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Santa Claus and the Three Bears
In the Press: "The warm and homey watercolor illustrations are big and bright enough for group sharing, yet detailed enough for an entertaining ....Simple and satisfying." -School Library Journal "Charming watercolor illustrations by the mother-and-daughter team bring the polar bears to life and give Santa Claus an amiable, gentle personal" -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear aren't expecting company when they go for a walk on Christmas Eve, but that's exactly what they get! Leaving their pudding to cool on the kitchen table, the unsuspecting bears head outdoors for a fun evening walk. But when they return, they are shocked at what they find! Their pudding...eaten! Their chairs...broken! Their cozy beds...slept in! And it looks like the culprit is still there! Fast asleep in Baby Bear's bed is someone awfully familiar. A fluffy white beard, a red jacket covered in soot, and two black boots sticking out from under the covers. Could it really be...? Ages: 2 - 6
40 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
August 26, 2016
OK, right at the beginning, on the title page - I want the Mama Bear's chair. And then we're introduced to the bears, and Yay, they're not wearing shirts but no pants, in fact they're only wearing hats (except Baby has a scarf) to go for their walk.
The rest of the story is workmanlike. You can tell it yourself just from your imagination - the author didn't really come up with a great twist. The pictures are pretty, but they don't carry the book up to a three star rating, sorry.
Do exercise your imagination and tell your version to your kids. Exercise *their* imaginations: have them tell "The Tooth Fairy and the Three Bears" or "Snow White and the Seven Gorillas" or some other mashup that they think is funny.
The rest of the story is workmanlike. You can tell it yourself just from your imagination - the author didn't really come up with a great twist. The pictures are pretty, but they don't carry the book up to a three star rating, sorry.
Do exercise your imagination and tell your version to your kids. Exercise *their* imaginations: have them tell "The Tooth Fairy and the Three Bears" or "Snow White and the Seven Gorillas" or some other mashup that they think is funny.
October 25, 2019
This book is a retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Santa takes the place of Goldilocks. The illustrations are cute. Santa looks like a jolly elf. A cute book to be read at Christmas time.
July 24, 2024
A Christmas twist on the Goldilocks story, cute illustrations, though they did Santa a little dirty
March 9, 2014
I read this book because I thought it looked like an excellent opportunity to transform a traditional fairy tale into something even more meaningful and clever. I was further encouraged by the reviews I read from people gifting this version to children at the holidays. Perhaps this is why I was sorely disappointed with the actual work.
It was NOT a clever retelling of the The Three Bears. It is an uninspired repetition of a classic structure in which an-oft beloved character (whom children are usually taught cares, protects and bestows gifts upon them)is cast as the 'Goldilocks' character. This could certainly work with creative and intelligent character and plot constructs accompanying it. Unfortunately here Santa never even apologizes for entering their home without permission, eating the pudding, etc. (but ESPECIALLY breaking the child's chair)and, although he does give them each their Christmas gift before he leaves for the rest of his deliveries the reader never sees what is in their packages. Most young readers will feel unsatisfied with the way in which this story resolves itself.
Santa does call back over his shoulder that he will replace Baby Bear's chair next year, but I have yet to meet a child under the age of 10 that is fine with you replacing something next year. So many of the Santa's character's actions simply do not ring true for the traditional character and there is no character or plot twist that indicates he is anything other than the traditional icon.
I would not recommend this book to small children/young readers.
It was NOT a clever retelling of the The Three Bears. It is an uninspired repetition of a classic structure in which an-oft beloved character (whom children are usually taught cares, protects and bestows gifts upon them)is cast as the 'Goldilocks' character. This could certainly work with creative and intelligent character and plot constructs accompanying it. Unfortunately here Santa never even apologizes for entering their home without permission, eating the pudding, etc. (but ESPECIALLY breaking the child's chair)and, although he does give them each their Christmas gift before he leaves for the rest of his deliveries the reader never sees what is in their packages. Most young readers will feel unsatisfied with the way in which this story resolves itself.
Santa does call back over his shoulder that he will replace Baby Bear's chair next year, but I have yet to meet a child under the age of 10 that is fine with you replacing something next year. So many of the Santa's character's actions simply do not ring true for the traditional character and there is no character or plot twist that indicates he is anything other than the traditional icon.
I would not recommend this book to small children/young readers.
May 4, 2019
I think this is a really cute book especially because it is a holiday book and I love the holidays. I know this is a book I wont be able to read in my classroom but it is a book I could allow students to take home or borrow if their parents would allow that.
January 13, 2025
I loved the illustrations that use Scandinavian holiday traditions and create a fun back drop for the story but I absolutely didn't care for the writing. It was very bland.
December 1, 2020
My girls loved this book. I'm not sure before reading this they were super familiar with goldilocks and the three bears story, but they LOVED this one. It is really cute, and Adeline loves polar bears, so that may have been part of the story. We have read it numerous times and I'm still not tired of reading it yet so that's good!
December 7, 2023
This is the Christmas version of the Three Bears fable with excellent illustrations and a traditional narrative with real sentences, correct grammar, and not a few exclamation points. These are the elements for a favorite classic, no matter your child's educational exposure. Scholastic, take note!
December 29, 2017
Cute twist on the Goldilocks story!
June 6, 2018
This book was cute, but it made my 4 year old upset that we did not get to find out what was in the presents from Santa.
December 14, 2018
The kids liked this twist on an old classic.
January 4, 2020
Great illustrations! Pretty realistic bears.
November 23, 2020
Still not sure why this story persists or captivates little audiences, but this was a fun little twist on the classic Goldilocks.
December 15, 2020
Fun Christmas retelling of the classic Nursery Tale.
December 20, 2021
A delightful retelling with a white-bearded protagonist.
November 17, 2022
You would think Santa could get a replacement chair faster so Little Bear doesn’t have to sit on the floor for a year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2022
This book is good for the holidays coming up. Its about the three little bears but instead of Goldy Locks its Santa Clause.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2022
It's just Santa Claus instead of Goldilocks.
December 7, 2023
Clever spin on a traditional tale!
December 11, 2023
Great choice for storytime with Santa.
November 25, 2024
Kind of brilliant. The three (polar) bears leave the house and when Santa comes to deliver presents, he tries their pudding, sits in their chairs and lays in their beds.
December 19, 2025
Super cite spoof of Goldilocks and the 3 bears
September 24, 2013
Richie's Picks: SANTA CLAUS AND THE THREE BEARS by Maria Modugno, Jane Dyer, ill., and Brooke Dyer, ill., Harper, September 2013, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-06-170023-1
"Once upon a time, about, hmmm, five years ago, there was this groovy dude and his name was Santa Claus, y'know? And he used to live over in the projects with his old lady and they had a pretty good thing together because his old lady was really fine and she could cook and all that stuff like that, y'know?
-- Cheech and Chong, from another great Santa story.
"He looked around and saw the pudding on the table. After eating milk and cookies all night, the pudding looked tasty and warm.
"'Christmas pudding! What a splendid idea!' Santa exclaimed, and took a spoonful from the great big bowl.
"'This pudding is too hot!' he said, and tested the pudding in the middle-size bowl. 'This pudding is too cold.'
"He decided to move on to the pudding in the wee little bowl.
"'This pudding is just right,' he said, and ate it all up!"
My first thought, upon reading SANTA CLAUS AND THE THREE BEARS was: Wow, man! What a groovy twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears!
This thought was then quickly overrun by a whole avalanche of ideas about how to employ and enjoy this book with the four-to-eight year-olds who will be entertained by, and learn from, this outstanding picture book that features Santa and a trio of polar bears.
Of course, the real long-term value in a story such as this one comes from having a young audience already being thoroughly familiar with the traditional tale of Goldilocks. I have always been a great fan of the late James Marshall in general, and adore his GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, a Caldecott Honor book which was published back in my days as director of a childcare center. You can have (and I did have) a good number of young kids repeatedly acting out the traditional story as I read it to the circle. The more you do something like this on a regular basis at circle time, the more fun it is. The kids learn from each other how to be more and more comfortable performing, and more and more over-the-top dramatic and entertaining. Their familiarity with the story permits one to get a bit more complicated with the impromptu staging, adding to the cast by having pairs of kids serve as the bedposts for the three beds, or to be holding different-sized pretend bowls from which Goldilocks can eat.
"'SOMEBODY IS SLEEPING IN MY BED,' said Baby Bear in his wee little voice, 'AND WHO COULD IT BE?'
"The three bears looked at Baby Bear's bed. They saw lots of white hair, a red jacket covered with soot, and, sticking out from the bottom of the blanket, two black boots."
Do you see how, when the traditional version has been read and performed regularly, it is going to be the ultimate crack-up to then have this twisted tale version at hand, along with a Santa hat, and a cast and audience who are all well-versed in the details of the traditional story?
In the long run, with the kids having learned the entertainment value in creating twisted tales such as this one, you can then have them brainstorming, scripting, and staging their own twisted tales. This practice in developing narrative skills is where you can fruitfully employ a book like this with eight year-olds who could well be writing and illustrating their own books that bring the three bears in contact with anyone from the Abominable Snowman to one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Abraham Lincoln.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"Once upon a time, about, hmmm, five years ago, there was this groovy dude and his name was Santa Claus, y'know? And he used to live over in the projects with his old lady and they had a pretty good thing together because his old lady was really fine and she could cook and all that stuff like that, y'know?
-- Cheech and Chong, from another great Santa story.
"He looked around and saw the pudding on the table. After eating milk and cookies all night, the pudding looked tasty and warm.
"'Christmas pudding! What a splendid idea!' Santa exclaimed, and took a spoonful from the great big bowl.
"'This pudding is too hot!' he said, and tested the pudding in the middle-size bowl. 'This pudding is too cold.'
"He decided to move on to the pudding in the wee little bowl.
"'This pudding is just right,' he said, and ate it all up!"
My first thought, upon reading SANTA CLAUS AND THE THREE BEARS was: Wow, man! What a groovy twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears!
This thought was then quickly overrun by a whole avalanche of ideas about how to employ and enjoy this book with the four-to-eight year-olds who will be entertained by, and learn from, this outstanding picture book that features Santa and a trio of polar bears.
Of course, the real long-term value in a story such as this one comes from having a young audience already being thoroughly familiar with the traditional tale of Goldilocks. I have always been a great fan of the late James Marshall in general, and adore his GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, a Caldecott Honor book which was published back in my days as director of a childcare center. You can have (and I did have) a good number of young kids repeatedly acting out the traditional story as I read it to the circle. The more you do something like this on a regular basis at circle time, the more fun it is. The kids learn from each other how to be more and more comfortable performing, and more and more over-the-top dramatic and entertaining. Their familiarity with the story permits one to get a bit more complicated with the impromptu staging, adding to the cast by having pairs of kids serve as the bedposts for the three beds, or to be holding different-sized pretend bowls from which Goldilocks can eat.
"'SOMEBODY IS SLEEPING IN MY BED,' said Baby Bear in his wee little voice, 'AND WHO COULD IT BE?'
"The three bears looked at Baby Bear's bed. They saw lots of white hair, a red jacket covered with soot, and, sticking out from the bottom of the blanket, two black boots."
Do you see how, when the traditional version has been read and performed regularly, it is going to be the ultimate crack-up to then have this twisted tale version at hand, along with a Santa hat, and a cast and audience who are all well-versed in the details of the traditional story?
In the long run, with the kids having learned the entertainment value in creating twisted tales such as this one, you can then have them brainstorming, scripting, and staging their own twisted tales. This practice in developing narrative skills is where you can fruitfully employ a book like this with eight year-olds who could well be writing and illustrating their own books that bring the three bears in contact with anyone from the Abominable Snowman to one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Abraham Lincoln.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
Read
January 28, 2016"Yesterday, we began talking about fractured fairy tales. What is a fractured fairy tale?" Student response. "Yes, that is correct, an author takes a fairy tale, breaks it apart and then changes it to make it their own. Today I am going to show you another one. Before I tell you which fairy tale the author fractured, I want you to look at the cover and think about which fairy tale they based this story off of." Pause, student response. "Yes! It reminds me of Goldilocks and the Three Bears too. You can see a papa bear, a mama bear and a baby bear. Are these the same kind of bears as the ones in Goldilocks?" Student response. "Right these ones are polar bears, so they are a little bit different, but they are still bears. The title sounds a lot like Goldilocks too, doesn't it? This story is called "Santa Claus and the Three Bears" by Maria Modugno. What happens in Goldilocks at the Three Bears?" Student responses. "Hmm, I'm interested in how Santa relates to the three bears on the cover. I know that he comes into people's homes on Christmas Eve to deliver presents. We will have to read to find out how Santa is connected to the three bears. We also want to compare and contrast Santa Claus and the Three Bears to Goldilocks at the Three Bears.
Opening Moves:
Making Connections- Goldilocks and Santa Claus
Background knowledge -Review fractured fairy tale
Think Alouds - "I'm interested in...." "I know Santa...."
Compare and Contrast -How is this alike or different.
Rationale:
This is a good progression after introducing Little Roja Riding Hood because then it's still an easier one to see the connection to the original fairy tale based on what happens in the story, but now it's introducing that sometimes an author might change the main character. They can have the same traits, but be someone completely different.
Opening Moves:
Making Connections- Goldilocks and Santa Claus
Background knowledge -Review fractured fairy tale
Think Alouds - "I'm interested in...." "I know Santa...."
Compare and Contrast -How is this alike or different.
Rationale:
This is a good progression after introducing Little Roja Riding Hood because then it's still an easier one to see the connection to the original fairy tale based on what happens in the story, but now it's introducing that sometimes an author might change the main character. They can have the same traits, but be someone completely different.
December 14, 2015
This review also published at The Children's Book and Media Review run by Brigham Young University.
On Christmas Eve, Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear are busy getting ready for the holiday the next day. They decorate the house and make Christmas pudding, but when they sit down to eat the pudding is much too hot. They go on a walk to see the Christmas lights while their pudding cools. While they are gone, Santa Claus comes to their house. He tries the pudding, but only one is just right, and only one of the chairs is just right too. When the bears come back and discover that someone is in their house, they get to meet Santa and receive their presents.
This story is a simple retelling of the classic story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with the additions of the bears being polar bears and Santa as Goldilocks. While adult readers might be bothered that Santa doesn’t replace what he’s broken until next year and doesn’t apologize for eating their food and breaking their belongings, younger readers will likely be too excited about the ending with talking to Santa to care. The illustrations are charming, and many adults and children will like this seasonal version of an old classic.
On Christmas Eve, Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear are busy getting ready for the holiday the next day. They decorate the house and make Christmas pudding, but when they sit down to eat the pudding is much too hot. They go on a walk to see the Christmas lights while their pudding cools. While they are gone, Santa Claus comes to their house. He tries the pudding, but only one is just right, and only one of the chairs is just right too. When the bears come back and discover that someone is in their house, they get to meet Santa and receive their presents.
This story is a simple retelling of the classic story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with the additions of the bears being polar bears and Santa as Goldilocks. While adult readers might be bothered that Santa doesn’t replace what he’s broken until next year and doesn’t apologize for eating their food and breaking their belongings, younger readers will likely be too excited about the ending with talking to Santa to care. The illustrations are charming, and many adults and children will like this seasonal version of an old classic.
December 3, 2013
The three bears are polar this time, and their visitor isn't a blonde-headed child, but Santa Claus himself! Oh, he eats Baby Bear's pudding, he breaks Baby Bear's chair, and he sleeps in Baby Bear's bed, but rather than run away in fright when the bears return home, Santa opens up his pack and gives them gifts. (And that was the part the 2nd graders here liked best of all, because Santa gives Mama Bear a middle-sized gift like they expected, but Papa Bear gets a wee little gift and Baby Bear gets a great big gift! They loved that!)
Illustrations are great, story is familiar but fun twists, and it was a big hit here. I read Paul Galdone's The Three Bears first, then this one. I wondered if their attention would wander with two stories so similar, but they were right with me the whole time. Of course, we had to take time to compare and contrast the books. One tiny 2nd grade boy came up to me after we finished and said, "You picked two good books this time!"
That's good enough for me. This one has earned a regular place in my lesson plans.
Illustrations are great, story is familiar but fun twists, and it was a big hit here. I read Paul Galdone's The Three Bears first, then this one. I wondered if their attention would wander with two stories so similar, but they were right with me the whole time. Of course, we had to take time to compare and contrast the books. One tiny 2nd grade boy came up to me after we finished and said, "You picked two good books this time!"
That's good enough for me. This one has earned a regular place in my lesson plans.
September 1, 2016
There is a papa bear, mama bear, and baby bear who are preparing for Christmas by decorating and making pudding. They sit down to eat the pudding and discover it's too hot to eat, so they decide to take a walk. While they are out Santa comes to their house and helps himself to some pudding, a chair, and a bed, where he falls asleep. When they bears come home they are surprised to find that someone had been in their house. They went upstairs where they found Santa asleep and woke him up. He gave them their presents and then took off.
This book was funny to me because I didn't expect it to be like Goldilocks, but it was pretty much the same. I still thought it was cute and it's a very good Christmas story for kids.
I would use this story around Christmas time, but I would use it after reading Goldilocks. I would want my students to use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the two books.
This book was funny to me because I didn't expect it to be like Goldilocks, but it was pretty much the same. I still thought it was cute and it's a very good Christmas story for kids.
I would use this story around Christmas time, but I would use it after reading Goldilocks. I would want my students to use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the two books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2014
The three bears weren't expecting company when they went for a walk on Christmas Eve. But who should appear but the merry old gentleman himself - Santa Claus! Santa tries out the Christmas pudding, the chairs and then the beds. Find out what happens when the three bears come home from their walk. Wonderful pictures and whimsical prose make for a lovely picture book to share with your family during the holiday season.
Janice P. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
January 16, 2016
This was probably our favorite new Christmas read this year, it's a straightforward Three Bears story with Santa Claus in the Goldilocks role. One thing I liked about is that it comes through in the book that Santa is resting/eating etc because he is tired from doing all the Christmas deliveries, as opposed to being a random trespasser/vandal. And it cracked me up that the bears were mostly perplexed, and not angry when they discover their porridge, etc. I think Lucy (age 4) liked it because she knew the story so well already and it was satisfying to her that it didn't deviate too much.
November 26, 2013
While there is no Goldilocks or porriage in this adorable picture book, there is Santa and Christmas pudding. This is a fun wintery twist on a classic that every kid young and old will adore.
I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews