Review by Booklist Review
She's back, and this time the obnoxious yellow-haired visitor barges into the bears' cozy cabin in the woods, bringing her jump rope. First she tests the three chairs as jump-rope platforms. Then she samples the porridge and moves on to the bedroom. After she is discovered by the bears and makes her great escape, Mama Bear cooks a new pot of porridge, which Papa Bear and Little Wee Bear devour because this time it is just right. The illustrations show a very traditional bear family--Papa with a bow tie and Mama in a housedress and apron--in a warmly appointed log cabin. Various humorous touches have been slipped into the artwork, and a note on the copyright page informs children that a cat, a rabbit, and a Tyrannosaurus rex are hidden in each picture. Although these figures are probably too small and well hidden for most preschoolers to find, there's still plenty of fun to be had from this goofy version of the familiar tale. --Randall Enos Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-This warm and pleasing retelling of the classic include a rope-jumping Goldilocks in red cowboy boots who bursts with personality. The bears' home is a cozy log cabin set deep in the idyllic woods. The luminous oil-over-acrylic illustrations enhance the story with delightful details. A cylinder of the familiar oat brand sits on the kitchen counter, and a photograph of proud Papa Bear holding a fish and fishing pole hangs in the bedroom. And, characteristic of the Buehners, readers are invited to find a rabbit, cat, and Tyrannosaurus rex hidden in each picture. If your folktale collection could use a freshening up of the Three Bears' story, this is the one to add.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA (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 Horn Book Review
Skipping into the log cabin of the Three Bears comes a very active Goldilocks wearing red cowboy boots. Set in a Rocky Mountains-like wilderness, the illustrations (oil paints over acrylics) are filled with funny details and hidden animals. The jump-roping intruder speaks in rhyme, and the amusing art will hold children's attention, even those who've heard the tale before. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The Buehners retell the old familiar tale with a jump-roping, rhyme-spouting Goldilocks. When their porridge proves to be too hot to eat, the bear family goes for a stroll. Meanwhile, Goldilocks comes knocking to find a jump-roping friend. This Goldilocks does not simply test out the chairs: "Big chair, middle chair, little chair, too, / Somebody's here to bounce on you!" And so continues the old favorite, interspersed with Goldilocks's jump-rope verse. When she escapes through the bedroom window, none of the characters are sure what sort of creature they have just encountered. The Buehner's homey illustrations perfectly capture the facial expressions of the characters, and lend a particular kind of mischief to Goldilocks. Readers may miss the message on the copyright page, but hidden within each picture are three creatures, instantly adding challenge and appeal. Cute, but there's not quite enough new here to make it a must. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
