About This Book
Reach for this book when you want to bond over shared laughter or help a child navigate the concept of common sense and skepticism. While many fairy tales focus on morality, Mo Willems uses this story to explore critical thinking through the lens of absurd humor. It is the perfect choice for a child who is starting to question the logic of traditional stories or who enjoys being 'in on the joke' before the protagonist catches on. This is a hilarious, subversive take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears featuring three hungry dinosaurs who are definitely not setting a trap for a succulent little girl. With wit that appeals to both adults and children, it balances a sense of mild peril with ridiculous comedy. It is developmentally ideal for preschoolers and early elementary students as it encourages them to look beyond the surface of a situation and recognize when something feels too good to be true.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The story features dinosaurs attempting to lure and eat a child. While the tone is comedic and absurdist, parents of particularly sensitive children may want to note the theme of predatory threat.
Ideal Reader
A 5 or 6-year-old who knows the original Goldilocks story well and is ready to enjoy a parody that rewards their existing knowledge.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold, but it is much more effective if the child is already familiar with the traditional 'Three Bears' story.
Age Experience
Younger children (age 4) will enjoy the slapstick visuals and the 'scary' dinosaurs. Older children (ages 6-8) will appreciate the dry humor, the 'Norway' jokes, and the meta-commentary on fairy tale tropes.
What Makes It Special
Unlike traditional retellings, this version uses the reader as an accomplice to the dinosaurs' internal monologue, creating a unique meta-fictional experience that is a hallmark of Mo Willems' style.
Read plot summary
In this fractured fairy tale, three dinosaurs (Papa, Mama, and a visitor from Norway) decide to tidy their house, make beds, and prepare three bowls of chocolate pudding. They leave the house, ostensibly for no reason, but actually to hide in the bushes and wait for a child to wander in. Goldilocks, depicted here as an oblivious girl, enters and narrowly escapes being eaten only when she realizes she is in a dinosaur house rather than a bear house.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think the Dinosaurs kept saying they were 'definitely not' setting a trap?
2
How was this house different from the house in the story of the Three Bears?
3
What were some of the 'clues' that Goldilocks missed when she first walked into the house?
4
At what moment did Goldilocks realize she was in danger, and what did she do next?
5
Why do you think there was a dinosaur visiting from Norway?
