I sometimes do story time for preschool children at the library where I work. Often the books I choose to read leave the kids distinctly underwhelmed. I’m always on the look out for good stories that don’t bore them to distraction. Kids are a tough audience! I’m happy to report that I found an exceptional version of the Goldilocks story, Goldie and the Three Bears, written and illustrated by Diane Stanley. It’s the classic Goldilocks story, updated to a suburban setting. My audience of 3- and 4-year-olds were absolutely mesmerized by this book. Not one of them moved a muscle the whole time. I enjoyed it, too. The book has charm, smarts, a touch of danger and transgression, and a marvelously spirited central character, Goldie, who knows exactly what she likes, and when she finds it, she loves it with all her heart.
