Gorbachev (Nicky and the Big, Bad Wolves) opens her faithful retelling with a fire crackling in the hearth as "great big father bear" sits playing the fiddle in his slippers, "middle-sized mother bear" dozes over a book and "wee small baby bear" raids the cookie jar. This bear family is as friendly a furry trio as ever set paws in a forest. As the golden-haired interloper proceeds to test porridge bowls, chairs and beds, Gorbachev keeps the familiar story line satisfyingly clean and crisp ("Then she tried the wee small baby bear's wee small bed, and it was just right!"). Meanwhile, he heightens the suspense with periodic glimpses of the bear family's outing through various windows. The climactic moment, when the ursine trio discovers Goldilocks, is accompanied by grins rather than growls. The non-threatening bears (father bear sports a bow tie) look quite eager to meet their little visitor, who scampers off nevertheless. Gorbachev's watercolors, in a largely earth-toned palette, offer a smattering of amusing touches (such as mother bear's gold hoop earrings) and his snug interiors conjure a cozy and comforting world. Ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. (May)
