“The Three Billy Goats Gruff” by Jerry Pinkney.
Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2017, 32 pages, Grades K-3.
Classic fables and fairy tales hold the fascination of readers because they reveal important lessons about the need to be truthful and charitable towards others.
In these morality stories, readers are exposed to some characters acting selfishly. These creatures are easily seen for their lack of virtue and young children instinctively know not to trust them. Other actors in the drama are trying to achieve something good. The bad characters try to stop good individuals from achieving these beneficial goals.
The reason that fables and fairy tales are so helpful to children is that they understand the purpose of the stories. These tales teach children to do good and avoid evil. What makes fables and fairy tales so delightful is their humorous plays on words and colorful development of characters. Children also appreciate the fact that the good is rewarded and evil is punished in fables and fairy tales.
Esteemed author/illustrator Jerry Pinkney combines all of these characters and messages in his charming account of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.”
On a hilly mountain side, the Three Billy Goats Gruff look across a valley to a grassy meadow. The pasture looks luscious and they long to cross over and eat their fill of the rich grass. But there is a problem. To get across the valley, they must cross a bridge that is guarded by an evil troll.
This ugly creature is jealous, greedy and always hungry. Every time any animal tries to walk across the bridge, the troll hides and then attacks the hapless victim. Afterwards, he eats them.
Unfortunately, the Three Billy Goats Gruff live on a mountain that has very little grass. They are always hungry and want to cross the bridge and relish the rich meadow across the valley. But all three of the goats know that the troll always tries to capture and eat anyone foolhardy enough to go across the bridge.
Finally, in desperation, the smallest Billy Goat Gruff takes his chances. He begins running across the bridge, trip trap, trip trap. On hearing the sound, the troll jumps up onto the bridge to attack the small Billy Goat Gruff.
Thinking quickly, the small Billy Goat Gruff tells the troll that he is too small and skinny to make a good meal. He tells the troll that his bigger, fatter brothers are following and will make better meals. The troll agrees and lets him go.
The medium sized Billy Goat Gruff runs across the bridge, trip trap, trip trap. Again the troll roars his challenge and again is told that a fatter Billy Goat is on the way. Again the troll lets him go. But next the biggest Billy Goat Gruff runs onto the bridge trip trap, trip trap. But when the trolls roars his challenge, he gets something he doesn’t expect. What is it?
Do the Three Billy Goats Gruff get to the verdant pasture? What happens to the troll? Is the troll really a bully? Can he change his personality? Would you pardon the troll if he asked for forgiveness?
To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and check out this delightful retelling of the famous tale of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.”
Jerry Pinkney is one of the most famous illustrators of children’s books in the United States. He has been awarded many prizes for his work including the Caldecott Award for distinguished art in 2010 for the book “The Lion and the Mouse.” He has five additional Caldecott Awards and five Coretta Scott King awards. The Coretta Scott King Award is presented each year to the author/illustrator with outstanding illustrations portraying African American characters.
Pinkney’s work is notable for its positive nature, fortitude in times of trial and joy. His work is just beautiful. I hope you enjoy this book or any of his many fine stories.
