Review: Goldilocks (The Goldilocks Variations)

We all know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but what if it was 33 Bears that Goldilocks faced when she was woken from her sleep in Baby Bear’s bed? What if the furniture decided to resist her intrusion into the house? What if she didn’t venture into a house at all, but instead found a spaceship belonging to a family of Bliim?

Popular picture book author Allan Ahlberg offers readers a range of variations on the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears sure to delight children and parents. Accompanied by absolutely gorgeous illustrations by his daughter Jessica Ahlberg, this book is hard to resist.

Goldilocks (The Goldilocks Variations) has lived up to everything promised in the preview video featured at Kids Book Review recently and more. The variations are fun and entertaining. The alien language in the Bliim variation should have children giggling (‘Who’s been dodderling my spootz?’ ‘Who’s this snopperink in my woodootog?’) and children will have fun spotting all the fairytale favourites in Goldilocks and ... Everybody.

The book is also visually appealing, with absolutely beautiful watercolour illustrations, pull-tabs randomly placed throughout the main story and a separate mini book-within-a-book featuring pop-up illustrations for a Goldilocks play variation.

I can picture Goldilocks as a favourite bedtime story with parents and children snuggled up together giggling over the tales of Goldilocks' misadventures.

Title:  Goldilocks (The Goldilocks Variations)
Author: Allan Ahlberg
Illustrator: Jessica Ahlberg
Publisher: Walker Books, $27.95 RRP
Publication Date:  1st Ocrtober 2012
Format: Hardcover pop-up book
ISBN:  9781406330052
For ages: 4+ years
Type: Picture book