Bear and the Three Goldilocks

PreS-Gr 2–It's hard to explain just how comforting this book is, offering children just enough of the situation with which they are likely thoroughly familiar, right down to the cadence of the problems (a tent is "lumpy," and another "bumpy" but the last one is—well, you know. He's already asleep). But comforting is not enough; Horne turns the story on its head and Yaccarino is a willing co-conspirator, showing a staunchly blonde, white family of Mr. Goldilock, Mrs. Goldilock, and Goldie Goldilock on a camping trip. They've pitched three tents, eaten a few s'mores, and go for a hike when Bear, being a bear, makes his move. He loves a sticky treat as well as the next bear, but he also eats just about everything else he can get his paws on, breaks a park bench and scratches his back with their car. He tries out the guitar and ukulele, but only the tambourine is "just right." The arrival of the Goldilocks back to their camp, now a disaster, leads to interference from Mama Bear and Papa Bear; this turnaround will delight children as much as Yaccarino's bright blotches of semi-retro, semi-timeless scenes of camping in the wild.