Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty

Before barging in on the three bears, little Goldilocks lived with her parents in a house in the woods. In Hodgkinson's cheery, textured, mixed-media illustrations, Goldilocks is pictured as a round-eyed, towheaded tot with an independent streak. Upon deciding she's too old for diapers, it's time for potty-training. Young Goldilocks knows what she does and does not like: "She needed underwear that was not too frilly. She needed underwear that was not too silly. She needed underwear that was just right!" Same goes for selecting a potty, not too big (um, a rain boot), not too small (a tea-party cup--thankfully not!). Even with all the gear in place, she still has some learning to do, and the inevitable accident occurs: a puddle appears on the floor while she's reading (wait for it) The Princess and the Pea. She does eventually accomplish her goal, to everyone's great delight. Alongside the celebratory stars and rainbows in the neatly patterned pictures, there are some cute visual nods to the classic "Goldilocks" tale (a meal that looks too hot, too cold, just right; three teddy bears of varying sizes). And stick around for the back endpapers, where the actual three bears make a spirited cameo. elissa Gershowitz