Ready to talk and listen
A story to listen to
Parents: Read the story using different voices for the Billy Goats and the troll. Stop often to ask the questions shown in red. This encourages children to listen and take part in the telling of the story. There are activities at the end of the story (shown in green) for you to play together.
Billy Goats Gruff
Once upon a time, there were three billy goats. There was a big billy goat, a middle-sized billy goat and a little billy goat. They were called the Billy Goats Gruff.What were the billy goats called?
The three Billy Goats Gruff wanted to go the field with the sweet, green grass. They loved to eat the sweet green grass. To get to the field with the sweet green, grass they had to cross a wooden bridge over the fast, flowing river.
What did the Billy Goats have to cross?
Under the bridge lived a troll. The troll was so ugly he made the cats cry. The troll was so ugly he made the milk turn sour. The troll was so ugly he frightened anyone who tried to cross the bridge.
Who lived under the bridge?
The Little Billy Goat Gruff tried to cross the bridge. Trip, trap, trip, trap he went. When the troll heard him he jumped out and said
'Where are you going Little Billy Goat Gruff?'
'I am going to the field to eat the sweet, green grass' said Little Billy Goat Gruff.
'Oh no you are not', said the troll, 'I am going to have you for my supper'.
'Please let me go' said the Little Billy Goat Gruff. My brother will be here soon and he tastes much better.'
'Off you go then', growled the troll and the Little Billy Goat Gruff went into the field to eat the sweet green grass.
What did the troll say to the Little Billy Goat?
Then Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff tried to cross the bridge. Clip, clop, clip, clop he went. When the troll heard him he jumped out and said,
'Where are you going Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff?'
'I am going to the field to eat the sweet, green grass' said Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff.
'Oh no you are not', said the troll, 'I am going to have you for my supper'.
'Please let me go' said Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff. My brother will be here soon and he tastes much better.'
'Off you go then', growled the troll and Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff went into the field to eat the sweet green grass.
Where did Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff go?
Then the Big Billy Goat Gruff tried to cross the bridge. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump he went. When the troll heard him he jumped out and said,
'Where are you going Big Billy Goat Gruff?'
'I am going to the field to eat the sweet, green grass' said the Big Billy Goat Gruff.
'Oh no you are not', said the troll, 'I am going to have you for my supper'.
'Oh no you are not' said the Big Billy Goat Gruff. The Big Billy Goat Gruff had two huge horns. He ran towards the troll and pushed him off the bridge into the fast, flowing river.
Then Big Billy Goat Gruff went into the field with Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff and Little Billy Goat Gruff to eat the sweet green grass.
What happened to the troll?
Why were the goats happy?
How many Billy Goats Gruff were there in the story?
The answer is 3. Were you right? Try to remember this when you get to the school at the end of your walk.
Games to Play
talk and listen
