Hello my sweet listener.
Welcome to Storytime with Nana Jojo.
I'm so happy you're here.
I'm Nana Jojo and I have another wonderful story to share with you today.
But before we begin,
Let's get nice and cozy.
Grab your favorite stuffy and your softest blanket.
Oh,
Wait a minute.
Okay,
Now let's take some calming breaths before our story starts.
When we take slow breaths,
Our bodies feel happier and more relaxed.
So let's breathe together,
Okay?
Take a big breath in through your nose like this.
And then breathe out with a happy sigh like this.
Ah.
Let's do another one.
Big breath in.
And breathe out.
Ah.
One more time.
Big breath in.
And breathe out with a happy sigh.
Ah.
Super duper job.
Do you feel more relaxed?
Me too.
Okay,
My sweet listener,
It's time for our story.
Snuggling close and let's begin.
This is the wonderful story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.
It's a story about being brave,
Being smart,
And how brothers who love each other can do amazing things together.
Once upon a time,
In a pretty green valley,
There lived three billy goats who were brothers.
The smallest brother was Little Billy Goat Gruff.
He had soft white fur and tiny little horns just starting to grow.
And he had the biggest,
Brightest eyes you've ever seen.
The middle brother was called Middle Billy Goat Gruff.
He was a little bigger and he had fluffy tan fur and the sweetest and gentlest heart.
And the biggest brother was Great Big Billy Goat Gruff.
He was big and strong and he had warm brown fur.
And he always watched over his brothers.
The three brothers loved each other very much.
Every morning they would touch their noses together and say a great big happy,
Baaa!
Across the pretty green valley,
There was a little stream with a wooden bridge.
And on the other side of that bridge was the most wonderful meadow you could ever imagine.
The grass there was so green and so sweet.
Pretty flowers danced in the breeze and butterflies floated from flower to flower.
Oh,
I really wish I could eat that beautiful grass,
Sighed Little Billy Goat Gruff one morning.
Me too,
Said Middle Billy Goat Gruff.
Just look how pretty it is.
One day,
Said Great Big Billy Goat Gruff with a smile,
We'll get there together,
I promise.
But there was one problem.
Under that little wooden bridge lived a troll whose name was Gus.
Gus wasn't a terrible troll,
But he was lonely and grumpy and he had a very,
Very loud voice.
When Gus heard footsteps on his bridge,
He growled and he grumbled.
The three Billy Goats Gruff had heard about Gus,
And they all felt a little bit scared.
But that beautiful green meadow kept calling to them.
One sunny morning,
They made up their minds.
Little Billy Goat Gruff was the first one to make up his mind.
I'm going to try the bridge,
He said.
His tiny little hooves were shaking just a little bit as he said that.
Are you sure,
Asked Middle Billy Goat Gruff.
I'll be very careful,
Said Little Billy Goat Gruff.
And if anything feels scary,
I'll think of something.
And off he went.
Trip-trap,
Trip-trap,
Went his tiny hooves on the wooden bridge.
The bridge started to shake,
And a big voice roared from down below.
Who is trip-trapping over my bridge?
Little Billy Goat Gruff's heart was beating so fast.
But he took a big deep breath,
And he answered in his small brave voice.
It's me,
Little Billy Goat Gruff.
I'm just going to the meadow to eat the sweet green grass.
Gus the troll looked up at him.
I'm going to eat you up,
Growled Gus.
Little Billy Goat Gruff thought fast,
And he said,
Oh,
But I am so very tiny.
My brother Middle Billy Goat Gruff is coming right behind me,
And he is so much bigger than me.
Gus scratched his head,
And he thought for a minute.
He grumbled and grumbled.
Then he said,
Oh,
All right,
Go on then.
And so Little Billy Goat Gruff ran as fast as his little legs could carry him all the way to the meadow.
He jumped,
And he played in the sweet green grass,
And he was so happy.
A little while later,
It was Middle Billy Goat Gruff's turn.
Trip-trap,
Trip-trap,
Trip-trap,
Went his hooves over the wooden bridge.
The bridge started to shake again,
Even harder than before.
Gus's big voice roared again from down below.
Who is trip-trapping over my bridge?
Middle Billy Goat Gruff stood up nice and tall.
It's me,
Middle Billy Goat Gruff,
And I'm going to the meadow.
I'm going to eat you up,
Growled Gus.
Middle Billy Goat Gruff thought fast,
Just like his little brother had.
Oh,
You don't want me.
My big brother,
Great Big Billy Goat Gruff,
Is coming right behind me,
And he is the biggest goat you've ever seen.
Gus blinked his big eyes.
He thought about it,
And then he waved his hand,
And he said,
Oh,
All right,
Go on then.
And Middle Billy Goat Gruff ran happily across the bridge and into the meadow,
Right to where Little Billy Goat Gruff was already munching on the delicious sweet grass.
Ah,
You made it,
Cheered Little Billy Goat Gruff.
We both did,
Laughed Middle Billy Goat Gruff,
And he gave his little brother a great big nuzzle.
And then it was Great Big Billy Goat Gruff's turn.
Trip-trap,
Trip-trap,
Trip-trap,
Went his great big hooves on the bridge.
The bridge started to shake and rattle with every single step he took.
Who is trip-trapping over my bridge,
Thundered Gus even louder than before.
It's me,
Said the big goat.
Great Big Billy Goat Gruff,
I'm going to eat you up,
Roared Gus,
And he jumped out from underneath the bridge.
But Great Big Billy Goat Gruff did not run away.
He looked right at Gus,
And then he spoke in a soft,
Kind voice.
Gus,
He said,
Why do you scare everyone away?
Don't you wish you had friends?
Don't you get lonely under that bridge all by yourself?
Gus took a big step back,
And he blinked his big eyes.
Then his mouth fell wide open.
Nobody had ever said something like that to him before.
Gus was very,
Very quiet while he thought about the question that Great Big Billy Goat Gruff had asked him.
And then something happened.
Gus's eyes filled with big,
Shiny tears.
I don't know how to make friends,
Said Gus in a small,
Quiet voice.
Everyone always runs away from me.
They're always scared of me.
Great Big Billy Goat Gruff took a gentle step closer.
Maybe they run away because you growl and shout so much.
What if you tried something different?
Gus sniffled.
Like what?
Like saying hello,
Said Great Big Billy Goat Gruff with a big,
Warm smile.
Like being kind and helpful.
Hey,
You could be the one who looks after this bridge.
Not to scare people away,
But to help them cross safely.
Gus sat very,
Very still,
And he thought about that.
And then a little smile began to grow on his face,
And he said,
That's a great idea.
I like that.
From that day on,
Everything changed.
Gus became the best bridge keeper in the whole valley.
He now keeps the bridge safe and strong.
He helps small animals cross the bridge when the water moves too fast for them to swim across.
And he smiles and waves at everyone who goes by.
And everyone smiles and waves right back.
And the Three Billy Goats Gruff now visit Gus every day.
They go to eat the sweet green grass in the beautiful meadow,
And then they come and sit with Gus next to the stream.
Little Billy Goat Gruff tells silly stories that makes Gus laugh out loud.
Middle Billy Goat Gruff brings flowers that he finds in the meadow.
And Great Big Billy Goat Gruff sits right next to Gus,
And together they watch the world go by.
And for the first time in a very long time,
Gus is a happy troll.
And so,
My sweet listener,
What did the Three Billy Goats Gruff teach us today?
Little Billy Goat Gruff taught us that being brave doesn't mean you're not scared.
It means you take a big deep breath and you try anyway,
Just like he did.
Middle Billy Goat Gruff taught us that when we see someone else be brave,
It helps us to be brave too.
And Great Big Billy Goat Gruff taught us the biggest,
Most important lesson of all.
Sometimes the person who seems the scariest just needs a friend.
That's it.
Just a friend.
And do you know what the most powerful thing in the whole world is?
It's kindness.
Kindness is even more powerful than a very big,
Very grumpy troll.
As our story time comes to an end,
Let's close our eyes and imagine together.
Imagine you're standing on a wooden bridge.
And underneath you,
There's a little stream.
And on the other side of the bridge,
There's your very own magical meadow.
What do you see?
What does it look like?
Maybe there are great big golden sunflowers as tall as trees.
Maybe there are some puffy purple clouds floating by.
Or maybe there are friendly animals waiting for you to visit.
And then imagine you start to walk across the bridge.
Trip,
Trap.
Trip,
Trap.
Trip,
Trap.
With every step you take,
You feel brave.
And safe.
And loved.
Because you are brave.
And you are safe.
And you are so loved.
Always remember,
Nana Jojo loves you so very much.
I'll be right here waiting for you when you're ready for another story.
And if it's time to sleep now,
I wish you the sweetest,
Most beautiful dreams.
Good night,
My precious little one.
Sleep tight.
I'll see you again very soon.
