Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, in a quiet forest, there was a snug little cottage. Inside lived three bears: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. One morning, they cooked a pot of porridge for breakfast. It smelled warm and sweet, but it was too hot to eat.

“We’ll take a walk while it cools,” said Papa Bear.

So the three bears stepped out into the trees, leaving their neat cottage behind.

Along the path came a little girl with bright golden hair. Everyone called her Goldilocks. She was curious and liked to explore. When she saw the cottage, she peered at the windows and sniffed the tasty smell in the air.

“I wonder who lives here,” she whispered. She knocked on the door. Knock, knock! No one answered. Goldilocks turned the handle. The door opened.

Inside, she saw a table with three bowls of porridge. Goldilocks’ tummy rumbled.

She picked up a spoon from the biggest bowl.

“Yow!” she cried. “This porridge is too hot!”

She tried the medium bowl.

“Brr!” she said. “This porridge is too cold.”

Then she tasted the smallest bowl.

“Mmm,” she smiled. “This porridge is just right.” And she ate it all up.

After eating, Goldilocks looked for a place to sit. By the fire were three chairs.

She climbed into the biggest chair. “Oh dear,” she sighed. “This chair is too hard.”

She tried the medium chair. “Oh my,” she frowned. “This chair is too soft.”

Then she sat in the smallest chair. “Ahh,” she said. “This chair is just right.” She wriggled a little to get comfy—crack! The tiny chair broke into pieces.

Feeling tired, Goldilocks walked upstairs. In the bedroom were three beds.

She lay down on the biggest bed. “This bed is too hard,” she said, rolling over.

She tried the medium bed. “This bed is too soft,” she murmured, sinking down.

Then she curled up on the smallest bed. “This bed is just right,” she yawned. And before she knew it, she fell fast asleep.

Soon the three bears came home from their walk, ready for breakfast.

“Someone’s been eating my porridge,” rumbled Papa Bear, looking into his big bowl.

“Someone’s been eating my porridge,” said Mama Bear, peeking into her medium bowl.

“Someone’s been eating my porridge,” squeaked Baby Bear, staring at his empty bowl, “and they ate it all up!”

They turned to the chairs.

“Someone’s been sitting in my chair,” said Papa Bear.

“Someone’s been sitting in my chair,” said Mama Bear.

“Someone’s been sitting in my chair,” cried Baby Bear, “and they’ve broken it!”

Carefully, they climbed the stairs.

“Someone’s been sleeping in my bed,” said Papa Bear.

“Someone’s been sleeping in my bed,” said Mama Bear.

Baby Bear tiptoed to his bed. “Someone’s been sleeping in my bed,” he whispered, “and here she is!”

Goldilocks opened her eyes. Three bears were looking at her! She leaped from the bed in a fright, hurried down the stairs, and ran out the door. She dashed along the forest path and didn’t stop until she reached her own home.

After that day, Goldilocks remembered how it felt to be surprised and afraid. She knew it was wrong to enter a home without asking. And she never went into the bears’ cottage again.

As for the three bears, they fixed Baby Bear’s chair, made a fresh pot of porridge, and kept their door firmly closed when they went for walks.

And the forest was quiet and peaceful once more.