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. (May)
Kids already sick of back-to-school season? Laughter is the always best medicine, and we’ve rounded up some picture books sure to make parents and children alike get a case of the giggles. Check out our picks from famed funny authors and illustrators like Ryan T. Higgins, Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers, Mo Willems, and more! What […]
Everyone is supposed to cheer when the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes and he’s filled with Christmas spirit near the end of Dr. Seuss’s enduring classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas, but some of us, to be honest, kind of miss the old Grinch with his devilishly slanted eyebrows, his sneering ways, and his disdain […]
Not too long ago, I sat down with my kids and watched the animated version of The Last Unicorn. Do you remember that book? Or are you singing the theme song now? It may be the most famous unicorn book ever written. But it was actually written for older readers, not small children. Here instead are a few […]