The Three Bears

The Three Bears

by Byron Barton

In a rhythmic text and striking pictures, Byron Barton retells the classic story of the three bears and a little girl named Goldilocks. Barton's simple words, bold images, and imaginative use of color have made his many picture books perennial favorites with very young children.

This stripped-down version of the classic tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears features simple text and lovingly painted pictures that will capture the attention of your preschooler. Although the story may be familiar, this book retells the tale with short and easy-to-memorize verses that make it easy for young children to follow along. The illustrations and text match the simple, straightforward tone of the story.

Parents may be surprised to see their children repeating this story to themselves. Many children will probably be able to "read" the story simply by looking at the pictures. Sharp-eyed young ones - and their parents - may notice recurring themes throughout the story, such as Goldilocks' flowers strewn haphazardly around the bears' house, or each bear depicted in a different color.

Not only was Emily, the three-year-old I shared this story with, able to fill in the blanks when I paused in the story, she also expanded on it: When she saw that Baby Bear's rocking chair was broken, she said, "Don't worry! Mama and Papa Bear will fix it!" She even wondered aloud why she couldn't see Goldilocks' home in the picture of the big forest. We used our imaginations to decide where it might be situated off the page.

--Abby