Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Other Stories

December 15, 2024
Three familiar stories get repackaged in this new edition of Cousins' favorites. Originally appearing in the 2009 titleYummy: 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 inYummy) instead of "The Little Red Hen" would have given this new collection a clearer raison d'�tre 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)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2025
Three retellings that first appeared in Cousins's 2009 compendium Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales ("Goldilocks and the Three Bears," "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," and "The Little Red Hen") are featured in this new volume. While the text for each story sticks to the script, Cousins's signature cut paper-inspired illustrations shine in accompaniment. Whimsical details such as Goldilocks's larger-than-life hair, the billy goats' boldly patterned shorts, and a polka-dot flour mill liven up the read-aloud experience.

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 10, 2025
Preschool-Kindergarten Cousins, a British author and illustrator, may be best known today as the creator of the Maisy Mouse picture-book series, but her new book presents three of some of the oldest traditional nursery tales: "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," and "The Little Red Hen." Each of these stories appeared in Cousins' larger, lengthier collection, Yummy (2009), which featured eight nursery tales. While the original volume's large format works well for sharing with a group of children, the new, smaller book may be better suited for reading to preschoolers at home. The simply written narratives appear to be identical, and although the illustrations have been modified in size to fit the smaller format, they are still striking. Painted with gouache in Cousins' distinctive style, the art emphasizes characters and key elements of settings, which are defined by bold, black lines, but often warmed with bright colors and cheerful patterns. An appealing collection of traditional tales for young children.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.