Book review of The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

Mac Barnett and Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen tackle the basic Norwegian fairy story of comeuppance in The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Their rendition spends a notable quantity of time with the story’s villain, a remarkably creepy troll with spindly legs and pointy, fanglike tooth that protrude from his decrease jaw. A cranium dangles from the bridge that serves as his shelter, and he holds a fork and spoon, able to dine. 

Barnett renders a lot of the troll’s dialogue in rhyme, notably when the creature describes his urge for food: “I am a troll. I live to eat. / I love the sound of hooves and feet / and paws and claws on cobblestones. / For that’s the sound of meat and bones!” Young readers will delight within the antagonist’s grossness, like when he makes use of a unclean fingernail to scrape a ball of bushy wax from his ears, as a result of all he’s needed to eat not too long ago is “a leather boot and some goop he’d found in his belly button.”

This troll is likely to be creepy, however he’s additionally devilishly humorous. He compliments himself on outwitting the smallest goat, who has promised that his brothers are coming: “I’m so smart! And fun and handsome.” When he meets the most important of the three brothers, who’s so tall that initially readers see solely his furry shins, the troll is awestruck. In the wordless unfold that follows, Klassen performs successfully with scale, depicting this remaining goat head-butting the troll, who flies off the verso, his fork trailing by the air behind him. 

The troll’s punishment entails a hilarious waterfall descent, however to say extra would spoil the shock. Until that time, all the story unfolds on the bridge. A less-skilled illustrator may need damage the story’s tempo, however Klassen persistently provides visible curiosity by design decisions, framing and particulars within the setting, such because the gadgets scattered across the troll’s abode. 

This wickedly humorous take will go away youngsters clamoring for extra. Fortunately, it’s the primary in a deliberate collection during which Barnett will retell basic fairy tales. If the volumes that observe are this stellar, readers are in good palms.