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Goldilicious (by Victoria Kann)

common sense media says

Tale of imaginary pal cute, but confusing for preschoolers.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids who liked the first Pinkalicious book will probably like this third book in the "licious" series.  Also, anyone who wants to open a discussion on imaginary friends may find it helpful. 

Positive messages: The mother is comfortable with her daughter having an imaginary friend. And, the sister lets her younger brother join in her game of pretend.
Positive role models: All of the characters are kind and respectful of each other. Even though the unicorn is imaginary, and invisible to the mother and her son, they take the sister seriously. No one teases or dismisses the imaginary friend as silly or impossible. The little girl is comfortable about being unique. 
Violence & scariness: The little girl has to deal with the fact that her imaginary friend seems to have run away.

More on Goldilicious

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Parents and kids can talk about why Pinkalicious can see the unicorn while no one else can.  What is an imaginary friend? Have you ever had one?
  • At first Peter can't see the unicorn, then in the middle he seems to.  Why did that happen? What changed?
  • Why didn't Pinkalicious play along with Peter when he pretended the worm was a cinnamon stick, or when he said the unicorn had turned into a mermaid? What did Pinkalicious say? Do you see a difference between pretending and imagining?
  • Is a unicorn a real animal? Where else have you seen them?
  • How did Pinkalicious respond when her parents told her it was time to go to bed? How did she change the way she answered? Why? What would you have done?

What's the story?

What's the story?
A young girl and her imaginary unicorn roller skate, fly kites, and play games together. Her brother joins them, and they have even more adventurous fun together. When nightime comes, the unicorn seems to have disappeared into the sky, and the girl is forced to go in without her ... only to find a happy surprise when she goes to bed.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

This is the same cute, pig-tailed Pinkalicious character that readers will find in the first two Pinkalicious books. Simply drawn and very pink, she is nearly always smiling and seems confident in her way of seeing the world. In this case, it is a starry magical world of unicorns, flowers, clouds, and lots of pink and purple.  Her unicorn, called Goldilicious presumably because of her profuse mane and tail of flower-strewn golden locks, changes from being a solid white animal to a more translucent one depending on who is in the room. Later, she merges with the clouds and shows up as a constellation of stars. 

The story makes several strong points though it's not so clever as the illustrations, and loses its focus at times. The strongest, most captivating scenes, both artistically and verbally, are those when Pinkalicious plays with Goldie.  And though the lesson is not crystal clear, parents and kids should find plenty to capture their attention, and discuss, in its very magically majestic pages. Kids who like this book should definitely read Pinkalicious, and maybe Purplicious by the same author.

Pages are filled with pinkness...and flowers and lace, which will appeal to most Pinkalicious fans.  Others may find the pastel tones and two-dimensional illustrations a little flat.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Victoria Kann
Illustrator: Victoria Kann
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date: May 26, 2009
Number of pages: 40
Hardcover price: $17.99
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 7

This review was written by Patricia Tauzer
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

watermelonlover123
kid, 11 years old
 
Great Book!
First I have to say that there is absolutely nothing wrong about tweens reading picture books! I mean, for school projects you might not want to be reading a picture book but just for fun, try reading one someday! I find them sometimes even more interesting then chapter books! But anyway, back to the story! It is a sequel to the books purplelishious and pinkalicious! So if you liked those books (Which i did!) then you will love this book! It is just as cute and funny as the other ones, but this time her brother is more invovled! In this book she is in a imaginary magical world with her unicorn goldilishous and there is lots of pink and purple (as you might of guessed)! Well I could tell you alot more but i do not want to ruin the story for you! Keep Reading!

sus222222
parent of 8 year old
 
love it

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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