About The Book

Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, this wildly funny and imaginative picture book celebrates the value of differences as a grumpy goblin gets to know his new unicorn neighbors.

It’s an undeniable fact that unicorns are the worst!

Magic is serious business, but all unicorns do is frolic around, have tea parties, and leave glitter all over the place! They’re nothing like goblins—practical and hard-working, who can put magic to good use! Unicorns aren’t helpful at all.

Or are they?

Reading Group Guide

This is a sample of reading and discussion questions from a discussion guide, available for free download in the Resources and Downloads tab.

1. The goblin is used to crafting spells without distractions, spending his days however he’d like to spend them. Why might this make it so hard for him to adjust to his new neighbors? Why can change sometimes be scary? How does it make you feel?

2. The goblin sits on a stack of books with names like Dragons: A Survival Guide, Elvish Folklore, and Fabulous Fairies. What do these titles tell you about the way the creatures described in them are viewed? What else would you like to know about them? Brainstorm two new book titles that reveal the kind of information you’d like to read about.

3. The goblin goes to the party store and sees shelves and shelves of unicorn decorations. What do you think he’s thinking about? What are some goblin-themed party games or decorations you might invent?

4. What does the goblin think unicorns do all day? How does his view change once they interact? What does this show you about making assumptions? How might you make sure your friends or classmates feel understood and accepted?

For many more discussion questions and extension activities based on Unicorns are the Worst! by Alex Willan, check out the Curriculum Guide below in the Resources and Downloads tab.

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.

About The Illustrator

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.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 29, 2020)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534453838
  • Grades: P - 3
  • Ages: 4 - 8
  • Lexile ® 480L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

"A fun, fresh take on unicorns—oh, and goblins, too."Kirkus Reviews

Awards and Honors

  • Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr. List
  • Colorado Children’s Book Award Nominee

Resources and Downloads

More books in this series: The Worst! Series

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