Professor Goose Debunks Goldilocks and the Three Bears

by Paulette Bourgeois, Alex G. Griffiths (Illustrator)

The first in a new series by the author of Franklin the Turtle! Join Professor Goose in this STEM-filled picture book as she fact-checks classic fairy tales and shares the science behind these flawed stories.

Mother Goose's fairy tales are NOT based in science, and her great niece Professor Goose thinks it's time to share the truth. Join Professor Goose as she — literally — travels through the pages of Goldilocks and the Three Bears , fact-checking, exposing the flaws and explaining the science. Bears don't live in cottages — they prefer dens! The smallest bowl of porridge wouldn't be "just right" — it would have been the coldest! Professor Goose is delighted to see Baby Bear use the scientific method and Goldilocks's fight or flight response. And maybe Goldilocks should have used a GPS so she wouldn't have gotten lost in the first place?

Jammed with jokes and wonderfully silly illustrations, this book entertains while it introduces basic scientific laws and rules to young readers. At the back of the book, readers will find Professor Goose's instructions on how to engineer their own chair for a (teddy) bear!

Genres: Picture Books, Stem, Science, Childrens, Animals, Fairy Tales, Nonfiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 21, 2022

About the author

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bourgeois graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 1974. She was a psychiatric occupational therapist for three years before deciding to focus on her writing. She studied journalism at Carlton University then worked as a reporter for the Ottawa Citizen and CBC Television. She became a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C. contributing pieces to Chatelaine, Canadian Living, Reader's Digest and Maclean's. She returned to Toronto in 1983.

In 2003, she became a Member of the Order of Canada and in 2007, she received an Honourary Doctor of Laws from her alma mater, the University of Western Ontario.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun, short and simple read trying to showcase a bear's life and a little girl's life on their normal routine behaviour. The artstyle is basic. However, the storybook felt incomplete.

Thank you, author/artist and the publisher, for the advance reader copy.

[Sarah BT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be staple of classrooms for sure. Using fairy tales and STEM is not new, but I love the idea of fact-checking the fairy tale and introducing various scientific concepts throughout the story. This would pair wonderfully with a fairy tale STEM program or lesson.

[el (celestialbronz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paulette Bourgeois serving again as always. I missed my childhood even more

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just from the jump I’m having a hard time with how this is reminding me so much of Mo Willems while not being Mo Willems. But also who is the audience for this?!

Professor Marie Curious Goose is fact checking her great aunt’s fairy tales covering thermodynamics (mama bear’s medium bowl would be just right), GPS would have kept Goldilocks from getting lost, and so on. The story doesn’t have much closure and includes instructions to make a cardboard chair. Idk.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Carolyn Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Goose is a distinguished academic who refuses to accept the fictions in fairytales. He believes that people (including much younger people), deserve the truth. The cold, hard, facts.

This humorous exposé of Goldilocks and the alleged break-in at the bear's cottage depends heavily on the funny illustrations. For instance, when Goldilocks is trying the porridge or fleeing. I'm laughing just recalling the pictures!

BEWARE: This book is filled with "asides" containing interesting scientific facts about the subjects being discussed; natural habitat, hibernation, porridge cooling rates, etc. Educational, yet easily skipped over if you prefer to stick to the story--all in 40 pages.

It's a graphic novel and reference book rolled into one! If you know a middle grade (or thereabouts) budding naturalist, detective, storyteller, scientist, and/or person who enjoys good clean laughs, this should be on your short list!

5/5
I can't resist a trifecta; science, clean humor, and good illustrations!

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books, and NetGalley for this galley; the review is voluntary.

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[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book is adorable!!! I cannot say enough about it! Of course, as soon as I received it, I read it and then read it again and then read it to my parents and finally to my niece - the verdict is in. You need to buy this book!!!

Professor Goose, Mother Goose's great niece is debunking fairy tales by fact checking and explaining the science behind the stories. As we move through the story, we are given fact checks. I love, love that this story can grow with the child - leading with the story and giving the facts when they are a little older. I am so so excited that there is more to come!

The illustrations by Alex G. Griffiths are so amazing. They are colourful and draw your attention and combine with the story to create this beautiful package.

I love the humour through the writing and I definitely think I learned a thing or too. Plus there is instructions to create your own chair for a teddy bear. What else could you ask for?

I was incredibly lucky to be gifted a copy of this story. Thank you, thank you to Penguin Teen Canada and Tundra Books I will be selfishly hanging onto to this one for my own library but reading to my nieces and nephews when they visit!

[Elles_shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Goose Debunks Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a delightful picture book that combines a beloved fairy tale with science. Professor Marie Curious Goose is the niece of Mother Goose who never bothered to fact check the science in her fairy tales and nursery rhymes. In the opening scene, the bears are in their lovely little cottage lamenting that their porridge is too hot to eat. Professor Goose points out that the natural habitat of bears is in a den and their diet does not include porridge. Professor Goose also discusses GPS, thermodynamics, force, and hibernation. When the bear family returns home, Professor Goose discusses how Baby Bear solves the mystery of who broke into their home using the scientific method. Goldilocks then responded with a fight or flight response when discovered by the bears. There is also plans on how to engineer a new chair for Baby Bear.
This was such a cute story. I will definitely be buying this book for my classroom library. This would be great for a read aloud talking about fairy tales or to introduce the scientific method.

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Nerd Kid me would have adored this!!! This is a light, irreverent survey of scientific concepts using the framework of Goldilocks to illustrate ideas. There isn't a particular theme or order to the science discussed. Instead it's inspired by the events of the story and flits from thermodynamics to zoology to the scientific method. This keeps it from becoming too heavy or pedantic. Instead the tone stays fun and keeps science as an interesting way to understand the world, not an intimidating set of facts to remember.

The illustrations are colorful and lively, with lots of little details to notice. This would a fun classroom read for early elementary and could spark lots of discussions not only about the story, but also the ideas of fact-checking and critical evaluation. It would be an excellent addition to school and classroom libraries!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not perhaps as much of a break-away from the original Goldilocks as I might have expected, this does handily have a professorial goose interjecting to give us the science – and side-panels to give us the background to the science. So we learn that the Three Bears would never have left a house behind them for a walk, as they don't live in them (ah, but later on they're still OK to be seen using chairs?!), and that if the biggest porridge bowl is too hot, the medium one is too cool, but the smallest is just right, something is wrong with the laws of thermodynamics. Or, you know, they're just made of different things. So yes, I've been turned into a nitpicking goose by this – I better close with the fact that kids should still be expected to have some fun out of it, even though it's a quirky slice of edutainment.

[Lara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Elijah picked this out at the library last time we were there and has wanted to read it a lot. And I DO NOT LIKE IT.

Okay, so…first of all, the title is Professor Goose Debunks. Professor Goose interjects a Fact Check every other page, but only two of them actually seem to involve any actual debunking (bears don’t live in houses, duh, and the porridge cooling situation is obviously all wrong as well), but then there’s one on GPS and one on hibernation and then there’s a whole scientific method scene and one on fight or flight, and it drives me crazy because this book is just so all over the place.

Also, the humor mainly consists of super lame jokes followed by “HA!”

Most people seem to really like this book and find it cute and funny, but I just find it completely infuriating and I cannot WAIT for Elijah to get bored of it so I can send it back from whence it came!

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 2 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2024 Hackmatack Award in the English non-fiction category. However, I feel like it would be better suited for younger kids (early elementary, grades K-3). That's my biggest factor in saying it is just OK - I feel like when you compare this book to the other non-fiction offerings they just aren't on the same level. These are pretty high level concepts, and this book might just be the thing that sparks an interest in scientific principles that propels a student to pursue a career as a scientist. I just don't think that the average Hackmatack reader will be as into it as a younger kid would.
All that being said, I think it is a really cool concept for a picture book. I would recommend it to parents who are looking to expose their young child to science.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book for elementary students, however, I feel it is a little disconnected and forced. While the science aspects are true, they pop in randomly and not always necessary. Maybe limiting the science to a few instead of practically every other page would have been better. For students just learning how story works, this would not be my go to.

However, with that said, I do see how this could be used in a classroom as a mentor text after reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Maybe take one section at a time and investigate the science compared to the story. Lots of useful skills could be incorporated via discussion: compare/contrast, debate over incorporating real science or having the liberty to twist science for a work of fiction, etc.

[Latitude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful picture book that introduces STEM concepts through Professor Goose, a distinguished academic researcher. This is a great book for kids who love deconstructed fairy tales; it’s a different direction for right after reading Stinky Cheese Man, and also for kids who aren’t quite ready for A Tale Dark and Grimm. There’s even an engineering craft at the back, to make a chair for a (teddy) bear! This introduces concepts like fact-checking and critical evaluation, and is a great STEM introduction for reluctant-to-math kids, or for kids who really like to prove other people wrong. (I may or may not have been one of these children.) Five stars; a great addition to your picture book library. Five stars.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professor Goose analyzes the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. While there's some debunking (bears living in houses, bear diets, principles of thermodynamics as related to porridge serving sizes), there's more explication of related scientific principles (GPS, forces, hibernation, etc.). Baby Bear is a good investigator and quickly deduces that there is an Intruder in their house. Includes a craft after the story - make a chair for a bear - that would definitely not hold up to the weight of a real bear! Readers who want to know may enjoy the scientific side notes.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Marie Curious Goose, Ph.D. is an expert in STEM and realized that Great-Aunt Mother Goose didn't fact-check the science in her fairy tales. She goes through Goldilocks and the Three Bears and points out each inaccuracy in the story. There's also instructions on engineering your own chair for a bear. I definitely want to do this as its own program where kid make their own chairs! It's funny and educational. With the original story being included, you don't need to know the story beforehand, but it may help to read one in advance that isn't broken up with Dr. Goose's fact checks.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book, I love that Professor Goose points out how illogical it is that baby bear's porridge would be just right and then explains thermodynamics. I thought the chair building exercise at the end of the book was a great project. I think this book would be a great addition to your home or school library and the chair would make a great project for kids and parents to work on together.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley and Penguin House allowed us to read this ARC.

As a homeschooling mom to a 5 year old, I always strive to find books that are educational and gauging to my son. This story had the perfect combination of story and facts. It proves that we can look at any thing and put the scientific method into play. I can't wait to see if this series has more books. Stem and Fairy Tales always make a great combination.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Goose, relative of Mother Goose, debunks the science in the Goldilocks and the Three Bears Fairy Tale. This is a fun STEM connection for budding scientists!

The book resembles a non fiction picture book in that there are fact boxes and great bits of vocabulary or science connections. There is also a guide to building your own chair with cardboard and popsicle sticks and toilet paper rolls.

[Joy Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a spin on the classic story of Goldilocks and Three Bears, the story is updated and mixed with a lot of fun facts and bolded vocabularies and explanations.

The art is also modern and funny and my daughter wants to try to make Goldilocks' chair following the instructions provided in the book.

[benita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book filled with a fairytale, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, debunking it, and funny facts? An easy 5 star! I really liked this book, and I think the child in me would’ve really loved it. I recommend it!

5/5

I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!! Not only telling the story about Goldilocks, but also got some science inside. Is the story true? It is so much fun to read the scientific explanation on bear's house, for example. And what you can do to help the bears. If you already knows the story of Goldilocks, you'd better read this one as well.

[Emily Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book that combines science with fairytales. I love that aspect! Professor Goose is very educational and teaches readers about thermodynamics, the scientific method, hibernation, and other scientific themes.
The illustrations are nice and it’s a fun book, though some of the scientific themes didn’t seem to fully apply to the events of the book.

[Becky McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

All budding scientists need this book! I think you could even add it into your classroom. The story and the science part of it are so well done and very cute. Goldilocks needed a little science in her life and Professor Goose does just that from the scientific method to heat this book has it all. I especially loved the engineering instructions on a cardboard chair at the end.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. So. Will this work for storytime.

No.

But is it an excellent option for SCHOOL age audiences where you can even hit on scientific concepts?

Yes.

I laughed at the humor. I liked the more higher scaffolding in knowledge that takes place. I look forward to seeing more in this "series"

[Denisa Ostas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this picture book (introduction to stem concepts) is welcome among parents. From natural habitat, thermodynamics to fight or flight response, gps and hibernation, the author brings to children scientific information through Goldilocks and the three bears story.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super unique take on a fractured fairy tale… Professor Goose is debunking the faults in the original Goldilocks fairy tale page by page!

Love the last pages where readers can learn how to build their own chairs. 🥰

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun and creative. I would definitely read more of these.

[Jennifer]

I received a sampler eARC courtesy of Tundra Books (NY).

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for the kids that is always asking why! Gives a fun scientific explanation