by Alex Willan (Author) Alex Willan (Illustrator)
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?
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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
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