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For Granny Shayle Bester For Tumi and Thabi, Zizipho and Zethu and the thousands of little children in Africa who want more and more storybooks Carole Bloch
First published by Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd in 2010 10 Orange Street Sunnyside Auckland Park 2092 South Africa (+27 11) 628-3200 www.jacana.co.za © Carole Bloch © Images: Shayle Bester Series editor: Carole Bloch All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-77009-765-0 Set in ITC Stone Informal Std 14/22pt Printed and bound by Ultra Litho (Pty) Limited, Johannesburg Job no. 001118 See a complete list of Jacana titles at www.jacana.co.za
Printed on Sappi Triple Green Print Matt 250g/m² and 170g/m² donated by Sappi. Triple Green paper is produced from sustainable resources (bagasse - post agricultural sugar cane waste and renewable forestry fibre) and is recyclable and biodegradable.
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O
nce upon a time there were three Billy Goats who lived in the veld.
The first one was called Little Billy Goat Gruff. The second one was called Middle Billy Goat Gruff and the third one was called Big Billy Goat Gruff. They didn’t like their dry, flat veld home very much. It was so thorny and dusty that whatever they ate got stuck in their throats.
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Across a bridge was a koppie covered with sweet, green grass. But under that bridge lived a fierce, old monster. His eyes gleamed like ripe mangoes and his nose was swollen up like a watermelon. When he was hungry he’d smack his lips so hard together that it would sound just like lightning
cracking across the sky and his huge belly
would rumble like thunder. Then he’d shout,
‘If anyone dares to cross my bridge, I’ll gobble them up!’ No wonder the three Billy Goats Gruff had never visited the koppie with its sweet, green grass.
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But one day, there was nothing left to eat – not even a seed pod or a thorn. The Billy Goats gazed across the bridge at the koppie. Their mouths watered. ‘I’m hungry,’ moaned Little Billy Goat Gruff. ‘I’m starving,’ groaned Middle Billy Goat Gruff. Big Billy Goat Gruff stared hard at the bridge. Then he took a deep breath and said in a big voice, ‘What’s there to be scared of? It’s just a silly old monster. Let’s go!’
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Little Billy Goat reached the bridge first.
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Click clack click clack! went the
hooves of Little Billy Goat Gruff.
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‘Who’s that click-clacking over my bridge?’ shouted the monster. ‘It’s only me,’ said Little Billy Goat Gruff in his bravest voice, ‘and I’m going up to the top of the koppie to eat the sweet, green grass.’
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‘Oh no you’re not. I’m coming to gobble you up!’ shouted the monster. ‘Please don’t eat me,’ replied Little Billy Goat Gruff. ‘I’m much too skinny and bony for you. Wait until you see Middle Billy Goat Gruff. He’s
bigger and
fatter than me.’
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‘Well, be off with you then, before I change my mind!’ shouted the monster.
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