The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Once upon a time there were three billy goats. They were all called Gruff. There was a little goat, a middle goat and a big goat. They lived in a small valley. The grass there was all eaten up. The goats were hungry. They wanted to grow fat and fine. Up on the hill the grass was soft and green. That is where the goats wanted to go.

Between the valley and the hill ran a little stream. Over the stream there was a wooden bridge. Under the bridge lived a troll. The troll was big and ugly. His eyes were as big as saucers. His nose was as long as a fire poker. The troll was always hungry. He waited for someone to cross the bridge. The goats had to cross the bridge to reach the hill.

First came the littlest billy goat Gruff. He was small and light. His hooves were quiet on the bridge. Trip, trap, trip, trap, said the bridge. The little goat tripped along. He thought about the fine grass on the hill. He did not think about the troll at all. But the troll heard every tiny step.

Suddenly a voice roared from under the bridge. 'Who is that tripping over my bridge?' The little goat stopped and trembled a little. He answered in his smallest voice. 'It is only me, the littlest billy goat Gruff. I am going up the hill to grow fat.' The troll crawled out from under the bridge. He smiled with big yellow teeth.

'Now I am coming to gobble you up!' roared the troll. The little goat said quickly: 'Oh no, please do not eat me. I am too little and thin. Wait a bit. Soon the middle billy goat Gruff will come. He is much bigger and better.' The troll thought for a moment. 'Very well, be off with you', said the troll. The little goat tripped happily on. Trip, trap, trip, trap, across the bridge.

It grew quiet for a while at the bridge. The troll crawled back under the bridge. He waited for a bigger goat. Soon he heard new steps. Trip, trap! Trip, trap! Trip, trap! The bridge sang louder now. It was the middle billy goat Gruff. He was bigger and heavier. His hooves were firm on the wood. The bridge creaked a little under him.