The Goldilocks Variations

First let me say, pop-up books can be the bane of my existence as a librarian because they never last long on the regular shelf, but if we keep them just for story times, they don’t get used regularly.  This week we decided to place our pop-up books with our toy collection where patroons can’t access them, but are able to check them out to take home to share together.  They’ll be searchable in the catalog and our circulation staff will be able to review these books as they are checked out and checked in.

The Goldilocks Variations written by Allan Ahlberg and with pictures by Jessica Ahlberg has moveable flaps, pop-up pieces and could be considered a librarian’s worse nightmare (seeing as though the first time it gets checked out, may very well be its last time being checked out).  But, that being said, it’s an absolutely adorable book filled with many different variations of the Goldilocks story.  I like this fractured fairy tale because it actually gives the read the traditional story at the beginning and then provides some laugh out loud variations.  Goldilocks comes in contact with 33 bears, the Bliim (aliens), the furniture, and a host of other characters.  Allan Ahlberg actually has done similar stories in The Jolly Postman and Each Peach Pear Plum highlighting the fairy tales kids know and love.

The stories themselves are only a  few pages long and the pages are made out a paper that almost feels like a thick watercolor or drawing paper.  I’m hoping this cute story will survive at least a couple of check outs because I think many families will enjoy it.

Title: The Goldilocks Variations
Author: Allan Ahlberg
Illustrator: Jessica Ahlberg
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: 2012