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.)
From the Publisher
From School Library Journal
PreS-K—In this delightfully entertaining story, children are transported to a land in which unicorns are the norm and little girls are believed to be mythical creatures. Uni is like all the other unicorns in so many ways. She had a swirly horn, a magnificent mane, and the magical ability to make wishes come true. "But there was one thing that definitely set Uni apart. Uni believed that little girls were REAL." Despite being laughed at and dismissed for her beliefs, she dreams of what friendship with a human girl would be like. The book features Rosenthal's familiar mix of humor and wit, making this book ideal for reading out loud or independently. Barrager's illustrations offer full page spreads of whimsical, dreamlike images that will make every reader want to believe in unicorns (or little girls). This book will be read, treasured, and loved by young dreamers.—Megan Egbert, Meridian Library District,
Displaying a magnificent mane, golden hooves, sparkling purple eyes, and a powerful swirly horn, Uni believes that not only are little girls real but a special one will form a magical friendship with her. And somewhere, a little girl is equally certain that unicorns are real and that a very particular one is waiting to be her companion. Joyful illustrations in brilliant color capture the dreams of the two, as they spin and twirl, explore the forest, and slide down a rainbow together. Line drawings of an active youngster are set inside an outline shaped like Uni’s head. Although usually portrayed with sweet faces, the dismay each shows when their elders tell them their thinking is only make-believe humorously reinforces their determination to find each other. And friendship triumphs as the two delightedly ride off together. Pair with Robert Heidbreder’s I Wished for a Unicorn (2000) and B. G. Hennessy’s Claire and the Unicorn Happy Ever After (2010), for other happy twosomes.
— Lolly Gepson
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.)
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)
