PENSACOLA, FL: Every child knows the story of Goldilocks. The golden-haired girl, the three bears, the porridge that was just right. But what if the bears were hares? What if the intruder had a bushy tail and a weakness for freshly baked goods? And what if the real hero of the story had four paws and an obsession with cheese? That is exactly the world that author Judy Berk has built in her debut picture book, Goldifox and the Three Hares, a 2026 release for children ages 4 to 8 that takes a beloved fairy tale and gives it a fresh and thoroughly irresistible makeover.

Welcome to Carrot Top, a cozy little town where three hares named Hoppington, Hopkins, and Little Hopster have decided to do something out of the ordinary. They enter a carrot-themed cooking contest, trading in their routine for a shot at something exciting. Their kitchen fills with the smell of warm, freshly baked treats, and everything is going according to plan until Goldifox comes sniffing around. Drawn in by the irresistible aroma, the mischievous fox causes the kind of chaos that only a good story can deliver. Enter Droolius Cheester, the cheese-loving, unlikely hero who steps up when it matters most and saves the day in a way young readers will not see coming.

What makes Goldifox and the Three Hares more than just a clever retelling is the heart behind it. The story weaves in genuine lessons about bravery, loyalty, and the kind of cooperation that comes naturally when a community looks out for its own. These are not lessons delivered with a heavy hand. They arrive through pure cheerfulness, amazing surprises, and interesting characters that children will immediately want to root for.

Berk has packed the book with extras that make it especially valuable for parents and educators. A set of discussion questions and writing prompts invites children to dig deeper into the story, sparking the kind of conversations that turn a read-aloud session into a meaningful shared experience. Educators, psychologists, and parents have already taken notice, praising the book’s rich language, vibrant illustrations, and its warm portrayal of community and family.

Goldifox and the Three Hares is the first book in the Carrot Top series, and early readers are already eager to return to Hoppington, Hopkins, Little Hopster, and the one and only Droolius Cheester. It is the kind of story that earns a permanent spot on the bookshelf, one that children will ask for at bedtime, and grown-ups will find themselves enjoying just as much.

Judy Berk spent 35 years teaching in Glastonbury, Connecticut, where she read countless picture books aloud and developed a deep, firsthand understanding of what makes a story land with young children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Learning from Eastern Connecticut State University. Now retired and living in Pensacola, Florida, with her three dogs, Smitty, Lola, and Bruiser, Berk has come up with a story that offers something valuable for everyone.