THE THREE BILLYGOATS GRUFF AND MEAN CALYPSO JOE

In this playful debut, Youngquist spices up the familiar folktale with a Caribbean setting, and gives the nasty troll a lesson in manners to boot. Three goats hunger for the lush vegetation across a bridge guarded by Calypso Joe, a likable, green-skinned curmudgeon faintly reminiscent of Shrek. This troll's post is, naturally, a hammock complete with umbrella, tropical drink and sunglasses. As each goat tries to cross, the fellow roars, "I am Calypso Joe,/ de meanest troll dis part of de island./ Nobody cross dis bridge, but first he pay de toll!" Although heavy, the characters' melodic dialect and colorful language conjure the tale's setting and complement Sorra's (One Glad Man) tropical-hued acrylics. The artist puts the goats through their paces against a backdrop of luscious blues and greens, while Youngquist comes up with a redemptive twist. After the eldest goat butts Joe into the sea, Joe returns. " 'How do you do,' he growled politely./ 'I am Calypso Joe, a pretty good Joe,/ de nicest troll dis part of the island./ Now everybody can go 'cross dis bridge,/ no problem, man... no toll!' " Ages 3-7. (Oct.)