Product Description

Paul Galdone's classic retelling of a lively nursery tale. "Galdone's dramatic, colourful illustrations are well suited to this old Scandinavian tale. Even the scale of the pictures seems to tell the story; the first Billy Goat Gruff looks small against a looming bridge; soon the troll completely fills the page, and then the big Billy Goat Gruff spreads across two. The third Billy Goat Gruff's gruesome challenge is deleted, and he butts his wild-haired, blue-nosed, yellow-toothed enemy into the water, marches triumphantly up a daisy-covered hillside, and makes himself fat."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24060 in Books
• Brand: Houghton Mifflin
• Published on: 2008-02-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780618894994
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2 Only the familiar plot of this well-known Norwegian folktale is recognizable in this revision. Gone is the cadence and beauty of G. W. Dasent's translation of Asbjornsen and Moe's text, found in Marcia Brown's version (HBJ, 1957; o.p.). Instead there is language devoid of rhythm and mystery. In addition, unnecessary motivations are ascribed to the characters that serve to explain the reason for their violent actions (the troll is hungry; the big Billy Goat Gruff is angry). These explanations serve only to dilute the power of the story. The full-color illustrations are humorous; the goats walk about on their hind legs, the smallest goat wears a diaper and sucks a pacifier, and the biggest wears a black leather jacket, to reinforce the point that he is tough enough to destroy the troll. The troll is quite scary, and although he does have a nose as long as a poker, his eyes are not as big as saucers; the illustration that introduces the troll does not even show his eyes. A better purchase is Galdone's version (Clarion, 1981) which is well-suited for use with large groups and more closely follows the standard translation. Ellen Fader, Westport Public Library, Conn.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"The large, lively, double-page spreads are sure to win a responsive audience at story hour." -- Review

Review
"Galdone's illustrations are in his usual, bold, clear style. The three Billy Goats Gruff are expessively drawn, and the troll looks appropriately ferocious and ugly." (School Library Journal )

Customer Reviews

Faithful retelling of the fairy tale
My boys love this author's version of the Three Little Pigs, so I bought a few more of his fairy tales for them. They also liked this one, but not as much. That might just be because it's not quite as interesting a tale! But the illustrations are well done---especially the troll, who is truly scary looking! This is a good book for a reader who likes to do voices, as you really have to use dramatic effect to show how the biggest billy goat has a loud and intimidating voice while the little one has a tiny and timid voice!

My Son Loved This Version
We have checked out a number of versions of The Three Billy Goats Gruff from the Library when my son was 4. This is the version he liked the most. It is very simple (as one reviewer uses as a reason to reject it) but for some ages, that simplicity is what makes it a favorite.

"A Review of Paul Galdone's "Three Billy Goats Gruff"
On this page, and on one other page that I know, Amazon has accidentally put the reviews of different versions of classic fairytales together. In this case, you will see reviews of more than one version of "The Billy Goats Gruff".

For example in the "Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal" the reviewer says that the 'goats are angry' and that 'the baby goat is wearing a diaper'. I assure you that none of these elements are present in the Paul Galdone version of the story. Neither is there a black leather jacket. (No wonder the reviewer didn't like it. Sounds dreadful.)

What you will find is a classic retelling of the story of troll versus goats; and the usual delightful Galdone artwork. *Look Inside* this book yourself and see.

Certainly my family has enjoyed this version.