THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF

Bender (see Arnold above) takes the most liberties with the familiar goats (the troll has ``foul breath that made the daisies wilt,'' and little Gruff describes himself as ``a low-calorie snack''), though his lively text is almost as concise as the original and he keeps all the key phrases; his is an irreverent contemporary version that should amuse anyone who knows the classic text. His illustrations are rendered in animator's paint on clear acetate backed with black paper for a bold, vibrantly colorful effect. The goats are comically expressive (the big one resembles a water buffalo), while the troll is a cross between a belligerent bulldog and an oriental demon; like Arnold's, he ends up in the river, never to be seen again. Funny, and fun. (Folklore/Picture book. 3-8)in the river, never to be seen again. Funny, and fun. (Folklore/Picture book. 3-8)