Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

Willems, Mo. 2012. GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS. New York: Balzer & Bray. ISBN 9780062104182 [Suggested Grade Levels K – 3]

REVIEW

Mama dinosaur, Papa dinosaur, and some other dinosaur visiting from Norway concoct a plan to go someplace else. Heh, heh, heh… So begins the story of Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. The dinosaur family thinks they are being sneaky and setting the perfect trap for a little succulent poorly supervised child. Cue Goldilocks. After she eats all the delicious pudding, she is tired and first tries to find a chair to sit in but they are all too tall. Then, she wants to lay down in a bed but they are all gigantic. She is beginning to get suspicious then hears the dinosaurs’ loud booming voices. It doesn’t take her long to figure out she is not in the bears’ home and makes a quick escape out the back door.

Fans of Mo Willems will not be disappointed by this retelling of Goldilocks. Willems witty humor is clearly present with text that will appeal to all ages. Pay careful attention to the illustrations for cleverly hidden hysterical additions to the tale.

CONNECTIONS

Compare and contrast other versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Create a Reader’s Theater and have children preform.

Look at the end papers of the book, choose one of the titles Mo Willems crossed out and have students write their own version of the story.

RELATED BOOKS

Other versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears:

Hopkins, Jackie Mims. GOLDIE SOCKS AND THE THREE LIBEARIANS. ISBN 9781932146684
Loewen, Nancy Jean. BELIEVE ME, GOLDILOCKS ROCKS! ; THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS AS TOLD BY BABY BEAR. ISBN 9781404870444
Tolhurst, Marilyn. SOMEBODY AND THE THREE BLAIRS. ISBN 9780531058787

 

By Jane Jergensen