Adapted and illustrated by William Wallace Denslow
The book (today, it would be probably titled Goldilocks and the Three Bears) is dedicated to Mazie La Shelle. She was the wife of Kirk La Shelle, a theatrical producer (among other things) who worked with W. W. Denslow on several occasions. Kirk was diagnosed with serious diabetes right after the publishing of the book in 1903 and died of complications in 1905.
Golden Hair is a pretty little girl who lives with her granny. Granny is old and weak, so Golden Hair does most of the work at the house. She uses her spare time to play with the animals in the woods near their home. Everybody loves her.
One day, she strays and gets to the house where three bears live. She had heard of them and wanted to meet them. It seems now it's a perfect opportunity.
She knocks at the doors. Nobody answers. She pushes the doors and enters.
The house is a mess, but there is a fire in the hearth, and there are three bowls on the table. They are full of hot soup.
She knocks at the doors. Nobody answers. She pushes the doors and enters.
The house is a mess, but there is a fire in the hearth, and there are three bowls on the table. They are full of hot soup.
The bears are apparently out. Golden Hair decides to put the place in order while she waits for the residents to return.
She cleans, sweeps, and makes the beds. Then, the bears return. They are surprised but quite happy to find their home so nice and clean. They share a dinner with her. After that, they play for the rest of the day.
Golden Hair wants to go home. Her grandmom is probably already missing her.
Golden Hair wants to go home. Her grandmom is probably already missing her.
The bears go with her.
They arrive just in time to make a supper. The bears prove to be of great help.
They eat and play. Golden Hair's grandmother is delighted with the arrival of the bears.
The Papa Bear can guard the house and do the hardest chores. Mama Bear can do the housework. Tiny Bear can run errands, and Golden Hair can direct them all.
Grandmother wants them to stay, and the bears get three beds for them.
The bears become a local attraction, popular with all the children. They play with them in the summer and in the winter all day long. Nobody knows how long this lasted because it happened so many years ago.
The book was published by G. W. Dillingham, a New York publishing house established under a different name in 1857 and bankrupt in 1916. Its books are highly collectible and can achieve prices around several hundred, even up to several thousand dollars. A copy of Denslow's Three Bears in good condition can be currently bought for 350 USD.
As you can see, Denslow's adaptation of (Goldilocks and) Three Bears is very loose. To avoid confusion - we are not talking about the title or the name of the main character (Golden Hair or Goldilocks). The story about an intruder who violates the most intimate boundaries of the family of bears is turned upside down.
The bears are portrayed as nice, friendly, and just waiting to please the people who obviously live in the same area but have never met before.
There are many more illogicalities in Denslow's adaptation of the story, but we are not presenting it for the sake of the narration. Its only quality lies in Denslow's illustrations with whimsical characters and skillful use of the limited set of colors.
It's probably interesting to compare Denslow's approach with his English contemporary John Hassall, who also illustrated The Three Bears roughly at the same time. Hassall's version is much more faithful to the 'original' (several texts can be considered as originals, but the main characteristic of all is intrusion, which leads to several consequences).
The bears are portrayed as nice, friendly, and just waiting to please the people who obviously live in the same area but have never met before.
There are many more illogicalities in Denslow's adaptation of the story, but we are not presenting it for the sake of the narration. Its only quality lies in Denslow's illustrations with whimsical characters and skillful use of the limited set of colors.
It's probably interesting to compare Denslow's approach with his English contemporary John Hassall, who also illustrated The Three Bears roughly at the same time. Hassall's version is much more faithful to the 'original' (several texts can be considered as originals, but the main characteristic of all is intrusion, which leads to several consequences).
We can also point at the main weaknesses of Denslow's version to warn everybody who might have an idea to adapt this or some other time-tested classic:
- too high, too low, just right,
- etc.
is hardly used at all. It seems Denslow didn't understand it. Or he just didn't care.
- Denslow's Three Bears has no conflicts. Everybody in the story is friendly to each other. It seems the only problem to solve for everybody is to eat and play. All stories where everybody is friends with each other, fail miserably. They are just too boring.
- There are no action-reaction forces. In the 'original' the trust of the bears who don't lock the doors is punished with the entry of an unwanted guest. Her experiments in the house lead to broken stuff. Her intrusion is punished by the threatening look of the angry bears and her panic escape. Etc.
- The almost hypnotic narration of the more known versions of (Goldilocks and) Three Bears with constant repetition of the number three;
- too high, too low, just right,
- etc.
is hardly used at all. It seems Denslow didn't understand it. Or he just didn't care.
The back of the book, which is the same for all twelve picture books in the series maybe tells enough: Mr. Denslow eliminated everything that might frighten children. In other words - he eliminated all exciting parts. He turned classic stories into boring strings of words decorated with great illustrations.
Maybe that's exactly why this otherwise lovely book is just a footnote to history.
Maybe that's exactly why this otherwise lovely book is just a footnote to history.
