Sunday July 4th, 2010

1987 - Goldilocks and Three Bears

(Fairytale)

Retold and Illustrated by: Jan Brett

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 0 439 70185 6

This version of the fairytale of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", caught my attention because of the bears on the cover, looking more like real bears contrasted with their Bavarian looking outfits. I feel like a child would find the humor in this that bears don't really wear clothes. And the beautiful picture of Goldilocks up on the border looking so peaceful, makes you wonder, "what could she possibly be dreaming about?"

This book gives the traditional telling of a classic story with a lot of visual details. It's about a curious little girl who brings herself into a bears home, without anyone's permission and starts to explore and makes herself comfortable by eating their food, sitting on their chairs, and sleeping on their beds until.... the bears discover her! The bears go on a walk into the woods waiting for thier porridge to cool down just enough to eat it. But when they return to their home they find a few unexected surprises!

Jan Brett does a wonderful and beautiful job with her illustrations. They enhance the story by telling you more about the story without the words. All the furiniture has hand carved features, their porridge bowls look hand made and her use of borders through the book contains segments of what is occuring with the characters in other places. I also enjoyed the fact that she doesn't use the traditional wording of referring to the bears as "Papa, Mama and Baby".

Children can definetly relate to this story by empathizing with the 'little small wee bear' and get them thinking about "how what you do, can affect others", especially without their permission. Fairytales are a great way for young preschool children to connect with the story being told as for their stage of development is at the fantasy/make believe level. They can't distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality quite just yet, and find it fascinating as to what happens in these tales. It keeps them dreaming...

With this story you can have the children dramatize the story using simple props while it is being read to them. Have them say the parts of the bears as they go along. You can use it for math lessons for seriation and sequencing, and for science by looking at and investigating real bears to find out where they really live, eat and sleep. You can also make the chidlren write a letter from Goldilocks apologizing for her actions or journal, "If I were Goldilocks, I would have done things this way..."

A great classic fairytale that has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember. Teaching morality, curiosity, and discovery. Jan Brett does a extraordinary job recreating the story and bringing it alive with the real looking bears and angelic face of Goldilocks! A 'must' to read and look at for yourself!