GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS

adapted and illustrated by Jari Huomo & developed by JH Digital Solutions ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2012

Another iPad adaptation of the infamous ursidae family and their golden-haired intruder.

There are no surprises in this high-definition offering from Huomo, meaning it’s the same story with the same outcome, told in a predictable way. The illustrations are definitely lovely and will look even more stunning on the HD screen of the iPad 3, but beyond that, it’s a typical retelling. The narrative is presented in undistinguished verse (quite common in the classic-meets-tablet genre) and is effective enough at telling the story—if not terribly engaging. In places, the text is redundant, seemingly a slave to meter and rhyme: “But the thing that Papa Bear didn’t realize / was that a little girl, a girl of small size…” Do readers really need a tutorial on what constitutes a “little” girl? Ironically, when Goldilocks turns around to face the reader, she looks more like a middle-age woman than a child. There are some run-of-the-mill animated elements—steaming porridge and transient clouds, for example—and a handful of moderately entertaining yet inconsistent interactive components (items and actions that are interactive on one page may not be on another), but none stand out as particularly unique or innovative.

This app will hold little ones’ interest long enough to eat a bit of porridge before a quick nap, but probably not much longer than that. (iPad storybook app. 3-6)

Pub Date: March 31, 2012

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: JH Digital Solutions

Review Posted Online: May 9, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2012