The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Cultural origins:This is Scandinavian folktale first recorded by the authorities in that region: Asbjornsen and Moe. It includes the stock character that shows up in many Scandinavian tales, the Troll. There are many different settings for the retellings of this tale including one crossing the border into Mexico for a fiesta. The common theme is outsmarting the monster blocking the path of the brothers.

Intended audience: Pre-K (4-5)

Why this audience?: It’s a short, simple story with hand movements, chanting, and questions for the audience. Children of that age can get involved for this short period of time with focus.

Characters:  Ben Gruff (smallest billy goat)

Brad Gruff (middle billy goat)

BOB Gruff (biggest billy goat)

The Troll (eyes as big as dinner plates, fingers as long as rolling pins and a mouth as wide as a refrigerator)

Scenes/Settings: The country hillsides of Norway near a wild, rushing, roaring river.

Synopsis: There are three billy goats who love to eat. But they run out of food and go looking for new food when they see a beautiful hillside full of grass. To get to this hillside they must cross a bridge with a nasty, mean old troll. They decide to cross the bridge one by one. Each billy goat convinces the Troll to not eat him because his brother is bigger and will make a better meal. When the Troll finally confronts the largest of the three brothers he gets head butted into the river below. The three billy goats enjoy the grass on the other side of the bridge until they are so full they cannot eat another bite.

Story Climaxes/High Points: The climax occurs during the confrontation between the biggest billy goat and the troll and the troll is head butted off the bridge into the rushing river below.

Special phrases: "A long time ago when the world was still young and animals could talk to each other there lived three billy goats by the name of Gruff."
                              " Snip, Snap, Snout, This tale’s told out."
Chant: Who’s that crossing my bridge?

 It’s me, Ben/Brad/Bob Gruff

 Well, Ben.Brad/Bob Gruff,  I’m gonna eat you sure enough.

 Oh PSHAW, you don’t want me. You want my brother, he’s bigger, you’ll see (clapping)

….Well OK. Be on your way!

Bibliographic Information:

Asbjørnsen, P.C. (1957). The Three Billy Goats Gruff (M. Brown, Illustrator). New York: Harcourt, Brace & World. 

Bender, R. (1993). The Three Billy Goats Gruff. New York: Henry Holt.
Finch, M. (2001). The Three Billy Goats Gruff (R. Arenson, Illustrator). New York: Barefoot Books.
Galdone, P. (1973). The Three Billy Goats Gruff. New York: Clarion Books.

Kimmel, E. A. (2007). The Three Cabritos (S. Gilpin, Illustrator). Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Children.

Rounds, G. (1993). Three Billy Goats Gruff. New York: Holiday House.