Betty Jane Wagner

This traditional fantasy story is about three goats who have eaten the land bare on one side of the river and notice on the other side a lush green meadow. They decide to one by one cross the bridge to the other side starting with the smallest. As they each encounter the troll, they encourage him not to eat them but to wait for their big brother. As ig brother approaches, the troll says he will eat him, but Big Billy Gloat Gruff butts him with his horns, trounces him with his hooves and tosses him off the bridge.

This classic story is beautifully illustrated with bright colorful pictures. The story line is filled with conflict from the gime the goats realize their food source is depleating, until the last one is safely across the bridge.

Allow the children to draw their version of what the troll would look like, reminding them he had eyes as big as baseballs and a nose as long as a hockey stick. Disuss bullying with the class.… (meer)