It's Okay to Be a Unicorn!

by Jason Tharp, Jason Tharp (Illustrator)

Overview

An inspiring picture book, Jason Tharp’s It’s Okay To Be A Unicorn! features a unicorn pretending to be a horse—until he learns to embrace his true self.

Cornelius J. Sparklesteed is known among all the other horses in Hoofington for his beautiful and creative handmade hats. But Cornelius is hiding a secret under his own tall, pointy hat: He’s really a unicorn.

Hoofington is a friendly place, but its horses pass on lots of mean rumors about unicorns. When Cornelius is chosen to perform for this year’s Hoofapalooza, will he find the courage to show everyone his unicorniness?

It's Okay To Be A Unicorn! is an inspiring story about the rainbow magic of kindness.

An Imprint Book

“Tharp's good-natured fable is bright and rainbow-y . . . will resonate with any who have felt 'other.'” —Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780594151678
Publisher:	Imprint
Publication date:	01/12/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	399,806
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Jason Tharp has dreamed of being an author and creating wacky worlds with fun characters since he was a kid. Now as a grown-up kid, Jason is driven to help others embrace the magic of their stories. Being an obsessive daydreamer and doodler has led him to create many licensed properties, write books, and design clothing and travel the country talking to kids and adults about embracing their “weirdness” and the power of the unicorn effect. Jason lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Jason's work includes the Peachy & Keen and Super Monsta Friends series for Scholastic, National Geographic Kids' Funny Fill-Ins, and the Hog Mollies for the nonprofit 2nd & 7 Foundation.

Editorial Reviews

2019-11-24
Cornelius J. Sparklesteed knows he's different, but he's not sure that's OK.

On the isle of Hoofington, the Hoofapalooza festival celebrates "everything horse-tastic." Haberdasher Cornelius finds himself called to Mayor Mare's office; the mayor wants the "most un-unicorny hat" that Cornelius can make for him for Hoofapalooza. You see, the horses of Hoofington say some pretty mean things about unicorns ("Their horns are too sharp!"; "They fart rainbows!"). That's why Cornelius always hides his horn under a hat. The hat Cornelius makes for the mayor is so fantastic that Mare asks Cornelius to perform at Hoofapalooza. On Monday, Cornelius meets his doughnut-making friend Tilly and suggests some creative ideas for new flavors. On Tuesday, he meets painter Hablo and suggests rainbows for his Hoofapalooza mural. Wednesday, he offers tips to DJ Salad. And all week, Cornelius works on his costume, making it bright and sparkly, and broods about the mean things he's heard around the island. As he prepares to perform, he sees his creative friends have used and improved on his ideas…and he puts on the pranciest of dance performances with a hats-off finish to the astonished cheers of the audience. Tharp's good-natured fable is bright and rainbow-y, with equines painted in fanciful colors. Its lightness and pep present a weighty subject in a way that will resonate with any who have felt "other."

A sweet and goofy addition to the unicorns-embrace-their-uniqueness shelf. (Picture book. 3-9)

Kirkus Reviews