A Unicorn Named Sparkle--A Picture Book

April 25, 2016
After sending away for a mail-order unicorn (only 25 cents!), Young’s heroine, Lucy, fantasizes about naming him Sparkle, garlanding him with flowers, and riding over rainbows on his back. The specimen that shows up, however, looks a lot like a goat. He also smells like a goat, eats like a goat, and is stubborn like a goat. Come to think of it, he’s as stubborn as Lucy, with her relentless insistence that Sparkle is really a unicorn and therefore should wear a flower necklace and tutu (both of which prove edible). Clearly, Sparkle will never be the flashy showpiece Lucy dreamed of—but maybe Lucy isn’t the dainty princess type, either. “She had to admit: sometimes he made her smile and sometimes he made her laugh,” writes Young (Don’t Eat the Baby!), whose storytelling and watercolor cartooning are spot-on in their comic timing. Her message to readers is clear: self-awareness and finding a soul mate don’t always come easily. Sometimes it takes a kick in the pants. By a goat. Ages 2–6. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

May 1, 2016
Lucy dreams of owning a unicorn, but a mail-order scam brings a one-horned, smelly goat instead--who just might be her perfect match.When Lucy spots an ad for a 25 cent unicorn, she pops her money in the mail and begins to imagine riding her majestic beast over rainbows, adorning it with flowers, and bringing it to show and tell. But when a bleating crate arrives, expectations and reality collide. Sparkle, spotted and flea-ridden, is persistent in his goatishness, and the black-and-kinky-haired, peach-complexioned Lucy calls for a refund. Luckily, the two bond while Sparkle awaits pickup, and catastrophe is averted. The pencil, pen, and watercolor illustrations, done in a simple, loose style, offer expressive, playful character poses. And Young hits all the visual beats, creating something likable and appealing. Yet there are moments of greater promise--the ad on the back cover, with its zinelike look; the girlcentric endpapers (rainbows! cupcakes! butterflies! stars! goat?!?)--that hint at something edgier and more distinctive that hasn't quite developed.A tale about coming to love someone--or something--for who they are and not what one hopes them to be: a pleasant addition to the odd-couple shelf. (Picture book. 2-6)

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June 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-When a girl named Lucy sees an ad in the paper selling unicorns for 25 cents, she sends off for one right away. Lucy has high expectations for her new unicorn, whom she plans to name Sparkle as she rides on his majestic back and impresses all of her friends. However, when Sparkle arrives, he is spotted, short, and mischievous and has fleas. At first Lucy wants to return him to the man she bought him from, but she soon warms up to him when she realizes that, despite his flaws, Sparkle is actually very sweet. Children will laugh at Sparkle's naughty antics but also root for him to win Lucy over, feel heartbroken when she initially chooses to return Sparkle, and cheer when the two are reunited at the end. This is a humorous and charming story about managing unrealistic expectations, choosing a pet, and acting responsibly. Young skillfully draws the endearingly scruffy Sparkle so that even though he more closely resembles an odd-looking "goat" than a unicorn, he is still undeniably adorable. The last page, in which a smiling Lucy declares, "Welcome Home!" and embraces a visibly happy Sparkle, is the perfect endnote. VERDICT This funny, heartfelt story about a girl and her not-so-perfect unicorn will be a hit for storytime or one-on-one sharing.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY

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