readers might wish for less decorations and some imaginative space, and may be overwhelmed by the amount of detail, but Brett's fans will be delighted. Leda Schubert, Vermont Department of Education, Montpelier