A Unicorn Named Sparkle

Reviewed by: Deidre Walsh - Goodall Library, Sanford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 12, 2016

Review

What little kid doesn't love unicorns? Even if they don't all have sparkly glitter and pink tails? Lucy, a refreshingly mixed race child, sees an ad for a unicorn for only 25 cents. Since she really wants a unicorn, she sends away for it. Lucy has it all planned out. She will name it Sparkle. It will be blue with pink hair. She will make it a daisy necklace, etc. When the unicorn delivery man finally shows up with her unicorn, Lucy is a bit disappointed. Sparkle is white with brown spots, rather small and has bucked teeth. Not to mention that he eats everything in sight, including Lucy's underwear. Sparkle misbehaves at school when Lucy tries to bring him for show and tell. He won't even let her ride him. This is not the unicorn Lucy paid good money for. She calls the unicorn delivery man to come pick up her unicorn. While she is waiting, Lucy bonds with her unicorn. Is Sparkle a unicorn or a goat? In the end it doesn't really matter to Lucy. They are now best friends. Welcome home Sparkle. I'm not sure how the illustrations were created. They are amusing & cartoon-like. One color is not dominate. Rather there is some yellow, blue, pink, black, etc. They make good use of white space. And they enhance the story perfectly. Everything that Lucy is feeling and thinking, not to mention what Sparkle is feeling, is perfectly paired in the illustrations with the text. The text is all over the pages, in a good way. It is paired with the illustrations in various ways to show the humor and action in the story. Some words are in larger fonts for emphasis. Good for one on one sharing and in small and large group settings. Pair with "I Wished for a Unicorn" by Robert Heidbreder and "Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great" by Bob Shea for a rousing and non-traditional unicorn story time. Lucy and Sparkle on all public library shelves.

Overall Book Score: excellent