The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Three Hungry Goats

Once upon a time, there were three goats. They were brothers, and their family name was Gruff. So everyone called them the three Billy Goats Gruff.

There was a little Billy Goat Gruff. There was a middle Billy Goat Gruff. And there was a great big Billy Goat Gruff with long, strong horns.

The three goats lived in a green field. But they had eaten all the grass! Now the field was brown and bare.

"I am so hungry," said the little goat.

"Look over there," said the big goat. "Across the river is a tall green hill. The grass is sweet and thick. Let us go and eat it!"

But to reach the hill, the goats had to cross an old wooden bridge. And under that bridge lived a mean, grumpy troll.

The Little Goat Goes First

The little Billy Goat Gruff went first. Trip, trap. Trip, trap. His small feet tapped on the bridge.

Up jumped the troll! He was ugly, with big eyes and a long nose.

"WHO is that crossing MY bridge?" he roared. "I am going to eat you up!"

The little goat was scared, but he had an idea.

"Oh, please don't eat me," he said. "I am only a tiny goat. I am too small for your big tummy. Wait for my brother. He is much bigger and tastier than me!"

The greedy troll rubbed his belly. "Very well," he said. "Be off with you."

So the little goat skipped across to the green hill. Trip, trap, trip, trap.

The Middle Goat Goes Next

Soon the middle Billy Goat Gruff came along. Trip, trap. Trip, trap. His feet were bigger, and they made a louder sound.

Up jumped the troll again! "WHO is that crossing MY bridge?" he roared. "I am going to eat you up!"

The middle goat was clever too. "Oh, please don't eat me," he said. "I am not very big. Wait for my brother. He is the biggest goat of all. He will fill your tummy right up!"

The greedy troll licked his lips. "Very well," he said. "Be off with you."

So the middle goat trotted across to the green hill, where his little brother was already eating.

The Big Goat and the Troll

At last the great big Billy Goat Gruff came to the bridge. TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! His heavy feet made the whole bridge shake.

Up jumped the troll one more time. "WHO is that crossing MY bridge?" he roared.

"It is I," said the big goat in a deep, strong voice. "The great big Billy Goat Gruff!"

"I am going to eat you up!" cried the troll.

But the big goat was not afraid. He put down his head and showed his two long horns. Then he ran at the troll and butted him — BUMP! — right off the bridge and into the cold river below.

Splash! Away the troll floated, far, far downstream, and he was never, ever seen again.

Sweet Green Grass

The great big Billy Goat Gruff walked over the bridge to join his brothers on the green hill.

And there the three Billy Goats Gruff ate the sweet, thick grass until their tummies were round and full. They grew so fat and happy that they could hardly walk home again.

Snip, snip, snip went their happy mouths, all day long. And they were never hungry again.

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The moral: A little cleverness can get you past a big problem — and brothers who help each other can do anything.

Want more read-along tales? Try The Lion and the Mouse or The Tortoise and the Hare next.