Review by Booklist Review
Willan's adorable character illustrations and humorous plot reunite readers with Gilbert the Goblin, an enthusiast of fellow cryptids who maintains (as in 2020's Unicorns Are the Worst! and 2021's Dragons Are the Worst!) that the shy, secretive snow monsters, yetis, really must be the worst, because he's never met one. Gilbert goes on a wintry adventure to show that the hype about yetis is misplaced and that they're not as cool as everyone thinks. Along the way, though, he discovers some new friends and has a different hypothesis disproved. Willan's soft, snowy pastel palette brings to life Gilbert and the other cryptids in a winter wonderland as he journeys up the mountain to take a photo of the reclusive abominable snowman, and the punch lines are never-ending as the well-meaning but unaware goblin discovers some surprises of his own. The cute character style and jokes are sure to captivate young readers who enjoyed Willan's other titles, as well as readers new to the series who appreciate comforting art styles and sweetly humorous plots.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
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) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
