Rubia and the Three Osos

Rubia and the Three Osos, by Susan Middleton Elya, is a delightful twist on the classic story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This well-written children's fairytale follows has gorgeous, colorful illustrations that captivate readers the whole way through the story. The details on each page are full of whimsy and bring creative joy to all who read.

Rubia, a curious little girl, enters the bears' home, only to find that they have many items in the house that she would like to try out, such as soup, comfy chairs, and cozy beds. However, when the bears return from their outing, they are enraged at the fact that someone has been in their home! Rubia escapes, yet leaves feeling guilty for causing such anguish for the bears. So, the twist comes when Rubia tries to right her wrong doings and offers the bears a peace gift, as well as visits them in their home that they so welcomingly open to her once again. What a sweet change in comparison to the usual version.

This story holds value in the idea that it is the right thing to do to reflect on the negative and find positive "right doings" over time. It is important to notice ways to fix situations that are able to be fixed, and connecting with others is an important lesson in this story. Also, this story has a wonderful message about differences and the way others live that might differ from your own. Curiosity is healthy and encouraged to a certain extent, especially when it leads to understanding what makes people unique!

This story is meant for children in primary grades, but can also be used in text sets comparing different versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The fun part about this story is that it is a bilingual book (Spanish and English) and has a Spanish glossary at the back of the book, allowing both languages to be used fluidly through the reading. It is a great way to connect different cultures, languages, and people using one story. Elya does a wonderful job setting a positive tone for this story, keeping the reader's interest throughout. It is filled with thoughtfulness, reflectiveness, and respect, all elements of social and moral development that are important topics to talk about.

This book is a wonderful read, and my students, the majority of them being native Spanish speakers, love reading along with me because of the Spanish language inclusion in the story. Hoping you find as much joy in this story as I do!
-Kaitlynn DeGrano