Goldilocks…

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Retold by: James Marshall

1988

Puffin Books – The Penguin Group

ISBN: 0140563660 

Summary: This is a slight variation of the traditional fairytale of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. Goldilocks is told by her mother not to go through the shortcut in the forest, because bears live there. She doesn’t listen and goes through the forest. Meanwhile, the three bears sit down to breakfast. They decide to postpone breakfast, and go for a bicycle ride. Goldilocks comes to the empty house and decides to go in and she what she can do. After an eventful evening, Goldilocks goes to sleep in the bear’s house. When the bears return they find their house in shambles, and the culprit sleeping in their child’s room. Goldilocks escapes. The bears wonder who the girl was and wish to never see her again, and the story ends with the words, “…and they never did.”

Introduction: Ask the children if they have ever heard a story about ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ before. If a child has, tell them that this is a slightly different version than what they have heard before. Show the kids the front cover and ask them what they think the story will be about.

1. Read the first page – Ask the class: What do you think that this person talking about Goldilocks is thinking?

- Wait for response
- Show picture

2. Read 2nd page – Ask: What does it mean when the *narrator* or person telling the story said, “but to tell the truth, Goldilocks was one of those naughty girls who do exactly as they please?”

- What does ‘naughty’ mean?
- Wait for response
- Show picture

3. Read pages 4 and 6 – What happened so far in the story?

- What does ‘scalding’ mean?
- Wait for response
- Show Pictures

4. Read pages 7 and 8 – Do you think that it is safe to walk into a persons house?

- Wait for response
- Show Pictures

5. Read pages 10, 11, and 12 – Why do you think that Goldilocks thought that the people in the house had kitties?

- Wait for response
- Show Pictures
- What do you think will happen next?
- Those are great ideas
- I wonder who is right, let’s find out

6. Read pages 14, 15, and 16 – What does ‘tuckered out’ mean?

- Show pictures
- What does ‘snooze’ mean?

7. Read pages 18, 20, 23 – Why are the bears angry?

- What does ‘smithereens’ mean?
- Show pictures

8. Read page 24 – What does ‘amused’ mean?

- Show picture
- What do you think will happen next?
- Lets see if you are right

9. Read pages 27, and 29 – What did Goldilocks feel like when she got up?

- Show pictures

10. Read the last page – Why will the bears never see Goldilocks again?

-Show picture
- Lets write a story about a time that we felt like Goldilocks did when the bears found her.