
Gavin Francis begins his new book with “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”, his favourite story as a little boy growing up in Scotland. In this Norwegian folk tale, three goats want to cross a bridge to reach a field of sweet grass, but a troll commands the span, threatening to eat the first and smallest goat. Goat One persuades the troll to wait for Goat Two, a bigger and tastier meal; eventually Goat Three, Big Goat, throws the troll off the bridge so that peace and order are restored.
加文•弗朗西斯(Gavin Francis)在他的新书中以《三只小山羊过桥》开篇,这是他在苏格兰长大时最喜欢的故事。在这个挪威民间故事中,三只山羊想要过桥到达一片甜草地,但一只巨魔占据了桥头,威胁要吃掉第一只最小的山羊。第一只山羊说服巨魔等待第二只山羊,因为它更大更美味;最终,第三只大山羊将巨魔推下桥,恢复了和平与秩序。