Professor Google Debunks Goldilocks and the Three Bear

Professor Goose dons her spectacles, picks up her notepad and pencil, and scrutinizes the narrative of the three bears with a keen scientific eye. She is eager to demonstrate that her Great-Aunt Mother Goose’s fairy tales are not scientifically sound. Through her STEM-fueled investigations, she proceeds to fact-check numerous moments in the narrative that defy both logic and science.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed is the play on how the Goose family’s thoughts about the purpose and role of stories have evolved over time (from the age of Mother Goose’s ‘Wonder’ to Professor Goose’s ‘Critique’). However, I’m not entirely convinced about the choice of a traditional tale setting as a place to experiment with science. Nevertheless, the witty narrative and Griffiths’ zany, colourful spreads help to create a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour.

There are moments where the facts being checked don’t quite align with the ‘fairy tale elements’ of the story. For instance, the inclusion of Goldilocks having a mobile phone seems out of place unless the retelling is a more modern one. This raises the question of whether we are truly “debunking” or simply playfully engaging with the narrative. Sometimes, it feels uncertain about whether it aims to retell the story through a STEM lens or to use STEM concepts as a way of encouraging readers to think differently about the world around them through a story.

However, I appreciate the potential in the latter element, and humour abounds throughout the book. It’s evident that we are not meant to take everything seriously but instead to encourage readers to question and critique the world around them from a scientific perspective. No fact-checking is required to approve of this aim.