In a refreshing retelling of a classic story, The 3 Bears & Goldilocks shows Goldilocks not as mischievious but simply curious, adventurous, and with a very good-hearted desire to help. The bears, also, are shown in a more realistic way--eating porridge mixed with bugs and living amidst debris--although granted, they still live in a rather un-bear-like abode. The story is well told, the illustrations are inventive and suit the story perfectly with mixed painting and photographic collage, and altogether, it's a wonderful take on a very familiar story. Two thumbs up!
There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

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