Holiday characters built around watching children tend to lean on a little fear to do their job. Glee the Christmas Goblin takes the opposite approach, building its entire premise around generosity instead of surveillance, and the result is a genuinely likeable new addition to the crowded field of holiday mascots.
Created by Emily Jones, written by Fernando Olivo, and illustrated by Rodrigo Mangella, Glee the Christmas Goblin pairs an original storybook with a plush companion toy, and it stands out for giving its young readers something to actively do in the story — solve problems and give generously — rather than something to passively avoid doing wrong.
What Glee the Christmas Goblin Is About
The story follows a group of mischievous goblins who set out to save Christmas after Santa’s elves hide the children’s presents. Rather than framing goblins as villains, the book reimagines them as resourceful, slightly chaotic problem-solvers who discover the joy of giving along the way. Glee himself becomes less a figure who reports bad behavior up the chain and more one who invites kids into his own small acts of charity and discovery, turning the familiar December ritual of good-behavior-tracking into something closer to a shared mission. The accompanying plush toy extends that framing device into the child’s own home, giving them a tangible companion for the goblin-led adventures described in the book. Rather than quietly observing from a shelf and reporting back to the North Pole, the plush is positioned as a partner in mischief and generosity, which changes the emotional tenor of the whole tradition: the goal shifts from avoiding getting caught to looking for small ways to help, same as Glee and his fellow goblins do across the story.
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The book’s holiday setting also gives it room to tackle a very relatable kid problem — something has gone missing, and someone has to fix it — without raising the stakes into anything genuinely scary. Younger readers get the thrill of a small caper and the reassurance of a happy ending, while the goblins’ bumbling, good-hearted approach to problem-solving keeps the tone light even during the moments of real tension.
What Makes It Work
A genuine twist on a tired trope
Elf-on-the-shelf-style traditions have leaned hard on the idea of constant surveillance for over a decade now, and Glee’s generosity-first framing feels like a deliberate, welcome correction — a holiday character kids can look forward to rather than slightly fear.
A real creative team, not a single rushed project
With a dedicated creator, writer, and illustrator each credited separately, the book reads like a considered production rather than a quick seasonal cash-in, and the division of labor shows in how well the story and art work together.
A physical companion that extends the story
Pairing the book with a plush toy gives the character staying power well past a single December reading, letting kids carry Glee’s spirit of generosity into play throughout the season rather than closing the book and moving on.
Momentum before launch
The project arrives with real early demand already behind it, including a sizable wholesale order secured ahead of its Kickstarter debut and hundreds of direct consumer reservations, which is a reasonable signal that the concept is resonating beyond its own creative team and not just a niche holiday novelty.
About the Author
Glee the Christmas Goblin comes from independent studio Alpha Anomaly, with the character originated by Emily Jones and the storybook itself written by Fernando Olivo and illustrated by Rodrigo Mangella. The project reflects a small studio’s deliberate attempt to build a new holiday character from the ground up, rather than borrowing from an existing franchise, with the book, the plush, and the brand’s supporting materials all developed in tandem. That level of coordination is unusual for an independent studio launch and suggests a team thinking several seasons ahead rather than chasing a single holiday sales window.
Who Should Read Glee the Christmas Goblin
Families looking for a gentler alternative to behavior-tracking holiday traditions will find Glee an easy character to embrace, especially parents who have grown tired of the nightly ritual of repositioning a shelf elf. It also suits young readers who enjoy a bit of mischief in their holiday stories, as well as collectors and gift-givers drawn to a new character paired with a tactile plush keepsake rather than a book alone. Parents looking to start a new family tradition without the nightly upkeep of a shelf-based character may especially appreciate how little maintenance Glee’s story requires once the book has been read.
Where to Get It
Glee the Christmas Goblin is available for early reservation directly through gleethegoblin.com ahead of its full Kickstarter launch, with early reservations including a free coloring book bonus.
Verdict
Glee the Christmas Goblin takes a tired holiday formula and quietly rebuilds it around kindness, giving kids a mischievous new friend worth welcoming into the season.
Frequently asked questions
It launches as a single storybook-and-plush set, with the creative team positioning Glee as an ongoing character for future holiday seasons.
It is a children's holiday picture book paired with a plush toy, built around an original fantasy character.
It is aimed at younger children, roughly ages 3 and up, as a read-aloud and keepsake toy.
The storybook and plush set can be reserved directly through gleethegoblin.com ahead of its Kickstarter launch.
The character was created by Emily Jones, with the storybook written by Fernando Olivo and illustrated by Rodrigo Mangella.
