Stinky's Stories: The Three Smelly Goats Gruff

Stinky's Stories #3

by Chris Grabenstein, J.J. Grabenstein, Alex Patrick (illustrator)

Stinky’s Stories is the hilarious, four-book, highly illustrated chapter book series from New York Times bestselling authors Chris and J.J. Grabenstein. In this third installment in the series, Stinky the skunk tells the story of the Three Smelly Goats Gruff, a reimagining of the classic fable "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"—except this time, the fairytale is told from the troll’s point of view. 

It’s story time at the Hickleberry Elementary School library! Mrs. Emerson, the librarian, has just read “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” to the class. But after the fun is done and Mrs. Emerson has left, Stinky the stuffed skunk and his stuffy friends come to life. The kids need to know what happened to the grumpy troll after the goats pushed him off the bridge. Lucky for them, Stinky has the scoop!

Find out in the hilarious chapter book series from New York Times bestselling authors Chris and J.J. Grabenstein, with hilarious illustrations in every chapter from Alex Patrick. Reading has never been so stinky!

96 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include the LEMONCELLO, WONDERLAND, HAUNTED MYSTERY, DOG SQUAD, and SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE series, and many fun and funny page-turners co-authored with James Patterson. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another installment and this time Stinky helps create a new ending for the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Will the troll find some new friends to make him happy?

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in the Stinky’s Stories series by wife-husband Team Grabenstein, this one finds library stuffie Stinky (the skunk) telling “a happier ending” for the story of the 3 Billy Goats Gruff – after children’s librarian Mrs. Emerson stops her storytime with the Big Billy Goat knocking the troll (Stinky names Boogerhead) off the bridge into the smelly water below and leaves the room. Filled with puns and plays on words, Stinky delivers a fractured fairy tale fit for emergent readers. Mixing prose with captioned illustrations and occasional comic-type frames Stinky becomes the hero of his tale that redeems Boogerhead by making him the town baker of yucky-sounding goodies beloved by the goats. There is enough gross potty stuff here to keep the most reluctant of readers giggling. I particularly appreciated wordplay like “Boogerhead growled at the stupid bees and the stupid fleas, not to mention the stupid chimpanzees chattering in all the stupid trees.” A fun summer read.

Superfluous quotation marks and apostrophes were found on pp. 3 – 4. It looks funny in three places, there are 5 marks: “’”

Optional Purchase for grades 1-3.

[Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is part of a four book chapter book series by Chris Grabenstein and his wife. The local librarian read's the children the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff and Stinky the Skunk one the library's stuffed animals tells the children the story of what happened to the troll after he gets knocked off the bridge. Though the troll is angry he really likes to cook and bake, and Stinky helps the troll control his anger by counting to 10 and convincing him to cook for the goats. 1st and 2nd graders may like this book and series as it has a lot odor related jokes and it has black and white illustrations. It looks like the stories might be trying to look at the point of view of the "bad guy" in the story and that they are just misunderstood and have good qualities as well.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stinky and his stuffed friends are back for another story time. Readers use their imagination along with the kids in the library as Stinky finishes the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. We journey with the troll after he is knocked off the bridge and discover why he is so angry all the time. By the end, he has lots of friends and a new home. I love the way the Grabensteins create stories that pull readers in and let them use their imagination.