Once upon a time there were three billy goats who were all called ‘Gruff’. One day the goats saw a hillside covered in beautiful, tasty grass. However, to get to the hill they had to cross a bridge, under which a mean, ugly troll lived.
The first goat to cross was Little Billy Goat Gruff.
‘Trip-trap, trip-trap’ went his feet on the bridge.
‘Who is that trip-trapping over my bridge?’ shouted the troll.
The goat answered in a small voice,
‘It is only I, Little Billy Goat Gruff. I’m going to the hillside to eat and get fat.’
‘Ah!’ said the troll. ‘I’m going to eat you!’
‘Don’t eat me,’ the goat said, ‘I am so little. Wait until my brother comes. He is much bigger.’
The troll agreed.
Soon Middle Billy Goat Gruff arrived.
‘Trip-trap, trip-trap’ went his feet on the bridge.
‘Who is trip-trapping on my bridge?’ shouted the troll.
‘It is I, Middle Billy Goat Gruff, and I am going to the hill to eat and get fat.’
‘Ah’ said the troll. ‘I’m going to eat you!’
‘Oh no’ said the goat. ‘Don’t eat me. Wait until my brother comes. He is much bigger than I am.’
The troll agreed.
Finally Big Billy Goat Gruff arrived.
‘Trip-trap, trip-trap’ its feet went on the bridge.
“Who is trip-trapping on my bridge?” shouted the troll.
“It is I, Big Billy Goat Gruff. I am going to the hill to eat the grass and get fat.”
“Ah” said the troll. “I’m going to eat you!”
“Just you try!” answered the goat.
So the troll climbed out from under the bridge. However, when he came to get the goat, Big Billy Goat Gruff rammed the troll with its head. The troll fell into the water and was washed away, never to be seen again.
After that Big Billy Goat Gruff went to the hill and met the other two goats; and they ate and ate until they were very fat indeed.