GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS AND OTHER STORIES
From the Lucy Cousins Nursery Stories series
by Lucy Cousins ; illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Three familiar stories get repackaged in this new edition of Cousins’ favorites.
Originally appearing in the 2009 title Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales, this shorter book is comprised of the titular “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” as well as “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” and “The Little Red Hen.” Using “The Three Little Pigs” (also in Yummy) instead of “The Little Red Hen” would have given this new collection a clearer raison d’être by presenting a trio of stories with a trio of protagonists each, but Cousins’ fans will no doubt welcome this new offering anyway; endpapers decorated with various characters and items that appear in the three stories invite them into an “I spy” search of the pages once they proceed into the book proper. Cousins’ expert use of page layout separates or unites characters navigating the central conflicts—Goldilocks against the bears, troll against goats, and the Little Red Hen against all those lazy animals. While the stories remain stolidly true to traditional tellings, visual interest abounds due to the vibrant colors and eye-catching patterns and in the expressive use of background color to convey changing moods across the various scenes.
Fairy-tale fun, especially ideal for the author’s many devotees.
(Picture book. 2-5)