Elves Are the Worst! (Worst! #4)

by Alex Willan (Author) Alex Willan (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Worst!

Gilbert the Goblin infiltrates Santa's workshop to prove that goblins are better workers than elves in the side-splitting latest installment in The Worst! picture book series, where even the strangest of creatures can become the best of friends.

Everyone knows that elves have a reputation of being the hardest workers around--especially when it comes to the holiday season--but as far as Gilbert the Goblin is concerned that's nothing but ho-ho-hogwash. A goblin's to-do list is just as long as any elf's; they just don't feel the need to sing songs about it.

To prove he can outperform any reindeer-watching, wrapper-paper-wielding, toy-tinkering elf, Gilbert puts on his merriest disguise to infiltrate Santa's workshop. But can one lone goblin do the work of a whole team of elves?

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

More books in the series - See All

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 3--Gilbert the Goblin returns in the latest installment of "The Worst!" picture book series. This time, he sets out to prove that elves don't deserve to hog "all the holiday spotlight." Gilbert tries to make elves sound boring by showing some of their daily routine with familiar elves from pop culture: "hanging out inside trees baking cookies" (Keebler elves), "lounging around all day on various shelves" (Elf on the Shelf), and "pouring bowl after bowl of the world's loudest cereal" (Rice Krispies elves). In order to further prove his point, Gilbert heads to Santa's workshop to try his hand at making toys with somewhat disastrous results. Many of the pages are divided into panels, and the text is in speech bubbles, making the book a hybrid picture book/graphic novel that works incredibly well. Readers will love the silly illustrations and the feel-good ending in which Gilbert learns he can befriend the elves. VERDICT Readers will laugh out loud. A must-have for the holiday shelves.--Carrie Voliva

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Alex Willan
If it was Alex Willan, and not Gilbert the Goblin, who was in charge of writing the stories, he'd make a book called Anchovies are the Worst!. Alex is the author-illustrator of Unicorns are the Worst!, Dragons are the Worst!, Yetis are the Worst!, and the Jasper & Ollie series, as well as the illustrator of Got Your Nose, written by Alan Katz. Alex lives in Chicago with his dog, Harley, who is the absolute best. Visit him online at AlexWillan.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781665921794
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Publication date
September 12, 2023
Series
Worst!
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV012030 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | General
JUV017010 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Christmas & Advent
Library of Congress categories
Humorous stories
Picture books
Goblins
Elves

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!