Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3-7. The irrepressible Marshall once again conjures up his own wacky interpretation of a classic tale. A slightly pudgy, rosy-cheeked, beribboned Goldilocks-- whose close-set beady eyes top a slightly crooked smile-- prides herself on doing exactly as she pleases. Ignoring admonitions not to go into the forest, she then decides to explore an empty, quaint gingerbread Victorian cottage. It seems that the Bears who live there have gone for a spin on a bicycle built for three while their porridge cools. When they return they find a sound-asleep Goldilocks, who has found happiness in Baby Bear's book-and-toy-littered bed. Upon discovery, Goldilocks dives headlong out the window; a sense of good riddance is conveyed by her reluctant hosts. Marshall provides flair and contemporary humor in costumes and decorations (Baby Bear's room boasts mobiles, baseball bats, and posters) without intruding on the essence of the story. His Goldilocks is the heavy-- not the sweetie-- and it's the Bears who get the tough deal. Playing off his masterful use of simple line, Marshall creates expression with a rollicking use of bold color. PW.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
``Once there was a little girl named Goldilocks. `What a sweet child,' said someone new in town. `That's what you think,' said a neighbor.'' From the very first sentence this book takes off in typical Marshall style. Goldilocks is a self-satisfied girl used to doing exactly as she pleases. So when signs around the entrance to the shortcut read ``DANGER,'' ``TURN BACK,'' ``VERY RISKY'' and even ``GO THE OTHER WAY,'' the undaunted lass tromps headlong into adventure. Once inside the house of the three bears, Goldilocks notices a lot of coarse brown fur and thinks, ``They must have kitties.'' She thrashes her way through the bears' domain. Eventually, they return and scare the girl off, but whether or not she has learned her lesson is left to the imagination. Marshall's wonderfully unique characters are as offbeat and self-propelled as ever; the book boasts many jolly details and the pictures burst with color. Ages 4-8. (September) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2 Another delightful romp through the fairy tale forest from the author of Red Riding Hood (Dial, 1987) and James Marshall's Mother Goose (Farrar, 1986) . This retelling is a Victorianesque version of a chubby, blond-hair strong-willed ``naughty little girl'' who takes a shortcut through the woods on her way to buy muffins in the next village, and invades the home of the three sophisticated bears. While the basic storyline may be recognizable to young listeners, sight gags and ironic wit are whimsically employed for those who already know the tale and/or Marshall's other works (for example, a white hen perches atop the bears' house). The tone is straightforward and droll. Marshall is careful to include basic motifs from the original tale: the bowls of porridge, the chairs, and the beds, but he takes liberties in his commentary: ``She walked right in without even bothering to knock'' and in the characters' exclamations, like ``Patooie!'' and ``Egads!'' His playful watercolor illustrations fill the pages in their comic portrayal of these well-known figures. Whether shared in a lap or with a group, this one's a winner. Marianne Pilla, formerly at Allard K. Lowenstein Lib . of Long Beach, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
With the same delightfully irreverent spirit that he brought to his retelling of ""Little Red Riding Hood"" (1987), Marshall enlivens another favorite. Although completely retold with his usual pungent wit and contemporary touches (""I don't mind if I do,"" says Goldilocks, as she tries out porridge, chair, and bed), Marshall retains the stories well-loved pattern, including Goldilocks escaping through the window (whereupon Baby Bear inquires, ""Who was that little girl?""). The illustrations are fraught with delicious humor and detail: books that are stacked everywhere around the rather cluttered house, including some used in lieu of a missing leg for Papa Bear's chair; comically exaggerated beds--much too high at the head and the foot; and Baby Bear's wonderfully messy room, which certainly brings the story into the 20th century. Like its predecessor, perfect for several uses, from picture-book hour to beginning reading. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
