Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas

Author Natasha Yim and illustrator Grace Zong's 2014 picture book is adapted in this iconographic-animated Chinese-American refashioning of the classic “Story of the Three Bears” fairy tale. Born in the Year of the Golden Dragon, young Goldy Luck is on her way to bring turnip cakes to share with the neighbor family of panda bears in honor of the Chinese New Year. Like the rude Goldilocks in the classic story, Goldy displays bulldozing selfishness when it comes to the pandas' worldly goods: she tastes their bowls of congee, observes that one panda's fluffy pillowed chair makes her feel “like stuffing in a pork bun,” and that another's mattress “felt as hard as a week-old almond cookie,” before settling on Little Chan's futon—and running away without apologizing when the family returns home. Also featuring a read-along option, this moderately engaging twist on the old tale centering on a poor role model is a strong optional purchase. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)