Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great

March 25, 2013
How can an ordinary goat compete when a unicorn with magical powers moves to town? The goat bakes marshmallow squares. The unicorn can make it rain cupcakes! The goat tries a magic trick. The unicorn can turn things into gold! It’s no coincidence that the goat’s accomplishments look like those of the average second-grader; his sulky tone sounds like one, too (“Dopey Unicorn! Thinks he’s so great!”). It turns out that the unicorn actually has some goat envy (“Whoa! What is up with your hooves? Those things are out of control!”). Now, it’s the goat’s turn to show a little nonchalance: “Oh, these? These bad boys are ‘cloven.’ It means they’re split at the end.” “Stupid regular hooves,” mutters the unicorn. Shea (Cheetah Can’t Lose) embellishes his characters’ blobby bodies with black line accents and, in the case of the unicorn, sparkles, stars, and rainbows. Now firm friends, unicorn and goat fantasize about defeating evil with their respective superpowers: “Taste my cloven justice!” yells the goat. It’s a great study in grass-is-greener envy management and a nonstop giggle generator. Ages 2–6. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

September 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-Life was great for Goat until Unicorn moved into the neighborhood. How can a guy hope to compete with someone who can make it rain cupcakes or turn stuff into gold? Then Goat and Unicorn talk, and Goat discovers that Unicorn is jealous of things Goat can do. They become friends. Shea's lighthearted take on childhood rivalry (Disney-Hyperion, 2013) is read with deadpan humor by Jared Goldsmith, who creates unique voices for Goat and Unicorn, . Page-turn signals are optional. Make sure to have the book available so listeners can see Shea's humorous illustrations and follow along in the text as the author pokes fun at the whole rainbowy unicorn fad, while making an important point about friendship.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA

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