Billy Goat Gruff and the Baby Troll Written by Roger Hall Illustrated by Philip Webb

Father Troll: Look at all that blackberry I’ve planted. Soon all the goats will see it and come across our bridge to eat it.

Baby Troll: And then what? Father Troll: And then we’ll leap out and eat them.

Mother Troll: Come on. It’s time for your lessons. How to grow up big and fierce.

Father Troll: How to frighten goats. Baby Troll: I don’t want to grow up big and fierce. I don’t want to frighten goats.

Mother Troll: Practise your roar, there’s a good little troll.

Father Troll: When I was your age, I could frighten a rhinoceros.

Baby Troll: I don’t want to frighten a rhinoceros.

Father Troll: Today’s the day to learn. Listen, I think one of the goats has seen the blackberry.

First Goat: Look at all that blackberry on the other side of the bridge. I’m going over there to eat it.

Father Troll: See. It works every time. Here he comes. First Goat: Trit trot trit trot.

Baby Troll: Hello. Good morning. Father Troll: Louder! Fiercer!

First Goat: Trit trot trit trot. Baby Troll: Halt, who goes there? Stop in the name of the troll.

First Goat: Trit trot trit trot trit trot. (The goat goes gets to the other side and starts eating the blackberry.)

First Goat: Delicious! Mother Troll: The goat didn’t hear you. It didn’t even stop.

Father Troll: Terrible! Hopeless! It wasn’t like this when I was a young troll! To think that a son of mine-

Mother Troll: Shush, here comes the next goat!

Second Goat: Look at all that blackberry one the other side of the bridge.

Father Troll: Shout louder this time. Mother Troll: You have to say, “Who’s that trotting over my bridge?”

Second Goat: Trit trot trit trot trit trot. Baby Troll: Who’s that trotting over my bridge? Second Goat: A goat.

Baby Troll: What size goat? Second Goat: Fairly big. Baby Troll: Fine. Go ahead. Have a nice day!

Second Goat: Thank you. Trit trot trit trot trit trot.

Father Troll: What sort of a troll are you going to be when you grow up! You have to be fierce!

You’re supposed to leap out and stop him! I’ll do the next one. I’ll show you how to do it!

Billy Goat Gruff: Look at all that blackberry on the other side of the bridge. Trit trot trit trot.

Father Troll: Oooahhh! Roar! Growl! Billy Goat Gruff: Is somebody there? Father Troll: Yes. Roar! Snarl! Grrrrrrrr!

Billy Goat Gruff: Do you need help? Father Troll: No. I’m a fierce troll. (He comes onto the bridge.)

I’m coming to eat you all up! (Sees the goat.) Wow, you’re big. Er…roar…squeak…gulp.

Billy Goat Gruff: I think you need a swimming lesson. (He pushes Father Troll into the river.)

Father Troll: Help! Help! (He is washed away by the river.)

Mother Troll: (Leaps up onto the bridge.) Look here, you can’t go pushing trolls around!

Billy Goat Gruff: You mean like this? And this? (He pushes Mother Troll into the river.)

Mother Troll: Help! Help! (But she is washed away by the river.)

Billy Goat Gruff: Are there any more trolls under the bridge? Baby Troll: No!

Billy Goat Gruff: Come on out. Baby Troll: I’m only a baby troll. I’m not fierce at all. I like goats.

Billy Goat Gruff: We goats are sick of being eaten. Baby Troll: I’m sure you are. But we trolls have got to make a living.

Billy Goat Gruff: All right. It’s your bridge. We’ll pay a penny each time we go over. Then you needn’t eat us.

Baby Troll: That sounds fine. Billy Goat Gruff: And we’ll call it a troll bridge. That’s a joke.

Baby Troll: A troll bridge? I don’t get it.

Billy Goat Gruff: It doesn’t matter. The main thing is we can all live happily together. The goats will get the blackberry and the trolls will get some money. Would you like a ride on my back?

Baby Troll: Yes, please! Billy Goat Gruff: And you can make the sound. Baby Troll: (As they go off.) Trit trot trit trot trit trot.