Goldilocks and Little Bear

PreS-Gr 2—A modern retelling of "Goldilocks" that adds charm and remarkable depth to the classic tale. Unlike the original, in which the golden-haired girl is an entitled interloper who rouses the ire of the Bear family through unintentional, but destructive, trespassing, this sweet version adroitly relates the child's and bears' stories in a parallel format. While the girl is happily scooping up porridge and damaging furniture in Little Bear's cottage, the creature is in Goldilocks's home, nibbling on pancakes and trying on her clothes. Young readers can toggle back and forth between the stories simply by rotating their device. In a refreshing and much appreciated nod to diversity, Goldilocks's family is biracial.Readers will have fun playing hide-and-seek with Little Bear, helping Goldilocks pick fruit, and, if they choose, using the microphone and camera. In addition to tilting the screen, children can switch stories by accessing an illustrated map that allows them to select and jump to another colorful scene. In the "Read and Play" option, words are highlighted and enchantingly narrated by British child actors. In the independent reading mode, the length of time the text appears on the screen can be controlled, and tapping blue touch points elicits additional dialogue.The original music, composed by Steve Burke, is a delightful component of the production. Vivid art, seamless animation, and a slight parallax effect that provides visual depth, are other standout elements.—Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, Escondido, CA