Three Billy Goats Gruff

The Three Goats and the Bridge

Once there were three goats. A little goat. A medium goat. And a big goat.

They lived on a hill. The hill had grass, but the grass was short and brown. On the OTHER side of the stream, the grass was tall and green and yummy.

To get there, they had to cross the bridge.

Under the bridge lived a troll. He was grumpy. He was green. And he did NOT like trip-trapping on his bridge.

The little goat went first.

Trip-trap, trip-trap, trip-trap. His tiny hooves went on the wooden bridge.

"WHO is trip-trapping on my bridge?" grumbled the troll.

"It is me," said the little goat. "I am small. I am going to eat the green grass."

"I am going to EAT you!" said the troll.

"Oh no, don't eat me," said the little goat. "I am too small. Wait for my brother. He is bigger."

The troll thought about this. "Fine," he said. "Go."

Trip-trap, trip-trap, trip-trap. The little goat crossed the bridge.

The medium goat went next.

TRIP-TRAP, TRIP-TRAP, TRIP-TRAP. His hooves were louder.

"WHO is trip-trapping on my bridge?" grumbled the troll.

"It is me," said the medium goat. "I am going to eat the green grass."

"I am going to EAT you!" said the troll.

"Oh no, don't eat me," said the medium goat. "I am not very big. Wait for my brother. He is MUCH bigger."

The troll thought about this. "Fine," he said. "Go."

TRIP-TRAP, TRIP-TRAP, TRIP-TRAP. The medium goat crossed the bridge.

Then came the big goat.

TRIP — TRAP — TRIP — TRAP. The whole bridge shook. Boom, boom, boom.

"WHO is trip-trapping on my bridge?!" shouted the troll.

"It is ME," said the big goat. His voice was deep and rumbly.

"I am going to EAT you!" said the troll. And he jumped onto the bridge.

The big goat put his head down. He stamped his hoof. And he said...

"No."

And the big goat bumped the troll with his woolly head — bump! — right off the bridge and into the water. SPLASH!

The troll sat in the stream. He was wet. He was grumpy. But he was not hurt. He was just... very wet.

"Hmph," said the troll. And he waddled away down the stream to find a new bridge. One with NO goats.

The three goats ate the green grass. The little goat ate a little. The medium goat ate a medium amount. The big goat ate a LOT.

And when their tummies were round and full... they lay down together on the soft green hill... the little goat next to the medium goat... the medium goat next to the big goat...

And they closed their eyes... and the stream went shhhh, shhhh, shhhh... and the grass was soft... and the sun was warm... and the three little goats fell asleep.

Shhhh.