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Goldilocks and The Three Bears
My very first illustrated book, published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1989, now out of print.
A newspaper critic objected to my changing what she considered a traditional story. But she failed to do her homework. ALL fairy and folk tales evolve over time.
The earliest known version of this very old tale featured a fox as the intruder, named Scrapefoot. Then it became about an old woman, who, when she jumps out of the window, either dies, or breaks her neck. The woman was later replaced by a little girl whose name was Golden Hair, which then changed to Goldilocks.
My version has a new ending, in the spirit of how tales change as they pass down through time.
And it feels more complete.
There are a number of wonderful versions that other artists have created. It is worth looking into! Such as one about a little bear who breaks into the house of a human family. It is a picture book without any text.
The first publisher I tried said my ending was “anemic”.
But, the contemporary traditional ending, of Goldilocks jumping out of the window and running away, leaves us with nothing. I have created an atonement, and a lesson.
Because isn’t that what some children’s books should be about?
