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Gilbert and Friends
Last One in Is a Rotten Egg!
Gilbert and Lola are excited. Their cousin Wally is coming for a visit--just in time for the Easter egg hunt But they soon learn how competitive Wally has become. He has to eat the fastest, be first on line, and find the most eggs, no matter who gets hurt. How can Gilbert deal with such relentless rivalry?
In this humorous and encouraging story by Diane deGroat, Gilbert--everyone's favorite opossum--teaches Wally who the rotten egg really is.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 23, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 17, 2022
It seems as though Gilbert's overbearing cousin Wally may ruin the egg hunt unless Gilbert can find a way to teach him a lesson in humility.
An okay entry in the series.
An okay entry in the series.
April 7, 2011
Each time I read one of these “Gilbert and friends” books, I’m always amazed how a children’s writer can give such a lovable characterization to an opossum – one of the least friendly looking creatures. In this book, once again Gilbert is showing his friends what it means to be a true friend. As the book deals with the traditional yearly Easter egg hunt, the book is aptly titled with a phrase that has often been used by children and fits in with the book’s seasonal intent. The “last one in” phrase is then continually repeated throughout the book.
In this story, Gilbert’s cousin, Wally has come to visit. The book’s title are the first words he utters as he comes barreling into the scene. Quickly the reader sees that Wally likes to be the center of attention and he likes to have things go his way. He participates in the Easter egg hunt but not as a fun group effort. It's all about him. Wally always wants to do one better than any of the other children.
While Wally is only in it for himself, Gilbert shares his eggs with a smaller child. Wally ends up doing something extremely self-centered and thoughtless. But like all good children’s books, he doesn’t win in the end. The one thing missing in the telling of the story is any kind of remorse on Wally’s part. He’s embarrassed about not winning and might be a little humbled when Gilbert shows him an act of kindness, but nothing more.
Children’s books usually teach a lesson. This one seems to say that it’s OK to be bad, people will still want to be your friend even if you cared little for their feelings or concerns. It’s more about the little guy being forgiving than the big guy offering any form of repentance.
Each week I do interviews with published authors who share their experiences of getting published and give tips from what they’ve learned. If you would like to learn more about writing, you can find them at... http://TheWriteChris.blogspot.com.
In this story, Gilbert’s cousin, Wally has come to visit. The book’s title are the first words he utters as he comes barreling into the scene. Quickly the reader sees that Wally likes to be the center of attention and he likes to have things go his way. He participates in the Easter egg hunt but not as a fun group effort. It's all about him. Wally always wants to do one better than any of the other children.
While Wally is only in it for himself, Gilbert shares his eggs with a smaller child. Wally ends up doing something extremely self-centered and thoughtless. But like all good children’s books, he doesn’t win in the end. The one thing missing in the telling of the story is any kind of remorse on Wally’s part. He’s embarrassed about not winning and might be a little humbled when Gilbert shows him an act of kindness, but nothing more.
Children’s books usually teach a lesson. This one seems to say that it’s OK to be bad, people will still want to be your friend even if you cared little for their feelings or concerns. It’s more about the little guy being forgiving than the big guy offering any form of repentance.
Each week I do interviews with published authors who share their experiences of getting published and give tips from what they’ve learned. If you would like to learn more about writing, you can find them at... http://TheWriteChris.blogspot.com.
January 26, 2013
If you're looking for a book about Easter to read to your students, this one would work for that. The cousin in the book is not the nicest kid, and he does learn a little bit in the end about being nicer, but if you're looking for a book to demonstrate how much better it is when we're nice to each other, there are probably better ones out there. As far as an Easter book goes, it's not the worst one you could find.
April 3, 2023
I enjoyed this one a lot more than the Thanksgiving Gilbert one.
Gilbert and his sister Lola are excited that their cousin Wally is coming for Easter. But when he arrives, Gilbert and Lola are annoyed at how competitive Wally is. When they go to the town's egg hunt, Wally, who originally says egg hunts are for babies, runs ahead to find all the eggs.
Wally is seen as a bully in this one, and Gilbert as the upstanding and more responsible one. I like this in contrast to some of the other books (or at least what I've come to expect from the titles and synopsis on most of them) because it shows a main character as a good person. I especially like the scenes where Gilbert is being a good big brother to Lola. I love seeing realistic and good sibling relationships in children's literature (I find a lot of them are pretty cringe, so seeing the well portrayed ones always makes me happy). I guess if readers are following the Gilbert books chronologically through his year, as the books are set up to do, you might see Gilbert learning from his actions and becoming a better person - er, opossum - as the year progresses and he learns from his mistakes. I certainly like his character more in this one than in the Thanksgiving one.
One thing I liked about this one is that Easter itself is never actually mentioned. While the egg hunt and the images definitely depict this aspect of the holiday, Last One in Is a Rotten Egg! would definitely make more sense in a secular or multicultural classroom than some of the other children's books available for Easter. Not everyone celebrates Easter, but anyone can participate in an egg hunt.
*
Gilbert and his sister Lola are excited that their cousin Wally is coming for Easter. But when he arrives, Gilbert and Lola are annoyed at how competitive Wally is. When they go to the town's egg hunt, Wally, who originally says egg hunts are for babies, runs ahead to find all the eggs.
Wally is seen as a bully in this one, and Gilbert as the upstanding and more responsible one. I like this in contrast to some of the other books (or at least what I've come to expect from the titles and synopsis on most of them) because it shows a main character as a good person. I especially like the scenes where Gilbert is being a good big brother to Lola. I love seeing realistic and good sibling relationships in children's literature (I find a lot of them are pretty cringe, so seeing the well portrayed ones always makes me happy). I guess if readers are following the Gilbert books chronologically through his year, as the books are set up to do, you might see Gilbert learning from his actions and becoming a better person - er, opossum - as the year progresses and he learns from his mistakes. I certainly like his character more in this one than in the Thanksgiving one.
One thing I liked about this one is that Easter itself is never actually mentioned. While the egg hunt and the images definitely depict this aspect of the holiday, Last One in Is a Rotten Egg! would definitely make more sense in a secular or multicultural classroom than some of the other children's books available for Easter. Not everyone celebrates Easter, but anyone can participate in an egg hunt.
*
October 11, 2023
If you're like me, Goodreaders, you're all too familiar with the expression in the title of this storybook:
"Last One in Is a Rotten Egg!"
I never liked that expression, but I do like this book. Wally will be participating in this year's Easter egg hunt. This not great news for his cousins Gilbert and Lola. To call Wally pushy and competitive is an understatement.
Seems like it's fair to call him always pushy and competitive.
However, Gilbert has a clever idea, right at the last moment. This inspiration helps all the other kids to make things right.
Will Wally learn or change, given the ending? I'm not optimistic about that. Will you be?
However, I invite all you Goodreaders to join me in acknowledging the words and pictures here... as adding up to a FIVE STAR book.
"Last One in Is a Rotten Egg!"
I never liked that expression, but I do like this book. Wally will be participating in this year's Easter egg hunt. This not great news for his cousins Gilbert and Lola. To call Wally pushy and competitive is an understatement.
Seems like it's fair to call him always pushy and competitive.
However, Gilbert has a clever idea, right at the last moment. This inspiration helps all the other kids to make things right.
Will Wally learn or change, given the ending? I'm not optimistic about that. Will you be?
However, I invite all you Goodreaders to join me in acknowledging the words and pictures here... as adding up to a FIVE STAR book.
April 29, 2024
Gilbert is a smart opossum and I'm glad the story turned out the way it did! It was a little longer than normal for a toddler read, but worth the extra pages! I would recommend for children during Easter.
March 29, 2018
Storytime Theme: Easter
April 3, 2019
A little too long for my preschool crowd, this story is fun and teaches some great lessons about friendship and manners. I would recommend it for young elementary school kids.
February 13, 2023
another gilbert story i found in my stack about sharing is caring on an easter egg hunt. i really like the illustrations and brings back fun family memories of easter egg hunts at the lake 🪺
March 23, 2024
My son says that this book is a golden egg.
May 14, 2008
Comments on the Story:
I like the moral behind the story and in some ways in reminded me of an Aesop’s fable. Gilbert and Lola may not have been as strong and fast as Wally but in the end they used their wits to outsmart him at his own game and take the rewards they had earned. There are quite a few words on each page so I think that this book is designed for slightly older children and would not be the best Easter book for toddlers.
Recommended Uses for the Book:
This book could be told at a story time. I think that the story might best be told with a flannel board since the pictures are not that great. This way kids could help by finding eggs on the board as well. I also think that this book would be appropriate to read at home to preschoolers and kindergartners. It could even be used to talk about appropriate behavior at egg hunts before going on one.
I like the moral behind the story and in some ways in reminded me of an Aesop’s fable. Gilbert and Lola may not have been as strong and fast as Wally but in the end they used their wits to outsmart him at his own game and take the rewards they had earned. There are quite a few words on each page so I think that this book is designed for slightly older children and would not be the best Easter book for toddlers.
Recommended Uses for the Book:
This book could be told at a story time. I think that the story might best be told with a flannel board since the pictures are not that great. This way kids could help by finding eggs on the board as well. I also think that this book would be appropriate to read at home to preschoolers and kindergartners. It could even be used to talk about appropriate behavior at egg hunts before going on one.
March 26, 2013
Gilbert & Lola are expecting fun when their cousin comes to visit, but he turns out to be a bit of a bully who takes over everything, including the Easter Egg Hunt, with his repeated refrain of, "Last one in is a rotten egg!" The tables turn, though, with a little cleverness on Gilbert's part. But just as in all the other Gilbert & Lola books from DeGroat, a lesson is learned and everyone is a little happier.
I read this because I have enjoyed some of the Gilbert & Lola books and I needed a new Easter book. It was okay, but I didn't like it enough to read it to any classes at school.
I read this because I have enjoyed some of the Gilbert & Lola books and I needed a new Easter book. It was okay, but I didn't like it enough to read it to any classes at school.
September 7, 2009
This is a good book that displays good and bad behaviors and attitudes, competition and cooperation. I'm not sure where our girls picked up the title phrase (probably from their cousins), but they say it fairly often and that is what attracted me to this story. It has a good moral and is easy for children to understand.
August 27, 2014
When Gilbert's older cousin Wally comes for Easter, he makes everything into a competition. At the Easter egg hunt he doesn't play quite fairly until Gilbert and Lola teach him a lesson. A nice spin on Easter books. For fans of the series, grades K-3.
April 3, 2009
I like this book. It has a good citizenship concept. It would be fun to use during Easter with a math or social studies lesson.
March 29, 2011
I felt this book had some really good morals in it. It teaches kids how to share, how to play fair, and also about forgiveness. Sharing and playing fair are good qualities that everyone should have.
April 30, 2011
This was a cute book. My son loved it. We also play the rotten egg game sometimes, but of course I am always the rotten egg :) I'd give it another half star if I could.
Read
September 5, 2011Fun Easter book! My students loved this book!!
September 9, 2011
This is a good book to read at Easter time. Good for kids and the pictures are good.
May 8, 2012
A book with a lesson about playing fair and not being pushy.
August 27, 2012
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/201...
Gilbert learns that his much-admired older cousin does not always play fair.
Gilbert learns that his much-admired older cousin does not always play fair.
March 5, 2013
cute story, cute illustrations
themes: Easter, egg hunt, family, sharing, winning
themes: Easter, egg hunt, family, sharing, winning
March 7, 2017
Such a great story, for all ages.
May 24, 2014
Appreciated the lesson in the story. A great way for kids yo learn.
March 30, 2017
Gilbert and Lola star again in this book about fairness and telling the truth. Their cousin Wally comes to visit in time for the big Easter egg hunt. Wally is very competitive and not very nice. During the hunt Lola finds the coveted golden egg, but can't reach it. Wally can and gets it down, but keeps it for himself! In he end a nice lesson in sharing is given. Not overly preachy, but a nice message for kids. Great for 1st grade.
Read
March 31, 2017endearing art and characters.
April 24, 2017
boring. Are class also had to read it with us
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews