The Rockabilly Goats Gruff

K-Gr 2—Complete with pompadour hairstyles and black T-shirts, the title characters are not the billy goats of yesteryear. Billy Lee, Billy Joe, and Billy Bob are a hip crew of rockers headed to a gig when they are stopped by a very "square" troll fishing for his supper. "'No go, billy boy. I'll stomp yer geetar to smithereens!'" They each bust out their best riffs to convince the snaggletooth killjoy to let them pass, but end up having to toss him in the truck to get to Nanny May's Shimmy Shack on time. After a heaping helping of "rib-stickin' barbecue," the troll changes his tune and has a thigh-slappin' good time in spite of himself. Filled with rock 'n' roll lingo, comic-style sound effects like "ZANG!" and "RAP, TAP, BOOMITY," and high-energy illustrations, this version of the classic tale will surely outshine some of the more straitlaced versions. Paired with some classic Elvis songs and maybe even some BBQ, Crosby's offering will liven up any unit on fractured folktales.—Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH