The Billy Goats Gruff

This story from Norway is short but exciting – and ideal for small children (although it’s abit scary!). Three billy goats, each with the same name (Gruff), are on the way up the hillside to eat grass and get fat. On the way they have to cross a bridge where a hungry troll lies in wait in the ravine.

Read by Natasha. Duration Five Minutes.

Proofread by Jana Elizabeth.

The Billy Goats Gruff -

Hello, This is Natasha, and I’m dropping by to tell you a story from Norway about three Billy Goats, and great big fierce Troll who wanted to gobble them up. Prince Bertie’s friend Tim the Tadpole especially requested this story, because it’s small but very interesting, just like he is – so it will only take me a minute or two to tell it two you.

Once upon a time there were three billy goats, who were to go up to the hillside to eat grass and make themselves fat. The name of each one of them was “Gruff.”

On the way up was a bridge over a cascading stream they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly troll, with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.

So first of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.

“Trip, trap! Trip, trap! Trip trap!” went the bridge as he trotted across.

“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll.

“Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” said the billy goat, with such a small voice.

“Now, I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.

“Oh, no! pray don’t take me. I’m too little, that I am,” said the billy goat. “Wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”

“Well, be off with you,” said the troll.

A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.

“Trip trap! Trip trap! Trip trap!” went the bridge.

“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll.

“Oh, it’s the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” said the billy goat, who hadn’t such a small voice.

“Now I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.

“Oh, no! Don’t take me. Wait a little till the big Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”

“Very well! Be off with you,” said the troll.

But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff.

“Trip trap! Trip trap! Trip trap!” went the bridge, for the billy goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.

“Who’s that tramping over my bridge?” roared the troll.

“It’s I!The big Billy Goat Gruff,” said the billy goat, who had an ugly hoarse voice of his own.

“Now I’m coming to gobble you up,” roared the troll.

Well, come along! I’ve got two spears, and I’ll poke your eyeballs out at your ears.

I’ve got besides two curling-stones, and I’ll crush you to bits, body and bones.

That was what the big billy goat said. And then he flew at the troll, and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the ravine and after that he went up to the hillside. There the billy goats got so fat they were scarcely able to walk home again. And if the fat hasn’t fallen off them, why, they’re still fat; and so,

Snip Snap Snout..

This Tale is out!

Wow Tim says that was exciting – and now he wants to hear it all over again before he goes to bed