Just in from Mo Willems is Goldilocks and The Three Bears…I mean, Dinosaurs. What?? Yes. DINOSAURS. Chocolate loving dinosaurs, to be exact. (If you’ve seen me at the store I’m usually wearing my blue dinosaur shirt and munching on chocolate, so this book couldn’t be more fitting for me.) Anyway, the story starts in the typical fashion of introducing the characters, but instead of a Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear it is Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and “some other dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.” That is just the first of many story line replacements that will yield a chuckle. There is chocolate pudding instead of porridge, and a trio of dinosaurs intentionally trying to wrangle a succulent and delicious-chocolate-filled-little-girl for dinner rather than meeting Goldilocks by happenstance. Willems delivers a story that will have children giggling and will surprise parents with the new spin on this classic tale.
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, by Mo Willems, Balzer & Bray, $17.99
Max is no ordinary dog. He is a great hunter! His prize of choice? Dinosaurs! But Max simply can’t hunt dinosaurs inside. For that, he must go on a true adventure to the unexplored wild of the backyard. As this zany canine prowls the yard, he encounters bicycles, toys, a rake, and a gardening hose. But to Max, the intrepid dinosaur hunter, these items are no mere playthings and grooming implements–they are dinosaur bones! Piece by piece, the bloodhound puts together a towering display of dinosaurian strength that he is sure will strike fear into the hearts of any trespassers!
Dinosaurs Roar, Butterflies Soar! by Bob Barner (ages 3-6)
