The Three Billy Goats Gruff retold by Mac Barnett illustrated by Jon Klassen

"Who seeks to reach the grassy ridge? Who dares to walk across my bridge?"

This book is a delicious retelling of the famous story. It is not a fractured version instead it is a rich retelling with wonderful illustrations. Every school library needs to add this book to their collection.

I especially love all the ways the troll imagines cooking the goats that cross his bridge:

"A rump of goat in honey glaze. Goat smoked, goat poached, a goat pot roast. Goat smorgasbord! Goat smeared on toast! Goat escargot (That's goat plus snails)."

"Goat Benedict with hollandaise. Goat jerky, jerk goat, curried goat. Goat gravy in a silver boat. Goat flambe with candied yams. A goat clambake with goat, not clams!"

Three Billy Goats Gruff is a Norwegian fairy tale, collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe and first published between 1841 and 1844.

It’s amusing verbal play, and librarians and caregivers who love to read out loud will enjoy hamming it up ...  Kirkus review

I love how the illustrations grow from a small strip at the bottom of the first page to a full-page spread when the big goat does his thing.  Kids will love the story, too, with its funny troll and just enough disgusting details thrown in. Kids Book a Day

In this video Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett talk about their book. Here is the splendid trailer. 

I'm sure you will want to read other versions of this famous tale: