Adaptation of Goldilocks and The Three Bears

Summary:
This story is based on the story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears, except this one has a Mexican twist on it. This is a story bout a little boy named Emilio who is anxiously awaiting his cousins to arrive. As he waits his abuelo(grandpa) tells him a story(cuento) about three bears and Trencitas(little girl with long black braids). The three bears(osos) go for a walk while their beans cool down. While gone Trencitas stops by to visit Osito(little bear). Trencitas lets herself in and decides to try each of the beans finishing Ositos beans. She then decides to try all of their chairs and ends up breaking Ositos. Trencitas feels tired and wants to take a nap so she goes and tests out all of the beds and ends up asleep in Ositos bed. The bears get home and notice someone's been in their house. Osito's beans are all gone, his chair is broken, and Trencitas is still asleep in his bed. Trencitas invites the bears over to her house for dinner with her family.

Personal Reflection:
I enjoyed the spanish and english version of this book. They do a good job of illustrating the Mexican culture, family is a big part of Mexican culture. I like the way they make Papa Oso( papa bear) happy to eat his beans. As I write this paper i have a pot of beans(frijoles) cooking and homemade flour tortillas. This books shows a lot of Mexican culture such as: family, beans, tortillas, chili, dark hair, and braids. When we go visit family my kids anxiously await seeing their cousins.

Classroom Reflection:
1. Have each student bring in their favorite mexican dish, dessert, or treat.
2. Talk about the importance of culture. ( )

In Abuelo and the Three Bears, the author creates a new story by building on the traditional tale and giving it a twist. The book is written in both Spanish and English and it is formatted in a unique way. First of all the front part of the book is written in Spanish with no translations. However, when the book is turned around the whole story is written in English. It is really two books in one since a Spanish only reader may read the whole book in Spanish, and then an English only reader can flip the book over and read it in English. This is ideal for a person who wants to read the whole book in one language and not be translating the story into another language as they read along. The book may also be used by children who are learning to read in two languages at the same time. The story itself is interesting in that when “Goldilocks” called “Tensitas” (Little Braids) invades the Bear Family home she actually invites the Bear family over for dinner at her home. The Bear Family accepts the invitation and meets all of Tensita’s family and all of her extended family at a big family dinner. This “Goldilocks” version of the story has a happier ending than the traditional since the Bear family and the human family become friends who eat and laugh together.
Ages 5-8 ( )

Abuelo and the three bears may sound familiar to you, it because it is the Mexican version of goldilocks and the three bears. In this story a grandfather tells this story to his grandson who was very impatient and didn't won't to wait for his cousins to get there to eat dinner. In this version she has long black hair and is named Trencitias. Also, they use beans; and when the bears returned to find her they all had a good laugh. Trencitas then asked them to come to dinner at her house and have a big Mexican dinner. Then the grandson was happy he waited for his family, so they can have a big Mexican feast.

This is a great book for children who are just learning to read spanish. Also, this story teaches about other cultures.

A great in class activity to do with this book; would be to translate some of the words in spanish. Also, if a teacher has latinos in their class this would be a good book to read to the class. ( )