The Three Billy Goats Gruff

by Richard Jackson, Katherine Tillotson (Contributor)

The classic tale of the Three Billy Goats Gruff gets a cheeky twist in this picture book retelling.

Trip trap, trip trap.
“ACH! Who is that tap-tap-tapping on my bridge?”

The story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff and the way they outwitted a hungry bridge troll is one of our most well-known fairy tales…but how exactly did it become so? It turns out, the cleverness of the Brothers Gruff isn’t limited to tricking trolls—they are also genius self-promoters! (Keep those goats away from Instagram!)

Find out the rest of the story in this wily retelling.

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Humor, Childrens, Juvenile, Fractured Fairy Tales

48 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

Richard Jackson has been an editor/publisher of children’s books since 1962. He gave the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture in 2005, the year of his official retirement, but is still working--now as an author himself. He lives with his wife and near his grandchildren in Towson, Maryland.

Reviews

[Relyn]

Relyn Rating: 3/.5 stars

So. If you like the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, this one is good with strong vocabulary.

[Andrew]

You all have heard the story of the Billy Goats Gruff, right? Well, how did that story come to be?
Allow the Gruff Brothers and the Troll to share their version of the tale.

The artwork is the best part about this book. The concept of the "twisted" part of this fairytale was what brought me to the book, but sadly, I was let down. It did not actually "twist" that far off the original storyline as some other twisted fairytales I've read.
The premise of bullying, size intimidation, respect, overcoming bullying and the repetition of the original are all there.
This one didn't do it for me though. To each their own, hope you enjoy it more.

[Anthony]

A twisted retelling of the classic fairy tale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and their individual encounter with the hungry troll who lived under the bridge. When it comes to self promoting and embellishment no one can out do this trio of brothers.

[Kristin Guay]

This is a more modern version of the classic fairy tale with some funny sound effects added to the text. The story is basically the same, but what really stood out for me with this book is the wonderful illustrations provided by Katherine Tilloston. I have seen many versions of this story and I have to say I like these illustrations the best. They are colorful and dramatic in the sense that she shows things (like the troll’s huge claws) up close for dramatic effect.

Because of the sound effects in this story, this would make a great read aloud book for young children. Sounds such as “trip-trap”, “ach”, and “uff-da” will be fun to read aloud. Also, the “trip-trap” sound gets louder as each bigger goat attempts to cross the bridge--this would be fun to do with young kids as far as having them increase the sound with each large goat.

[Joyce Uglow]

As you most-likely know, bridges, trolls, and goats appear in a great many tales. This one, by the late Richard Jackson and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson, brings to light two questions: Who wants what? and Do they get it? Spoiler alert... It is not a surprise that the goats get what they want and the mutt-muttering defeated troll loses out. Chuckler alert... The famous Brothers Gruff join up with their not famous, Cousins Gruff who in the end want more stories. This picture book promises and delivers a hilarious "full story" retelling with effective onomatopoeia, alliteration, and rhythm as the goats travel trip-trapping to the mountain opposite.

[BrookeLynne Wilcox]

I love a good retelling and I was expecting this to be good. The illstruations and the title drew me right in. But when I read it with my kids it was boring, this "full story" didn't add much to the original tale. Now I want to read other versions of this tale to find my favorite, this definitely is not it.

[AMY]

This is the basic, original story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. The illustrations are colorful and show lots of story detail and emotion. The story is true to the basic tale. Kids will enjoy this one. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.

[Keriann's Picture Book Library]

I love the art and the sound effects. I also like the acknowledgment that the greedy troll probably would have just told the littlest billy goat "cool story bro, I'll eat him too". The ending of this one lost me though. It just kind of deviates into a strange little story telling seminar?

[Robin]

Retelling of the classic tale with individual embellishments at the end.

[Ron Turner]

Lost me on the art. I didn't think it fit.

[Pinky]

Big Billy Goat Gruff has had enough of Trolls' bullying and he head-butts him away, depending on which story you heard.

[Alice]

3 stars for this retell of a classic

[Danica Midlil]

Excellent expansion of the story

[Miss Sarah]

Three Billy goats of differn't sizes try to get past the troll. Preschool and up

[Melissa]

It does show how stories can change based on different percpectives, or different storytellers.