Billy goat not so gruff / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

May 14, 2025 7:58pm CST

Vince has a Facebook account and put up a photo of one of my sister’s little goats, saying it didn’t look very gruff, which got me thinking if some of today’s younger people would get the reference. The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a Norwegian fairytale and many of my vintage would have had it read to them somewhere along the line. Another that comes up occasionally is when a person manages to, say, do two or three things at once rather than just one, is ‘Two/three at one blow. Better put that on your belt’, which is a reference to another fairytale The Brave Little Tailor. Do today’s kids still get read these ancient tales? I somehow doubt it what with so many other great books around. What do you think, and can you come up with any more references that may not be understood nowadays? Photo is mine but taken in a previous year.

19 people like this

21 responses

@DaddyEvil (148019)

• United States

15 May

I read The Three Billy Goats Gruff to Pretty when she was little and passed books like that on to my favorite niece for her kids when Pretty outgrew them. I've heard of but never read The Brave Little Tailor. So I didn't get the reference to it. Kids now get books like The Brave Little Toaster read to them or they watch the video of it online. There are a LOT of kids books that were made into videos around the time Pretty was growing up and I know my niece let her kids watch those on her laptop.

6 people like this

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (64290)

• Centralia, Washington

15 May

@DaddyEvil The illustrations in those vintage kid's books were works of art. Just fabulous.

4 people like this

Kareng

@kareng (73838)

• United States

15 May

And in that way books were ruined and reading for a lot of kids!

4 people like this

@DaddyEvil (148019)

• United States

15 May

@sallypup Yes, you're right. The pictures were gorgeous.

4 people like this

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Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (13592)

• Ireland

15 May

@judyev I loved the Three Billy Goats Gruff. I also unwittingly baffled my kids when they were growing up by telling to pull the chain after using the toilet.

4 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

Probably not too many would know about the chain system now.

2 people like this

Kareng

@kareng (73838)

• United States

15 May

Those were great stories and tales. I don't think they are referenced like they used to be when we were growing up. I know I gave my grandchildren all a couple of fairy tale collections, but beyond the toddler years, I don't recall them being mentioned again.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

I guess Dr Seuss took over at some point too.

1 person likes this

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (64290)

• Centralia, Washington

15 May

Those are cute little goats. I remember the Gruff goat gang.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

The little goats are just gorgeous.

2 people like this

Loretta

@noni1959 (10366)

• United States

15 May

I've read old fairy tales to my kids and grandkids. One of my granddaughters has been obsessed for years over goats. I haven't read the Brave Little Tailor but heard of it. Now I want to read it.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

I always loved goats and eventually had one as a pet. She was equally as good as a dog and used to follow me everywhere.

1 person likes this

April

@thislittlepennyearns (64188)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

15 May

I had no idea it was a Norweigian fairytale. I should, I'm like 75 percent norweigian.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

I guess there are a whole lot more that you don't know about! lol

1 person likes this

BarBaraPrz

@BarBaraPrz (49586)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

22h

"Very well, I'll do it myself," said the Little Red Hen... "I think I can, I think I can," said the little engine. Pretty much sum up my attitude to life.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

21h

We still use 'I think I can' from time to time! lol

2 people like this

Judy Story

@jstory07 (143957)

• Roseburg, Oregon

15 May

I had that book at one time. I am not sure what happened to it.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

I have just a couple of my childhood books. Most I've given away.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (474224)

• Italy

15 May

We had different kids stories in Italy, I know that my niece still read ancient tales to her children.

2 people like this

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Anna

@LadyDuck (474224)

• Italy

21h

@JudyEv - I think that those traditions should not die.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

20h

@LadyDuck It would be nice if they were kept alive. Are you closer (in distance) to your niece now?

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

23h

I think it's nice that kids know these old tales but I suppose in the long run it doesn't matter much.

1 person likes this

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Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (115978)

• Marion, Ohio

21h

I don't think those are well known anymore.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

20h

I wouldn't think they were. Other stories have taken their place.

2 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (31701)

• United Kingdom

15 May

The one I always think of is Jack Frost. Now that double glazing is so prevalent it's rare to wake up and find those magical icy images on one's windows.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

I was only thinking the other day that my clothing changes very little from summer to winter. I need long sleeves and jumpers in winter but not really heavy coats.

2 people like this

Colene

@cpefley (1933)

• San Jose, California

10h

I remember reading them when I was a girl, but I don't know if any of my kids have. Perhaps the older ones, but I don't think I've read them many fairytales. I mean, I've read them lots of stories, but not really classic fairytales. l think the way we teach our children has changed so much!

1 person likes this

@Traceyjayne (1975)

• United Kingdom

20h

We still use the story of the' Three billy goats gruff' in schools in the uk. I have never heard of 'The Brave Little Tailor.'

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

20h

That's good to know. The old stories have stood the test of time.

1 person likes this

LindaOH

@LindaOHio (188594)

• United States

15 May

I doubt that many read the classics, whether they are children's or adult books. I was watching a game show and someone guessed Danielle Steele to a Bronte question.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (353311)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May

In a way, there is so much information in the world that a lot of stuff must get passed over.

1 person likes this

Fishmomma

@Fishmomma (11407)

• United States

14h

I know the children that visit story time at the library locally know these children's books. Many people in the community go to the library to read books to the children.