Kirkus Summary:
Pinkney adapts the classic Norwegian tale, adding dramatic textual and visual details honoring the value of second chances.
Three hungry goats, eyeing the lush grasses on the opposite riverside, “trip, trap” onto the bridge, each tussling with the troll barring passage. Snaggle-toothed, green-skinned, with a tail like a lion’s, the hungry troll allows the first two across, since each promises even bigger eats to come. Pinkney’s panoramic watercolor-and-pencil compositions visually differentiate the goats’ sizes. The littlest, with stubby horns, squeezes through the bridge’s gate. The bigger billy, with longer horns, leaps it. The largest, with full, curving horns, bursts through the gate with a “CRACK!” and “CRASH!” (A gatefold page amplifies the drama.) The threatened goat charges, butting the troll off the bridge. A giant, toothy fish yells, “WHO’S THAT SPLISH-SPLASHING IN MY RIVER?” Pinkney deals a lucky break, wryly speculating that “the troll was probably a bit too sour and green to make a tasty meal” for the retreating fish. Meanwhile, a whole “herd of billy goats” trip-traps over to enjoy that lovely green hill. Observant readers will detect, on the last spread and endpapers, that the goats and troll (who’s building a new stone hut) have swapped riverbanks.
Pinkney’s graceful note invites readers to ponder issues of forgiveness, redemption, and peaceful coexistence in a terrific tale well-suited to family and group read-alouds.
Local Reviews:
Kenny, Winesburg sixth grade: I liked this book because it had lots of emotions and feelings. It also has lots of colorful pictures that relate to the words. The pictures were very nice and really told the story. I think it should win the Caldecott.
Jason, Winesburg fourth grade: This book is really awesome because it is very colorful. This book is very good. I would vote for it.
Jeremy, Winesburg third grade: When the big goat came he bulled the selfish troll off the bridge. The pictures are very beautiful. The book is very funny. I would vote for this book.
Seth, Winesburg third grade: This book is about three goats. A troll does not let the goats cross the bridge. The pictures are very cool and some pages even fold out!
Micah, Berlin fifth grade: The illustrations are good.
Luke, Berlin fifth grade: Classic book. The pictures of troll are creepy. I like the sign. the book is okay.
Jackson, Berlin fifth grade: The book is great! The troll is amazing. The fish looks great with the splashing water.
Connor, Walnut Creek sixth grade: I like the book. The colors look really good with the watercolor. The Billy Goat is legit.
Cade, Walnut Creek fifth grade: I like this book because I like how the billy goats are smart. I also like this book because it has great illustrations. The illustrations are good because you can see what is happening pretty easily.