Bear and the Three Goldilocks

Poetic justice finally comes to three long-suffering bears of fairy tale fame. Here, Goldilocks is the pluralized surname of a family of flaxen-haired campers—Mr. Goldilock, Mrs. Goldilock, and young Goldie Goldilock. With cheery efficiency, the trio set up three tents, tune three instruments for campfire songs, and prepare three s’mores, then head out to hike. Enter Bear, who turns the story’s age-old sampling spree on its head: finding the first s’more “too gooey,” the second “too chocolaty,” and the third “just right,” Bear devours all three, “and basically all the food-related items because, well... that’s how bears roll.” Deadpan prose from debut author Horne is a deliciously mischievous match for flat colors and crisp graphic shapes from Yaccarino (City Under the City). When the family returns and finds their food gone, their instruments destroyed, and Bear napping in a tent, their scare tactics summon his ursine parents, who not only apologize but even welcome the humans to drop by and “have some porridge, sit in some chairs, and sleep in our cozy beds.” But it’s all growls to the Goldilocks, who quickly flee—leaving the bears to roll with a long-deferred victory and a conspiratorial wink to readers. Human skin tones echo the white of the page. Ages 4–8. (July)