Deep In The Forest is the story of a baby bear who investigates the log cabin home of a pioneer family while they are out for a walk. It turns the ‘Goldilocks’ fairy tale on its head.

Traditionally, it is Goldilocks who enters the house of the Three Bears and tries out first their porridge, second their chairs, and third their beds. In each case, it is Baby Bear’s things that suit Goldilocks best.

In this version of the story, it is the baby cub who tries out the items in the human family’s house. And he finds that Goldilocks’ things suit him best.

Goldilocks – at least it could be her – does make an appearance at the end of the book, though, when the family returns home and discovers what the baby bear cub has been up to. ‘Goldilocks’ is clearly not pleased – her porridge has been eaten, her chair broken, and her bed slept in.

The soft pencil-and-wash illustrations, in earthy shades of brown and sepia, are packed with interesting details to spot. And there is a strong sense of movement and energy, especially when the bear cub is being firmly swept out of the house!

American illustrator Brinton Turkle (1915-2003) was born in Alliance, Ohio. He is best known for his series of four Obadiah books, the second of which, Thy Friend, Obadiah, was awarded a Caldecott Honour in 1970.