Goatilocks and the Three Bears

Erica S. Perl is the author of more than forty popular and critically acclaimed books for children and teens. She’s also collaborated on books with Dolly Parton and R. J. Palacio. Erica has received awards, including the National Jewish Book Award, three Sydney Taylor Medals (one silver, two bronze), and the Chickadee Award (Maine’s state picture book award). Her work has also graced the New York Times bestseller list as well as multiple state book awards and "Best Books" lists. Erica teaches in the Vermont College of Fine Arts/CalArts MFA program and presents her work at schools, libraries, and conferences. She lives in Washington, DC, with her family. For more about Erica, visit EricaPerl.com.

Arthur Howard is the illustrator of the Mr. Putter & Tabby, Gooseberry Park, and Motor Mouse series by Cynthia Rylant; Goatilocks and the Three Bears by Erica S. Perl; Noodle & Lou by Liz Garton Scanlon; and his own picture books including My Creepy Valentine, My Dream Dog, and When I Was Five. He lives in New York City.

"Goldilocks as a goat? It’s unlikely casting, but Perl (Chicken Butt!) and Howard (Mr. Putter and Tabby) pull it off with abundant good humor.... The story’s colloquial tone (“Hey, where’s my chair?” complains Baby Bear) and Howard’s...freewheeling watercolors create a rollicking atmosphere."
"Events in Perl's humorous and fresh retelling of the traditional tale unfold at a quick pace. Howard's cheery and detailed watercolors infuse extra doses of charm into the story. . . . Howard adds humorous tidbits that will even evoke chuckles from adults. . . . Perl and Howard's work provides an entertaining alternative to more traditional versions of the story. Teachers can successfully use it in compare-and-contrast lessons with other versions of the tale. Families, too, should find this picture book to be a bedtime read-aloud treat."
"[T]his fractured nursery tale...makes good use of page turns for dramatic and comic effect. Brightened with watercolor washes, Howard's cartoonlike line drawings add expressive characterizations and witty visual touches. The precisely worded text retains the satisfying structure of the original tale while adding some amusing twists and a couple of enjoyable puns. Fun for reading aloud to groups of children, this Goldilocks spoof offers a good narrative, plenty of laughs, and a happy ending."