Customer Reviews

The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Book & CD)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I used the book for a class I'm teaching on goats to 3-4 year olds. The story was a great success with group. The children were able to take what they learned about goats and see it pictured in the story. Example, goats have beards, horns and hooves. All of these features are beautifuuly illustrated on each page.
F.Y.I. Many of the children were happy to see the troll wasn't killed only pushed off the bridge. It is sonething to mention if it goes unnoticed.
Overall I highly recommend this version over any other I have seen out there because of the illustrations, simple text and story flow.

I was just reminded of this teriffic retelling of Three Billy Goats Gruff. The suspense and pacing are brilliant. The illustrations are gorgeous AND funny. It was one of my all-time favorite read-alouds when I was a children's librarian. Galdone never failed in capturing the kids' imagination and story hour was always the better with one of his books. A MUST HAVE!

This is a charming rendition of the classic fairy tale, well told and illustrated pleasingly. The three billy goats Gruff wish to travel to a lush meadow, but it lies across a bridge under which a terrible goat-eating troll lives. The first two goats cross, persuading the troll to wait for their elder brother who would make a bigger meal. When the third brother comes, he butts the troll so that he falls off the bridge into the river, and joins his brothers in the meadow.

The story is valuable for its humor and its read-aloud qualities: each goat trips across the bridge with a different sound, and the repetition of the story, with its dialogue between goats and trolls, is interactive and pleasing for young children. The troll is depicted frighteningly enough to seem a real threat without causing nightmares, and the tension builds toward a satisfying climax. While not essential, this is a very nice addition to a children's library. It is also available in an audio version.

5 stars based on the enjoyment value for my 3 year old son. One of the "professional" reviews here is negative about another version, then recommends this one. Looks as though Amazon goofed. A couple of reader reviews here obviously refer to an audio version of the story. Anyway, Paul Galdone's version has appealing illustrations, follows the traditional story and is fun for kids.

I remembered this fairy tale from my own childhood but was first introduced to this version by Paul Galdone when I found this book (and read it to my son) at my father-in-law's house. My son loves this book so much that every time we're at a playground with a bridge or tunnel he wants to play 'troll and billy goats'. I, myself, loved the illustrations so much that we bought a collection of Paul Galdone's stories which have become the reading addiction of my younger daughter (containing The 3 Pigs, The 3 Bears, Little Red Hen and Cat Goes Fiddle-i-Fee). Galdone is an illustrator par excellence-- his illustrations are compelling, dramatic, comical at times, and lively. His choices of color, detail, and perspective are creative and thoughtful. One of my top children's book illustrators!

Bought this to read to my grand-daughters. The illustrations are amazing, with the trolls creepy hair and nasty yellow teeth! A great classic on why NOT to be a bully like the troll. He lost in the end.

I gave this old time favorite to my grandaughter on her 4th birthday. She hasn't put it down and can now read the complete book herself, although she still prefers her mother to read it to her. It is a definate WINNER!