Humor abounds in this masterfully-bilingual twist on "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" that dares to ask the question: why is that troll so grumpy anyway?Three little
cabritos have a clever plan to get past the grumpiest troll in the land. But then one of the billy goats wonders: Why is that
gigante so grumpy, anyway?
This thoughtful question sends their plan in a new direction, and the results are better than they ever imagined.
Dashes of humor, empathy, and kindness make this modern twist on a classic tale a charming delight.
Susan Middleton Elya is the author of many books that cleverly incorporate Spanish vocabulary into lively verse, including
La Princesa and the Pea and
La Madre Goose, both illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, and
Little Roja Riding Hood, illustrated by Susan Guevara. She is originally from Iowa and now lives in Northern California.
www.susanelya.com
Miguel Ordóñez is the illustrator of the bestselling Jimmy Fallon picture books
Everything Is Mama and
Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada. He also designs logos for packaging and businesses. Miguel lives in Madrid with his wife and two daughters. www.miguelordonez.es
★ “This picture book exposes children to themes such as empathy, kindness, teamwork, and friendship, providing an ideal opportunity for a storytime focused on mindfulness . . . will motivate youngsters to look beyond appearances.” –
School Library Journal, starred review★ "Zany charm imbues Elya’s deft retelling of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff.' Rhymes silly and clever weave in Spanish vocabulary words . . . the delightful story ends in an unexpected friendship.” –
Publisher’s Weekly, starred review“A time-honored folktale gets a makeover with the addition of snappy Spanish vocabulary. . .The thoughtful goats in this version of the story find opportunities for empathy and even new friendships when they begin to wonder why the troll is so grumpy. . . An enjoyable addition to any folklore collection, this iteration of the classic story packs visual and linguistic punch.” --
Kirkus
"As a read-aloud, this bouncy rhyming story, which smoothly incorporates Spanish words and encourages proper pronunciation, provides a great opportunity to discuss kindness. Ordóñez's blocky, bright illustrations, composed of rounded shapes in flat swathes of color, add to the cheerful atmosphere."
--Booklist
“Spanish words and phrases dance agilely throughout Elya’s verses, and each couplet ends in a rhyme that will be predictable for kids comfortable in one, either, or both languages . . . Ordóñez’s pencil, collage, and digital compositions are sleek and playful . . . Tailormade for sharing with a storytime audience of English and Spanish speakers. ” –
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
