Unicorn (and Horse) – David W. Miles (Hollie Mengert, illustrator)

★★★★★

Friend: Twenty-six years old and you’re reading that?
Me: …
Friend: It’s only like 50 pages!
Me: …
Friend: …it’s cause of the unicorn on the cover, isn’t it?
Me: YOU WILL NOT SHAME ME

~Ahem~

Let’s start the review!

“Won’t you join us, Horse?” said Unicorn.
“NO! I don’t like you!” said Horse.
But what he meant was, “I wish I were like you.”

Unicorn and Horse live in the same forest, hang out with the same animals and even do the same things…but there’s a BIG difference in Unicorn’s life and Horse’s.

Unicorn dances. Tra la la!
Horse sits grumpy. Blah blah blah.

Everything unicorn does is pretty and perfect…and Horse HATES Unicorn because of that.

Unicorn makes everything cheery. REALLY cheery.

And yet….Horse can’t help but be jealous.

When malicious robbers kidnap Unicorn, everything hinges on Horse.

Will Horse step up to the plate? Or will he finally be free of Unicorn? Unicorn gone, Horse may finally have a chance to

Hourse thought. And thought. And thought. Then he ran.

As you may have been able to tell – I absolutely LOVE unicorn books(and horse books), so when I was given the opportunity to read and review this gem, I leapt at it.

And let me tell you – this book did NOT disappoint.

I LOVED both the inane cheeriness of Unicorn and the doom-and-gloom grump of Horse. I honestly couldn’t decide which one was more like me – they’re both my spirit animals.

The plot was really well done (for such a short story). Miles is able, with just a few words and expressive images, create a wonderfully fleshed out world.

And I think this book works really well for teaching kids about recognizing and managing jealousy.

Horse lets his resentment build…and build…and build...until all his thoughts are consumed with hating unicorn for doing (relatively) benign things. (I can just see Horse’s inner dialogue…Look at Unicorn, spreading love and peace…makes me sick!)

And then, Horse is forced to see things from a different perspectiveand grows from that experience.

I think we can all relate to times when we are Unicorn…and when we are Horse. (Though…to be honest…I may be a bit more Horse than Unicorn).

I also LOVED the illustrations.

Picture books absolutely hinge on the pictures and wow. Hats off to Hollie Mengert – she was absolute aces.

Just a few lines and shading…and BOOM. Magic.

The characters were brilliantly drawn, wonderfully expressive and hilarious to boot!

Highly recommended for the little unicorn lover (or horse lover) in your life!

With thanks to the author and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Interested in this one from David W. Miles? Buy it here:  Amazon