Mr Wolf is GOOD (Mr Wolf and the Three Bears - Jan Fearnley)

Member Name: Emmamac1

Product:	Mr Wolf and the Three Bears - Jan Fearnley
Date:	28/07/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Puts across messages about kindness and bullying

Disadvantages: None

Mr Wolf and the Three Bears is a great children's book which puts emphasis on Mr Wolf, who is a friendly character. The book is written about Mr Wolf and he comes across as a lovable chap, not the bad, wicked wolf which we read about in other books! So it gives your children a different perspective on the wolf's character.

The book is written by Jan Fearnley and costs around £4.49 from Amazon. It has beautiful illustrations, with lots of detail, on every page. I would recommend it for four years and up.

Before the story actually begins, on the front and back pages, there are recipes which feature in the book. I have never actually tried one (maybe this will prompt me!). Firstly there are hints for cooking, by Grandma Wolf, which include, "Wash your paws before you start" and "Try not to get honey stuck on your whiskers". Then there are the recipes, Baby Bears Birthday Cake, Mummy Bears Sandwiches, Daddy Bears Huff Puffs, Cheesy Snip Snap Biscuits and Grandma's Golden Pie.

On the next page it informs you that Mr Wolf can be contacted at www.hungry-wolf.com. This is an actual web site for you and your children to explore.

The actual story is about Mr Wolf planning a birthday party for Baby Bear who was coming to tea with his Mum and Dad. As there is so much to do Grandma Wolf comes to help. The book goes through different ways of finding recipes for the party food, for example a cook book, the internet, TV channel and a magazine. After the party food is made they get the house cleaned and tidied.

Then the three bears arrive, but an unexpected guest barges in. It is none other than Goldilocks, who is mean and nasty, the villain of the story! Everyone is frightened of her. Grandma Wolf is very fair "Don't be mean! Let the child come in. But you'd better behave yourself, Goldilocks". She is precocious and sly, ruining all the fun and games. Poor Baby Bear! When it is time for tea, Goldilocks has already been to the table and destroyed it, eating the cake and all. Oh my!

Enough is enough. Good old Grandma Wolf has a plan, and a jolly good one. The book leaves you wondering what really happens to Goldilocks!

Jan Fearnley, the author, has also written more Mr Wolf stories, Mr Wolf and the Enormous Turnip and Mr Wolf's pancakes. All the books put a message across. Mr Wolf and the Three Bears brings on discussions about sharing, being kind, waiting your turn and bullying.

My children and I really enjoy this book. With all the extra bits, like the recipes, it is fun and great to see the wolf as a good guy.

Summary: A super kids book with an unlikely villain!