School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-In this picture book series, readers are presented with retellings of classic fairy tales. The Billy Goats Gruff sticks to the traditional story but uses speech bubbles for the characters' dialogue. Goldilocks differs a little in what the child finds fault with in the bears' accommodations, but the original premise holds. The books introduce some new vocabulary for little listeners, and the images are bright, cartoonlike, and accessible. Page layouts vary from spreads to half-pages to vignettes. VERDICT For libraries looking to add simple fairy-tale retellings for the nursery school set, these would be a decent addition.-Emily E. Lazio, The Smithtown Special Library District, NY © Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Part of the My First Fairy Tales line, this straightforward recounting keeps to the traditional narrative of three goat brothers outwitting a surly troll who's bent on eating them. Though Alperin describes the troll as having "a terribly warty face" and "horribly pointy ears," Parkhurst draws him as a smiley green cutie-pie in patchwork clothes-hardly a serious threat (the rounded knife and fork he wields don't look like they could cut through gelatin, much less goat). Nevertheless, children should still find their sense of schadenfreude satisfied as they watch Big Gruff headbutt the troll into the river. A not-at-all-scary account best suited to youngest readers. Simultaneously available: Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Ages 3-7. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
These standard retellings are mostly traditional with the expected twists and tangles. Only "Jack" is changed: Jack makes one trip up the beanstalk instead of three, which robs this version of suspenseful buildup and richness. The cartoon illustrations, featuring googly-eyed characters, match the light tone of the texts. Glossy, thick, sturdy paper will stand up to many readings. No sources are provided. [Review covers these My First Fairy Tales titles: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.] (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
