Yetis Are the Worst!

by Alex Willan, Alex Willan (Illustrator)

Overview

In this hilarious follow-up to Unicorns Are the Worst! and Dragons Are the Worst!, Gilbert the Goblin’s next adventure takes him to the frozen tundra where he’s determined to find the legendary yeti.

Gilbert the Goblin is the first to admit that he was, ahem, mistaken—unicorns actually throw the best tea parties, and dragons make delicious ice cream soup. This time, though, he can absolutely confirm that YETIS ARE THE WORST!

Sure, they may seem cool and mysterious, but once you meet one, he’s CERTAIN they’re not all they’re cracked up to be! And that’s what Gilbert plans to do: meet a yeti. That is, if he can find one...but how hard can that be?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665921770
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	11/22/2022
Series:	The Worst! Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	29,654
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

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 the Worst! picture book series 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.

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 the Worst! picture book series 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.

Editorial Reviews

Willan’s soft, snowy pastel palette brings to life Gilbert and the other cryptids in a winter wonderland...and the punch lines are never-ending as the well-meaning but unaware goblin discovers some surprises of his own.”—Booklist

"Readers will laugh all the way up the mountain and down as the goblin searches for and finds a very unmysterious yeti."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

12/01/2022

PreS-Gr 4—Fueled by jealousy that everyone seems to think the yeti the most interesting of creatures, a young goblin named Gilbert heads up a snow mountain in search of the snow beast. His journey takes him to encounters with meditating mountain goats and snowboarding unicorns in puffy coats, but he is unable to find the yeti. Readers will giggle through the pages as more and more yetis trail behind Gilbert, who never turns around. An avalanche brings the goblin and the very friendly yeti community together, and selfies abound as Gilbert discovers the truth. Speech bubbles and graphic novel panels move the action along; readers will thoroughly enjoy this humorous story. VERDICT This works—mythical creatures fascinate children, so it's wise to deploy them in a humorous story of dispelling misunderstandings and giving new communities a chance to get to know one another before making judgments.—John Scott

School Library Journal

2022-08-17
If you’ve ever wanted to talk with a friendly goblin or meet a yeti, here’s your chance.

Gilbert, a blue-green goblin with huge eyes and ears, whispers to readers on the title page, then engages them in a discussion about how mysterious goblins are (they “pop up in unexpected places,” “lurk in the shadows,” and “are masters of disguise”) and how unmysterious yetis are. To prove the point, Gilbert is determined to find and photograph a yeti. Gilbert plows through the snow, snapping pictures of “yetis” that turn out to be shrubbery, an ice carving, and even a “snowboarding unicorn in a puffy coat.” These illustrations are giggleworthy, but they also share a secret with readers. Gilbert is totally unaware of actual yetis quietly gathering to watch. Frustrated, Gilbert screams, triggering an avalanche. Thanks to a sign in one of the illustrations, readers know before Gilbert that the avalanche is whisking the protagonist toward a secret yeti hideout. With a gulp, Gilbert lands in the hideout, but after many goblin-yeti photos, Gilbert confirms that “yetis aren’t so mysterious. They are just a little shy…until they’re not.” Gilbert's large eyes and open face reveal a range of emotions, and small details help individualize the yetis. Gilbert's running conversation with readers, presented in speech bubbles, is engaging; repeat readings will also reveal humorous details in the artwork. With some pages divided into panels, this one has the feel of a graphic novel. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers will laugh all the way up the mountain and down as the goblin searches for and finds a very unmysterious yeti. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews