Goldilocks & Mother Goose and Friends

Written and illustrated by Ruth Sanderson, this two-program compilation features iconographic-animated versions of her watercolor children's books 2009's Goldilocks and 2008's Mother Goose and Friends. Goldilocks tells the tale of the mischievous little blonde girl who wreaks a bit of havoc in the famed bears' cottage, adding a cute twist that finds her making up the beds she disturbed, helping to weave a new chair to replace the one she broke, and aiding the animal family as they make blueberry muffins for tea. Featuring alternating narrators, Mother Goose and Friends consists of brief vignettes that cover classic stories such as “There Was An Old Woman,” “This Little Pig,” “Humpty Dumpty,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Pease Porridge Hot” (portrayed as a clapping game), “Old King Cole” (who blows bubbles out of his pipe), “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” “Hickory Dickory Dock,” and “The Cat and the Fiddle.” Also featured are lesser known tales such as “The Elf Man” by John Kendrick Bangs and “The Grasshopper” by Vachel Lindsay, among others. DVD extras include a bonus conversation with Sanderson. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)