Goldilocks Returns

You know what wouldn't be funny? Making out that the three bears were traumatized victims of Goldilock's first trespass and then having her return years later to make amends only to trespass and upset the household again -- without consequence! -- and leaving her feeling like a righteous Karen heroine.

And yet that's the joke this book is making. Ugh.

FOR REFERENCE:

Rated “Indifferent" in our old book database by Rod and Adelia.

A fractured sequel to a classic tale. Everyone has aged, even baby bear (who manages to look like a childish grown bear, could be interesting conversation with older students). Goldilocks feels guilt for wrecking the bears' home many years ago, so much so that she feels compelled to go back and make it pretty.

I did not know if I would like this story because I usually don’t enjoy when authors put twists on original fairy tales. I think that they usually turn out poorly written, but I actually enjoyed this one. It was well written story with a good message. I think the plot was well organized because it related back to the original goldilocks and the three bears story. Most authors struggle making a story flow from the original, but this one was directly connected. I thought this story was funny since goldilocks now has a locksmith store to protect others from people like her. I also found it funny that she was so ashamed that she tried to change her look so people would not recognize her. The story flowed well because it went through each show more scenario that was portrayed in the original story. Goldilocks fixed the broken chairs, the beds, exchanged their food and sprayed their house with perfume. However, she fixed their house the way she would like it. She had the best intention in mind, but the bears were very unhappy that their house was different than what they had for 50 years. I liked how the illustrations made all the characters look 50 years older. For example, the Mama Bear and Papa Bear both had canes and glasses. The big idea of this story was to show that even though we may have the best of intentions, it doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do. Also, it shows that we can’t assume others enjoy what we enjoy. show less

I thought this was a great and funny book. I liked this book because of the author's use of playful language and because of the illustrations. The author integrated language that was fun and appealing to the reader. He wrote, "And before you could say Rip Van Winkle, she had adjusted the stuffings to her finicky liking." I also thought the illustrations were great because of the variety in color and detail. The illustrator paid special attention to the facial expressions on all the bears. I especially love the page where all the bears are trying to get into their beds afar Goldilocks came and decorated everything. The message I took from this is that it is okay to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them and try to make up for them.

I actually did not like this book and I found it very hard to get into and follow. Mainly because I could not remember the original version of Goldilocks so I didn't find this one humorous. But I liked the illustrations in the book. For example, goldilocks looks the same as in the original story but she looks older and she is more wiser. Likewise, the bears are the same but they are older. But I didn't like the writing and I found it to be not engaging. For example, I found it hard to be into the book because Goldilocks jumped right in and set up the bears house and did all these crazy things I was unable to follow. The big idea in this book was if you make a mistake, to fix it and make up for your mistake.

This is a great example of folk tale because it includes elements of the classic story of Goldilocks and the three bears but it from when Goldilocks is older and wants to make right the "wrongs" of her past. At the very end of the story the three bears actually stay out to hopefully let another small child put everything back to normal.
Stars are for Setting
Age: Primary and Intermediate

Fifty years after Goldilocks first met the three bears, she returns to fix up their cottage and soothe her guilty conscience.