Goldilocks
and the Three Dinosaurs: Book Review
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. Goldilocks
and the Three Dinosaurs. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2012. ISBN 0062104187
PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of three
clever dinosaurs, Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and the visiting Dinosaur from
Norway, and their failed trap to lure and gobble up little Goldilocks. To lure
a child into their home for their meal, the three dinosaurs set an enticing trap,
leaving three large and yummy bowls of chocolate pudding. They also cleverly
setup and make their beds, making them look as comfy and inviting as possible,
and then head to the woods to wait. Being a little girl who never listened to
warnings, Goldilocks enters the house and is instantly attracted to the three
bowls of chocolate pudding. Stuffing herself full of pudding as the three
dinosaurs wait outside for their chocolate-filled treat, she then wanders
further into the house to find a place to rest. Finding that the three chairs and
beds in the house were far too tall for her, she realizes that she is not in a
bear’s home, but a dinosaur’s home, and runs out the back door! The dinosaurs
rush through the front door to claim their treat, but are sadly too late.
CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Right from the start this
book provides its audience with laughs, entertaining its readers with the three
dinosaurs and their attempt to make a meal of Goldilocks. This story is full of satire; though the
dinosaurs may say one thing, their actions and choices show their true
intentions in a humorous way. This story keeps the reader fully engaged in anticipation
as they wait to see if the dinosaurs will eat Goldilocks or if she will escape
in time, not knowing who they truly are rooting for. In the end Goldilocks
escapes and the audience is left feeling relief, yet with a tinge of sadness
for the three dinosaurs who have lost out on their meal.
The colorful illustrations
serve to provide further insight into the dinosaur’s true intentions during
this story. They are humorous and full of detail, and the emotions portrayed in
the characters through these illustrations add greater feeling and character
understanding. The reader can always see the dinosaurs, even while they are
hiding and waiting for the right moment to catch Goldilocks, providing
anticipation as the story continues. In the end, we see the disappointment on
the dinosaur’s faces, and are provided with the comedic ending illustrations of
the “morals” learned from this story; If you find yourself in the wrong story
leave, and lock the back door!
REVIEW
EXCERPT(S)
Notable Children’s Award
Publisher’s Weekly Best
Children’s Books of 2012
From Publisher’s Weekly: “With
a sense of iron (and humor) as sharp as this dinosaur tiro’s talons, Willems’s
retelling is a sure bet for audiences who have moved beyond more gently witty
fare.”
From School Library
Journal: “This is pure Mo Willems, from the many visual gags in the cleanly
draw illustrations and the tight, tongue-in-cheek story line to the endpapers…Readers
of all ages will find much to chuckle about in this wacky retelling.”
From Booklist: “Willems
has delivered his very best work so far—this is a tasty treat for kids already
fluent with the original, and for any fan of funny, and everybody will want to
read it again and again and again.”
CONNECTIONS
Read other Notable
Children’s Award books to read such as:
- · DaCosta, Barbara. Nighttime Ninja. ISBN 031620384X
- · Logue, Mary. Sleep Like a Tiger. ISBN 054764102
Read other Mo Willems
books to read such as:
- · The Duckling Gets a Cookie?! (A Pigeon Series Book). ISBN 1423151283
- · We Are in a Book! (An Elephant and Piggie Book). ISBN 1423133080
Use as an introduction
activity in a Language Arts lesson about wit, irony, and satire.
Read other updated/twisted
children’s fairytales, classics, and retellings:
- · Scieszka, Jon. The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. ISBN 067084487X
- · Shaskan, Trisha Speed. Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood as Told by the Wolf (The Other Side of the Story). ISBN 1404870466
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