Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever

Gabby Torres is back and more mature than ever! While she’s still only nine years old, her adventures with social media have taught many lessons. Now, Gabby is on a quest to become the best winner ever! All of her friends seem to be winning awards, so Gabby is determined to win one for herself. She decides to join a baking competition, despite having just learned how not to burn her cookies. Gabby dives into the world of baking and budgeting, but it proves to be harder than she thought. Not only are her baking attempts ending in disaster, but she’s also quickly running out of money to buy supplies! How will Gabby win the baking competition and prove herself to be the best winner ever? 

Both of Gabby’s friends have won awards—Kat for bouldering and Priya for an essay—but Gabby has none. Determined to get one, she tries different things, like playing tennis with her mom and dancing with her cousin, but she isn’t good enough at either. Gabby finds her answer when she sees a flier at the grocery store: she will enter a baking competition, earn a trophy, and win a cash prize to donate to save otters’ homes!  

After gathering her money and creating a budget, she goes to the store to buy supplies. She attempts to bake éclairs, but they don’t turn out well. After buying more supplies, she tries again with macarons. Later, Gabby tries a more ambitious dish: Baked Alaska. Using the oven by herself, she quickly loses control and makes another mess. Her parents sideline her, threatening to pull her from the competition. When Gabby’s grandparents come to visit, they show her how to make a beloved family recipe, and Gabby decides this will be her competition dish. On the morning of the event, she makes it herself and nervously enters it. Gabby wins third place and a $100 prize—but she must use it to repay her parents for the borrowed supply money, leaving nothing for the otters. Undeterred, Gabby decides to hold a bake sale to raise money for them instead. It is a success, and Gabby learns that winning isn’t everything. 

Gabby continues to be a likable and energetic protagonist. Her baking adventures bring chaotic fun that sometimes gets her into trouble, and she tells the story with a plethora of colorful images that capture her feelings—often in the form of Girl Scout badges. Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever also continues the previous book’s natural inclusion of different cultures. Her asides not only provide translations for Spanish words, but also share fun facts about birds, otters, and baking, making the book an educational adventure well-suited for young readers. 

The story is more tightly focused than its predecessor, with side threads that complement the main plot and build toward a meaningful conclusion. The Sea Musketeers remain central, with river otters appearing throughout the illustrations as a reminder of Gabby’s goal to protect them. This element adds heart to the story and inspires young readers to channel their own talents toward a good cause. 

Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever also tackles the surprising complexities of baking and budgeting. Gabby’s parents require her to pay for her own supplies, prompting her to create a budget—and eventually take out loans from her parents when necessary. Gabby handles these challenges in a mature, yet fun way that will engage young audiences and teach them the importance of money management. Once again, author Angela Dominguez succeeds in addressing grown-up topics through the relatable point of view of a nine-year-old. 

The story is told through an entertaining mix of a traditional book and graphic novel panels. Each page has a fun illustration such as a river otter wearing square glasses and a red tie. Others include pictures that highlight Gabby’s emotions. For example, a page includes stickers to show her emotions—one says “Dreams Crushed You Should Give Up” with a unicorn crying. In addition, Gabby’s friends are diverse, and their faces are also full of emotion. Many of the animals that Gabby learns about are introduced with facts paired with a humorous illustration that helps make it memorable. For example, it is stated that, “Birds apparently love water.” The illustration shows a bird lying in a tub and wearing glasses as it floats down a river. If the book sparks readers’ interest in helping wildlife, they may want to read Odder and the Seaside Sanctuary Series. 

Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever is an effective sequel that builds on what made the first book successful. While it doesn’t tackle as large a topic as its predecessor, it teaches young readers valuable lessons about financial responsibility and the true meaning of winning. Gabby’s voice keeps the story entertaining while conveying its themes in a way that is both easy to understand and genuinely meaningful. As a worthy follow-up, the book solidifies Angela Dominguez’s ability to craft stories that both kids and parents will appreciate. Readers who enjoy Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever may also like Cooler Than Lemonade, The Bakery Dragon, and Awesome Orange Birthday.  

Sexual Content 

• None 

Violence 

• None

Drugs and Alcohol 

• None   

Language 

• None 

Supernatural 

• None  

Spiritual Content  

• An illustration depicts the Ten Commandments. 

by Brent Krueger