Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3-6. A lavishly illustrated rendition of the classic story with detailed borders that extend the tale. (O 1 87)
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Brett's beautifully executed retelling of this classic story is distinguished by the use of luxuriant color and a wealth of visual detail. Her bears are attired in festive Bavarian garb; they live in a magnificent thatched rock-and-wood structure that leans against a tree; and their household furnishings are lavish and intricatea candle-holder in the likeness of an owl, an acorn-patterned rug, several carved wooden bears adorning the head- and footboards of Papa Bear's bed. The one overly precious touch is the continued reference to the baby bear as a ``a little, small, wee bear.'' The rest of this is sumptuous and endlessly engrossing; with such a display before them, readers will hardly blame Goldilocks for her lack of restraint. Ages 3-8. (October) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2 Brett's retelling, adapted from Andrew Lang, is strong and smooth. These well-heeled Scandinavian-looking bears live in a house that would put yuppy collectors of country homes and folk art to shame, and the elaborate, imaginative, and richly colored designs bear repeated viewings. Every tuft of beary fur is clear, every item of clothing is ornamented, and every article of furniture is carved, patterned, or decorated. Bear motifs are repeated throughout, including carved bear beds, handmade bear porridge bowls, and a solid bear door. Brett's use of borders continues to expand upon the storyline. Here wide woody borders in the double-page spreads contain elements of the action occuring elsewhere. They alternate with simple narrow borders in the single-page illustrations. Personality emerges nicely. The ``little, small, wee'' bear bumbles into everything, and the great huge bear is alternately gentle and gruff, but the middle-sized bear attracts little direct attention. Goldilocks is somewhat less successful. At first, her face is finely drawn, but in later pages it's a bit flattened. Overall, some readers might wish for less decorations and some imaginative space, and may be overwhelmed by the amount of detail, but Brett's fans will be delighted. Leda Schubert, Vermont Department of Education, Montpelier (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In a charming new edition of a favorite nursery tale, Brett closely follows the traditional text used by Leslie Brooke with only a few updatings (the bears no longer open their bedroom window in the morning), embellishments (nuts and honey in the porridge), and emendations (the bears walk in the woods ""while the porridge was cooling,"" a simplification of ""that they might not burn their mouths by beginning too soon to eat it""). Brett's now-familiar use of Eastern European folk motifs and decorative borders is well-suited to the story, and employed very much in Brooke's spirit: the cosy forest home is furnished with belongings decorated with bees, berries, sunflowers, and all manner of things pertaining to bears. The softer-toned borders emulate carved wood and incorporate amplyifing vignettes; in addition, they include an enchanting series of mice, who also coexist peaceably with the bears in the brightly colored illustrations and, in fact, are shown on the title page as the diminutive artists who have reproduced themselves in wood. This sumptuously detailed world provides the background for a Goldilocks with flaxen braids and for precisely characterized bears that are largeand solid enough to inspire delicious awe. Perfect to share with individual or group, this belongs on everyone's list. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
