A New Friend for Sparkle

by Amy Young

Overview

In A Unicorn Named Sparkle, Lucy found out that the unicorn she thought she didn't want was the exact right unicorn for her. In this new story from children's book author and illustrator Amy Young, A New Friend for Sparkle, Lucy makes a new friend and Sparkle is worried that it means she doesn't care about him anymore. What happens when two's company but three's a crowd?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466897199
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	06/27/2017
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	28 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Amy Young was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and though she trained and practiced as a lawyer, she has always wanted to be an artist. She is the author and illustrator of A Unicorn Named Sparkle. She lives in Spring Lake, Michigan, with her husband.
Amy Young trained as a fine artist at Yale and received an MFA in painting from Indiana University. She then went on to earn a law degree from Harvard and worked as a lawyer for several years. She now devotes herself full time to writing and illustrating, and is the creator of the popular Belinda picture books.

Editorial Reviews

05/29/2017
Lucy and her goatish pet unicorn from A Unicorn Named Sparkle bring another friend into the mix in a sequel that recognizes that three can be a crowd. After Lucy’s friend Cole shows up for a play date, Sparkle feels like the odd unicorn out; then Lucy gets jealous as Sparkle and Cole bond over banging on a drum. With no adults around (perhaps because of all the drumming) the three work things out on their own. Young’s story covers familiar friendship-trouble terrain, but both text and art are keenly sensitive to the delicate emotions at play. Ages 4–7. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Appealing illustrations, done in pen with pastel washes of color, are warm and inviting... A lively tale about the changing dynamics of friendship." —Kirkus

"Sparkle and Lucy’s second outing is every bit as sweetly appealing as their first (A Unicorn Named Sparkle)...Tykes who’ve had their own troubles trying to turn duos into trios will see the full range of their emotions depicted while learning that sharing what we love doesn’t necessarily mean giving it away." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

Three really is a crowd in this picture book from the author of A Unicorn Named Sparkle. When the little girl Lucy’s friend Cole comes over to play, he meets Sparkle for the first time. Sparkle, who is most certainly not a goat but is a unicorn, and Lucy’s best friend. But when Cole and Lucy start to play, they unintentionally leave out Sparkle. The unicorn is understandably upset, his mood dampened as the two children exclusively play together. Although he forcefully interrupts the children’s playtime, Sparkle ends up doing more harm than good at first. Sparkle later perks up and starts to have fun once Cole brings out his drum, but at the cost of leaving out Lucy instead. Can the trio find something fun to play that will work for all of them? Together, the kids and their unicorn friend learn an important lesson about inclusion within a group. The illustrations are very fun, conveying the emotions of each character especially well. Sparkle is a delight to watch as he dances across the pages. The text moves around playfully on the page alongside the pictures, making this book ideal for a read-aloud. Children will also learn an important lesson about the importance of sharing and including everyone in playtime. Reviewer: Lisa Czirr; Ages 5 to 8.

Children's Literature - Lisa Czirr

05/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—Another of Young's lively adventures about a lovable goat-unicorn and his friend and owner, Lucy. Lucy's new friend Cole is coming over to play, and Sparkle has his first experience with being the odd unicorn out, leading to an action-packed playdate. The words and illustrations convey Sparkle's emotions as he watches Lucy and Cole play without him; his hurt feelings eventually result in destruction and a tantrum. Sparkle mopes after Lucy scolds him, but Cole catches his attention with a drum, and soon Cole and Sparkle strike up a lively round of song and dance. Tables have turned, and readers witness Lucy's emotional response as she sees Cole and Sparkle connecting without her. This is the perfect tale for young students as they begin to make friends, and will introduce them to the concepts of empathy and understanding and hopefully encourage kindness and conscientious behavior. VERDICT An excellent addition to any children's collection, especially where unicorns are a fan favorite and the curriculum supports social and emotional learning.—Meghan Oppelt, Whitehall School District, WI

School Library Journal

2017-03-29
When Cole arrives, best friends Sparkle and Lucy learn to navigate friendship as a trio.Sparkle the unicorn-goat and Lucy, his determined girl owner, return (A Unicorn Named Sparkle, 2016), this time for a play date. Jealousy rears its ugly horn when new-kid Cole and Lucy hit it off, causing Sparkle to sabotage their fun. Drumming brings the quadruped around, but then it's Lucy's turn to feel left out. Music ultimately unites the three, as they drum and dance to one another's beat. Appealing illustrations, done in pen with pastel washes of color, are warm and inviting. Expressive characters with silly poses may invoke giggles. While the first book focused on Lucy's fanciful imagination and the contrast of her expectations with reality, this story is linear and potentially the more satisfying of the two. Aside from the cover, there is no glitter and fewer rainbows, but the entertaining narrative panels enhance the playful text. Later, when Sparkle and the curly, black-haired Lucy (who has a peach complexion, a couple shades darker than blond, pale-skinned Cole's) share a cupcake, they also share a moment, realizing they can make new friends and still be best friends. A lively tale about the changing dynamics of friendship. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews