School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2In this brief, bilingual rendition of the classic fairy tale, many traditional details have been omitted or altered (e.g., Goldilocks eats soup instead of porridge) and the English and Spanish texts both lack energy. The largely red and brown cartoon-style artwork does exhibit childlike enthusiasm, but the tall, lanky bears resemble people in bear costumes more than animals. In addition, some of the colors are inconsistent from page to page; Goldilocks's hair varies from ivory to light mustard to tangerine orange. With a more lively narrative and more consistent illustrations, the Spanish translation of James Marshall's Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Ricitos Dorados y los tres osos [Dial, 1996]) is a more enjoyable choice.Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
While these books' juxtaposition of English and Spanish texts may fill a need, the undistinguished retellings of familiar tales may deem the titles more suited to adult admirers of Spanish artist Ballester's sophisticated, minimalist paintings. Unfortunately, the pictures lack the kind of details and humor that appeal to young readers (e.g., the sloppy visual inconsistencies in Goldilocks: in one illustration, the bears' alleged little, medium and big bowls are virtually all the same size; and the heroine's gravity-defying locks are only sometimes goldenÄother times beige). The illustrations in Jack and the Beanstalk are stronger; one especially noteworthy painting shows Jack's perspective from atop the beanstalk as the fields beneath him stretch out in patches and stripes. The uninspired narratives, however, aren't likely to engage either beginning readers or a read-aloud audienceÄand fairy tale fans are likely to grouse about Goldilocks breaking the chair before she eats the porridge rather than traditional tellings that reverse the acts. Ages 3-8. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Ea. vol.: 1998. 24p. Illus. by Arnal Ballester. Chronicle, $12.95. Gr. 2^-4. These books, which were originally published in a Spanish-only version in Spain, have been adapted into bilingual (English-Spanish) formats that, unfortunately (especially noticeable in Ricitos de Oro y los tres osos), have lost the original spontaneity and verve. Despite this caveat, the colorful, contemporary, bold illustrations and the easy-to-read English and Spanish texts make these retellings worthwhile additions for those who insist on purchasing bilingual books.