The Three Billy-goats Gruff (Easy-To-Read Folktales)

A classic parable about the rapacity of capitalism and the radical potential of the revolutionary vanguard.

There were three billy goats and they were all named Gruff. They had to go across and bridge and up a hill to eat. They passed over the bridge one at a time and they dodge the troll by telling him that the next goat was bigger. Finally the last goat took care of the old troll and they got to all eat.
I enjoyed this book because it shows strength and courage. It has wonderful pictures and it has repetition to allow children to be engaged readers.
You could do activities that have to do with size. They could learn about big and small and also about bullying. Children should learn that bullying is not allowed and you could do activities that cover that.

Three billy-goats try to cross a bridge guarded by a mean troll, to eat the grass on the other side. The third and biggest billy-goat stands up for himself, and fights off the troll. This allows the three billy-goats to graze the pasture in peace.

I don’t personally care for this story, because it is a little too violent. In this version, the big billy-goat gruff says, “I’ll poke your eyeballs out... And I’ll crush you to bits”. To me, this book promotes violence that is inappropriate for young children.

I could read this book to a classroom that is having trouble with bullying. Afterward I would discuss the importance of standing up for yourself, and the appropriate ways to do so. I would point out the faculty members that show more are able to help in bully situations. I would also use this book to teach the children that their goals are obtainable, even if there are obstacles in the way. They could write a list of their goals and the challenges that might stand in their way. I would have them come up with ideas on how to overcome those challenges. show less

This book is about three goats, all named Gruff. They lived in a valley where there was very little grass to eat, so they wanted to go up the hillside where they could eat all they wanted. But along the way there lived a mean troll under the bridge. The first and smallest goat crossed the bridge first, and when the troll threatened to eat him, he told the troll to wait for the next goat. The next goat came to the bridge and told the troll that he should wait for the third goat because he was much bigger. Finally when the third goat crossed the bridge, he wasn't scared of the mean troll at all. He had big horns and hooves which he used to knock the troll off the bridge and into the water below. Then all the goats gathered on the hillside show more and ate and ate until they were so fat they couldn't even walk back home.

This story was repetitive which helps keep the audience interested. I liked how the two smaller goats told the troll to wait, and then when the biggest goat came, he wasn't scared of the troll at all. It was a great way to show children that they shouldn't be afraid, but instead they should be brave and face whatever comes their way.

With this book, you can assign roles to students and let them act it out. When they are finished with that, you could also have everyone draw a picture of which billy goat they relate to the most. Then you can discuss how important it is to not be a bully, or let yourself get bullied. show less

This story is about three billy goats all named Gruff. In this story, they set out on an adventure to cross over a bridge so they can get to the meadow to eat. But each time one Gruff tries to cross over, a troll appears and tries to gobble them up. In the end, the last and biggest Gruff tries to cross and defeats the troll, leaving them happily full in the meadow.

I enjoyed this story because it shows that you are capable of overcoming any obstacle. You just have to stand tall and don’t sink down to a lower-level. It is a good book for children because they can read along. There are certain lines that repeat themselves throughout the story.

A couple extension ideas are to make a list of obstacles you’ve had to overcome, and how show more did you accomplish them. Also, to make a chart of animals, noises, or anything that you are scared of and talk about why to not be scared of them. show less

This story is about 3 bill goats that are all named Gruff. The goats decide the want some food on the other side of the bridge only to find out they have to get past a troll that lives under the bridge. Only after the third goat tries to cross are they able to conquer the evil troll.

I use to read this book with my mother and little sister as a child. I found it quite empowering for a kids story. Although, now it might be frowned upon to read a book with so many physically aggressive references.

In a classroom, I would discuss bullying in the schools and at home to clarify how to address those issues safely. For an art project the students could make hand puppets of goats and we could research what types of foods they eat.

Everyone knows the story of The Three Little Pigs and The Three Bears, but few have hear the story of the The Three Billy Goats Gruff. I love this story. The three billy goats in the story are struggling to find food where they live and long to go to the meadow on the other side. The problem is that they have to cross the bridge and deal with the mean troll who threatens to eat them if they cross. One by one, the goats cross challenging the troll to wait because the next goat will be bigger and provide more food for him. Each time he listens until the largest of the three crosses the bridge, attacks the troll and throws him into the water below.

This story is a great example of sticking together and accomplishing something in a group show more that you couldn't by yourself.

After students read this story they could read The Three Bears or The Three Little Pigs and discuss the similarities and differences between them. show less