Ruth Sanderson is the renowned illustrator and author of over 80 books for children. Her fairy tale retellings have been widely praised and much loved by children everywhere. Her original fairy tale, The Enchanted Wood, won both the Young Hoosier Award and the Bank Street College Award. The Texas Bluebonnet Award was given to her retelling of The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring. Her beautiful and ornate version of the classic fable Goldilocks is the latest addition to the collection.

"PreSchool-Grade 2- Sanderson's retelling begins in a familiar vein: Goldilocks is out in the woods (here, picking blueberries), where she encounters an empty house that she can't resist exploring. After tasting the porridge, rocking in the chairs, and trying out the beds, she falls fast asleep. With the entrance of the bears, the tale veers onto a different track. A no-nonsense Mama Bear quickly has Goldilocks straightening the messed bed and helping to repair the broken chair. But when it comes to the empty bowls, Goldilocks, her basket in hand, becomes the one in charge: 'Blueberries are very good for breakfast, ' she suggests. Mama Bear happily agrees and brings out the rest of the ingredients; together they all enjoy muffins right from the oven. The artist warms her version of this oft-told tale with lavish accoutrements, costumes, and furniture that suggest a Scandinavian setting, which will entice viewers to explore the far corners of the pages. Characters are presented up close: the furry-faced bears have stern yet friendly countenances while Goldilocks has just the right mixture of sauciness, curiosity, and kindness to give credibility. The large, richly colored images make this an ideal classroom read-aloud, and Mama Bear's recipe for blueberry muffins offers a nice finishing touch."

Publisher: Crocodile Books

Pub date: 2017-09-01

Length: 32 pages