Bear and the Three Goldilocks

You'll laugh out loud at this funny fractured folktale with pictures by a popular artist!

The Goldilocks family leave their campsite to go on a hike while their s'mores cool off . . . when along comes Bear.

"What's that yummy smell?" Bear wonders. S'mores, of course: too gooey, too chocolatey . . . and just right! Bear eats them all.

Bear continues to wreak havoc by breaking a chair, smashing musical instruments, and extinguishing the fire. When the Goldilocks return, they are flabbergasted. They try to make a lot of noise to shoo away the bear . . . when Mama Bear and Papa Bear show up. Mama and Papa apologize profusely for the behavior of their naughty offspring, but the Goldilocks don't speak "Bear." They just hear a lot of LOUD GROWLING. So they decide to hightail it out of there, and the Bear family gets to enjoy the tents and snacks that are left behind.

This hilarious story, a perfect readaloud, and its hilarious pictures will delight children and parents alike.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Author: Patrick Horne
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 07/01/2025
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 10.10h x 8.00w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780823455522
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/07/2025
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2025 pg. 73
Booklist 07/01/2025 pg. 85
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2025 - Superior,Well Above Average
School Library Journal 07/25/2025 pg. 1

About the Author
Patrick Horne loves bringing humor to heartfelt stories about the everyday experiences that kids encounter. Patrick live in Texas, where he teaches fitness at a trilingual charter school. He has three rascally sons, a loving wife and a fear of stepping on legos. Bear and the Three Goldilocks is his debut as an author.

Dan Yaccarino is an author-illustrator who been named to the Texas Bluebonnet list for The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Kirkus' Best Children's Book List for All the Way To America, The New York Times 10 Best Illustrated List and the Bologna Ragazzi for Every Friday. His picture book I Am a Story is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Chicago Public Library Best Book. He's also the creator and producer of several animated series based on his books, Doug Unplugs (AppleTV), Oswald (Nickelodeon), Willa's Wild Life (NBC and Qubo), as well as the character designer behind The Backyardigans (Nickelodeon). He is also the illustrator of Holiday House picture books Firefighter Flo!, Plumber Pearl! and Crane Jane!