Step into the enchanting world of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, a classic tale filled with courage, cleverness, and a touch of adventure. In this story, three goats dream of crossing a bridge to reach lush, green pastures. But there’s one problem—a grumpy troll stands guard, determined to stop them. Follow along as the goats use their wits to outsmart the troll and reach their goal.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Once upon a time, far away from here, in a little valley nestled between two hills, there were three goats. They were brothers, and everyone knew them as The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Their names were Little Billy Goat Gruff, Middle Billy Goat Gruff, and Big Billy Goat Gruff. They had a simple and happy life. They spent their days frolicking in the meadow, munching on the sweet green grass, and playing by the crystal-clear river that separated the two sides of the valley.
The valley was beautiful, and they were very happy there, but as time went by, they realized that they had a big problem. The sweet green grass that they loved so much was almost gone on their side of the valley. The goats had eaten nearly all of it, and their meadow was starting to look patchy and bare.
One day, Little Billy Goat Gruff looked up from munching on his grassy breakfast, and he saw that the meadow across the river was filled with thick, juicy, green grass. “Brothers!” he said, “have you ever noticed how absolutely delicious that grass looks over there?”
Middle Billy Goat Gruff said “Wowsers! I’ve never seen such scrumptious looking grass! But little brother, there’s one big problem. We have to cross the river, and we can’t swim!”
“What about that?” said Little Billy Goat Gruff, pointing at a nearby wooden bridge.
“No one crosses the bridge,” said Big Billy Goat Gruff. “There is a troll under there, and he’s big, and mean and he eats goats like us for breakfast.” His brothers gasped. “And he’s smelly too.” the Big Billy Goat Gruff added, and his brothers gasped again.
Big Billy Goat Gruff was absolutely right. The troll was big, and he was mean, and he did eat goats for breakfast. His skin was green and warty, his teeth yellow and crooked, and his nose was spotty and snotty. He was grumpy and lumpy and what he HATED more than anything was the thought of anyone crossing over HIS bridge.
“All I want is a bit of peace and quiet!” the troll would say. “Is that so much to ask?” He just happened to think that goats were the most delicious thing in the whole wide world, and that made him extra dangerous.
But the Three Billy Goats Gruff were fast running out of food in their meadow, and they were starting to get rumbly tummies. They needed a plan. They put their heads together, and they thought hard about what they could do.
“We could sail across?” Little Billy Goat Gruff suggested.
“We don’t have a boat.” Middle Billy Goat Gruff said.
“Could we try sneaking over the bridge at night?” Little Billy Goat Gruff said.
“Our feet would make too much noise on the wooden planks,” Middle Billy Goat Gruff replied “the troll would hear us with his great big ears and gobble us right up.”
“What if we built ANOTHER bridge?” Little Billy Goat Gruff said.
“We’re goats.” Big Billy Goat Gruff said. “We can’t build anything.”
“Good point.” Little Billy Goat Gruff said.
They kept thinking until they came up with the perfect plan.
The next day Little Billy Goat Gruff trotted up to the bridge. His hooves made a “trip-trap, trip-trap” sound as he stepped onto the wooden planks. No sooner had he set foot on the bridge, the troll swung up from underneath it to block his path.
“Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge?” roared the troll, his horrible voice echoing through the valley.
“Nothing to worry about,” Little Billy Goat gruff said as bravely as he could. “It’s only me, Little Billy Goat Gruff. I’m just popping over to the other side.”
“I don’t think so! I’m going to gobble you up!” bellowed the troll, licking his lips.
“Well you could…” said Little Billy Goat Gruff, “but I don’t think I’d make a very good meal, I’m much too tiny.” The troll looked confused. He got confused quite a lot. Then the Little Billy Goat Gruff continued, “why don’t you wait for my brother, Middle Billy Goat Gruff. He’s much bigger and tastier than me.”
The troll thought for a moment and then stepped aside, smiling. “Very well,” he said. “But hurry up and get off my bridge,” he added with a snarl.
And with that, Little Billy Goat Gruff scampered across the bridge and began to munch on the delicious green grass on the other side.
Next, it was Middle Billy Goat Gruff’s turn to cross the bridge. His hooves made a louder “trip-trap, trip-trap” sound as he stepped onto the wooden planks. Again, the troll appeared.
“Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge?” roared the troll.
“Oh it’s only me, Middle Billy Goat Gruff, no big deal,” said the goat in his medium-sized voice, trying to be brave. “I’m just popping over to the other side to join my brother.”
“I do not think so! I’m going to gobble you up!” bellowed the troll, showing his horrible yellow teeth.
“Well you could,” said Middle Billy Goat Gruff, “but the thing is, I’m not that big, and I wouldn’t be a very good meal, especially for someone as big and strong as you. Wait for my brother, Big Billy Goat Gruff. Now he would fill you up, that’s for sure.”
The troll licked his lips, and stepped aside to let the goat pass. “Very well,” said. “Now hurry up and get off my bridge!”
Middle Billy Goat Gruff trotted across the bridge and joined his little brother on the other side, and began munching through the lush, juicy grass.
Finally, it was Big Billy Goat Gruff’s turn to cross the bridge. His hooves made a very loud “trip-trap, trip-trap” sound as he stepped onto the wooden planks. The troll, expecting a big meal, jumped up immediately.
“Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge?” roared the troll, his mouth watering.
“It’s me, Big Billy Goat Gruff,” said the goat in his biggest, deepest voice.
“At last!” said the troll. “I’ve been waiting for you Big Billy Goat Gruff. You look very big and very delicious and I simply can’t wait to gobble you up!” The troll bared his horrible yellow teeth.
Big Billy Goat Gruff was not scared of the troll. He had big, strong horns and he was mighty brave.
“Bring it on, you spotty, snotty, lumpy, grumpy beast!” he said boldly.
The troll was a bit taken aback. He wasn’t used to being challenged like this. But he was also very hungry and decided to take Big Billy Goat Gruff on.
The troll lunged at Big Billy Goat Gruff, but the big goat was ready. He lowered his head, pointed his horns at the troll, and charged.
He butted into the troll with such enormous force that the troll was thrown backwards off the bridge and into the river, floating away downstream, never to be seen in the valley again.
With the troll gone, Big Billy Goat Gruff skipped lightly across the bridge and joined his brothers in the lush green meadow. The three goats were over the moon to be back together again and to finally be in the beautiful green meadow, eating the luscious, scrumptious, and plentiful grass.
They spent the rest of their days happily grazing and frolicking in their new home. And with the troll finally gone, they could cross the bridge whenever they wanted without any fear.
And they lived happily ever after.
What about the troll I hear you ask? Well, a lot of people don’t know this, but he floated down the river, away from the valley and out to sea. After weeks of floating about he eventually washed up on a desert island, a quiet and peaceful place with absolutely no one else around.
It was paradise for the troll. He found that coconuts were even more delicious than goats, and he spent the rest of his days guarding his beautiful island home (which was easy, because no one ever found it). He may even be there still.
Also read: The Princess and The Dragon
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