Heart of Gold

April 1, 2020

Gr 2-4-This sparkly, fun, and fantasy-filled series brings the world of puppies and unicorns together into one magical creature known as Cutiecorns. These adorable puppies with unicorn horns live in the fantastical world of Puppypaw Island. The adventure begins with Sparkle as she is preparing for her magic ceremony, where she will learn how to use her special powers. Sparkle's mother gives her a family heirloom-a golden heart locket to commemorate the occasion. When Sparkle wears it out to play, a mysterious figure steals it. Sparkle, with the help of her friends Twinkle and Flash, must put together the clues left behind to find the thief and retrieve Sparkle's necklace. Each chapter is short and includes a heartwarming illustration. Adorable pictures support the plot and assist readers new to chapter book reading. The themes of friendship, family, and cooperation ring throughout. The world of Puppypaw Island will spark readers' imagination, and leave them wanting more books in the series. VERDICT Cuteness overload, these Cutiecorns will have young readers wanting more. Perfect for libraries where Ellen Miles's "The Puppy Place" series is popular. A fun and inventive choice for any beginning chapter book collection.-Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East High School, IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2020
A new series features puppies with magical unicorn horns. The Cutiecorns are thrilled when they learn that they're about to have their Enchanted Jubilee, which means they're ready to start learning how to use their magic. Golden retriever puppy Sparkle gets an extra surprise--her parents celebrate her Jubilee by gifting her a locket that's a precious family heirloom. As with any book for this age group, as soon as an important item is introduced it's guaranteed to be promptly lost; poor Sparkle is robbed of it by a mysterious stranger. While investigating, the Cutiecorns overhear a scary story about a bad cat wizard, Claw--and the description fits that of Sparkle's assailant. They venture off into the Furbidden Forest to find the cat and retrieve the locket. The narration is filled with entertaining wordplay for young pun lovers ("pawsome"; "furever"), and the concept of magical puppies is an appealingly childcentric one. The art is a mixed bag--enormous-eyed puppies with shapes that highlight the various breeds (even Claw, despite pointy claws and teeth, is adorable in a chubby way), but the vaunted horns distractingly look an awful lot like party hats. The story really goes to the dogs and falls apart in a confusing climax that relies on deus ex machina magic and an on-the-spot plan that's perfectly coordinated without any communication among the Cutiecorns. Book 2, Purrfect Pranksters, publishes simultaneously. A little ruff around the edges. (Fantasy. 7-10)

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