The familiar story of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ has been popular in its present form since 1837. It was published in a book by Robert Southey, called ‘The Doctor’. This nursery tale was a favourite in Southey’s family, and it is now one of the most popular children’s nursery stories.
The Three Bears’ Home
Our Goldcrest Gallery Story Card, ‘Goldilocks’, depicts the Three Bears’ home as Scandinavian in style. The chairs, side table and grandfather clock are painted with folk art motifs and patterns. The breakfast table has a white tablecloth embroidered with a similar blue pattern. We can see a blue rug on the floor, a blue cushion for Mummy Bear’s chair, and a blue and white oil lamp for the evenings.
Baby Bear has a little mezzanine bedroom with stairs leading up from the living room. A soft blue curtain screens his comfortable bed, and there is a window open for fresh air. The bed has a Scandinavian patchwork quilt, and white bed linen with blue embroidery.
Goldilocks Explores
Daddy, Mummy and Baby Bear had been walking in the woods while their breakfast porridge cooled down. While they were gone, an inquisitive little girl called Goldilocks found their woodland house and went in to explore. After breaking Baby Bear’s chair, she ate up all his porridge, which was delicious! Then Goldilocks lay down on Baby Bear’s comfortable bed and fell fast asleep. Now the Three Bears were back home!
Learning About Opposites
Children can learn about opposites in this nursery story. Goldilocks sits in all the chairs and one is too hard, one is too soft, and one is just right. Next, she samples all the bowls of porridge. One is too hot, one is too cold, and one is just right. Similarly, the beds are too hard or too soft, and one is just right. The story also introduces children to comparative size: Daddy Bear is the biggest, Mummy Bear is medium-sized, and Baby Bear is the smallest. The many repeated phrases of the story help children to learn it by heart.
Goldilocks: A Short Story on the Back
On the back of this lovely Story Card is a précis of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, with a Scandinavian-style border. Children will love to study the details in this attractive illustration, and answer the all-important question: “Whatever would Goldilocks think when she woke up and saw the Three Bears? “