An original picture book about a unicorn from bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Plant a Kiss).
In this clever twist on the age-old belief that there’s no such thing as unicorns, Uni the unicorn is told there’s no such thing as little girls! No matter what the grown-up unicorns say, Uni believes that little girls are real. Somewhere there must be a smart, strong, wonderful, magical little girl waiting to be best friends. In fact, far away (but not too far), a real little girl believes there is a unicorn waiting for her. This refreshing and sweet story of friendship reminds believers and nonbelievers alike that sometimes wishes really can come true.
The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo
…Rosenthal brings freshness and a certain dignity to the connection between girls and unicorns, along the way capturing the emotional weather of many an intense, long-waited-for friendship.
Publishers Weekly
05/19/2014
While the spirit of Mary Blair, vintage Golden Books, and 1960s animation influences many contemporary picture books, Barrager (Twelve Dancing Princesses) embraces it fully in this collaboration with Rosenthal (Exclamation Mark). Like her fellow unicorns, Uni is magical and magnificent; she has a luxuriant magenta mane, golden hooves, and violet eyes that don’t just sparkle—they basically are sparkles. Where Uni differs from her peers is in her belief that little girls are real, that “a strong smart wonderful magical little girl” is out there waiting to be her best friend. In a series of single-page vignettes, Barrager shows Uni and a blonde, blue eyed human girl dashing through fields of flowers, healing forest animals with Uni’s magical horn, and sailing past birds and clouds as they slide down a rainbow. The throwback illustration style, absence of tech (save for a nightlight and record player), and emphasis on clinging to beliefs that the world dismisses as fantasy combine to create a story that encourages kids to stay kids as long as possible. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Amy Rennert, the Amy Rennert Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, the Bright Group. (Sept.)
Children's Literature - Vicki Foote
Uni the Unicorn’s special swirly horn has the power to mend and heal and she can make wishes come true. But unlike the other unicorns, she believes that little girls are real. Her friends and family tell her that girls are make-believe. Uni thinks about a girl and imagines the being best friends. She thinks about all the things they could do together, like running through the meadow, helping forest creatures in need, and especially sliding down rainbows. Uni falls asleep and dreams enchanted dreams. She does not know that somewhere there actually is a real little girl who believes in unicorns even though her friends tell her that unicorns are make-believe. And the little girl knows that, somewhere, there is a magical unicorn waiting to be her friend. This sweet and whimsical story is illustrated in bright and bold colors that enhance each scene. It would make a good bedtime story to be read aloud to young children. Reviewer: Vicki Foote; Ages 4 to 7.
Kirkus Reviews
2014-06-04
Uni the unicorn is like all other unicorns in every way but one.Uni has a flowing magenta mane, sparkly, golden hooves, and of course, a long, swirly horn that has the power to heal. But there’s one thing that’s different. Uni pores over fairy tales, staring longingly at the princesses found within the pages. No matter what Uni’s friends and family say, Uni believes, truly believes, that little girls must be real. Rosenthal, no stranger to turning convention on its head (for instance, her tiny green protagonist who hates to eat candy for dinner in Little Pea, illustrated by Jen Corace, 2005), delves into the role-reversalplot twist, but what results is simply a strong case for friendship. Uni imagines running, twirling and sitting quietly with a real little girl, and “somewhere far away (but not that far away),” there is a little girl who is wishing and dreaming the very same thing. Barrager’s Disney-animation background shines through in wide, innocent eyes and a lush, candy-colored palette. There are certainly little-girl readers who believe in unicorns just as much as Uni believes in them, and this will feed their dreaming spirits. But the deep desire for friendship has universal appeal.A tiny slip of magic that suggests equal quantities of conviction and possibility. (Picture book. 3-6)
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