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Reviewed by Karen Tolentino for Readers' Favorite
Tiffany Obeng tells the whole story of the beloved fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears with Goldilocks vs. The Three Bears. After the incident at the Bear family’s house, word spreads in the Woodland Forest. No one wants to play with Goldilocks anymore. The Bear family calls her a burglar, a vandal, and a brat—leaving Goldilocks, once a cheerful girl, feeling alone. Enter Olivia, a young judge owl who settles every dispute in the forest. She agrees to hear both Goldilocks and the Three Bears in the Woodland Forest Court. The sharp-tongued Carl Coyote represents Goldilocks, while the steady and principled Benjamin Beaver represents the Bear family. As the hearing proceeds, readers are encouraged to avoid a one-dimensional view of truth. This fairy tale retelling helps early readers understand that every story has three sides.
The brilliance of this book begins with Tiffany Obeng’s choice to retell a fairy tale and include the rare themes of name-calling and mislabeling. She honors the original lesson of respecting boundaries. Then she narrates the aftermath, where the Bear family exaggerates what Goldilocks did. Meanwhile, Goldilocks downplays her wrong behavior to avoid the consequences. I like how the author balances these with sophistication in a children’s story. The writing is succinct and vivid, with gentle humor keeping early readers engaged. The story is deep, but she writes in a way that beginners can grasp. The author also includes discussion questions in the back matter for meaningful conversations about fairness and forgiveness. Goldilocks vs. The Three Bears is a must-have book for every school and home bookshelf.
