The Great Unicorn Race: Book 8

by Whitney Sanderson, Jomike Tejido (Illustrator)

Overview

Ruby loves riding fast on Tempest. Iris enjoys showing off her control and skill with Lyric. But who is the better unicorn rider? Their friend Cole suggests they have a race. Whoever can cross the Diamond Desert and reach the magical Lotus Gem first is the winner. But the Diamond Desert is filled with dangers. Can Ruby and Iris overcome their rivalry and work together to make it back home?

There are unicorns behind Magic Moon Stable, but no one knows they exist except Iris and Ruby. As Unicorn Guardians, the two girls must protect the unicorns to keep them safe from the outside world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631635137
Publisher:	North Star Editions
Publication date:	01/01/2021
Series:	Unicorns of the Secret Stable Set 2
Pages:	72
Sales rank:	580,967
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Whitney Sanderson grew up riding horses as a member of a 4-H club and competing in local jumping and dressage shows. She has written several books in the Horse Diaries chapter book series. She is also the author of Horse Rescue: Treasure, based on her time volunteering at an equine rescue farm. She lives in Massachusetts.

Jomike Tejido is an author and illustrator of the picture book There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Book. He also illustrated the Pet Charms and My Magical Friends leveled reader series. He has fond memories of horseback riding as a kid and has always loved drawing magical creatures. Jomike lives in Manila with his wife, two daughters, and a chow chow named Oso.

Editorial Reviews

01/01/2021

K-Gr 3—Ruby and Iris compete to prove who has the fastest unicorn. The two sisters are keepers of the Enchanted Kingdom, a magical land of fire mountains and diamond deserts where unicorns are protected. Dragon rider Cole challenges them to a unicorn race: Whoever returns with the Lotus Gem, hidden in an oasis in the desert, has the best unicorn. Ruby chooses Tempest, who is fast, strong, and impulsive. Iris decides on Lyric for her intelligence and quick thinking. Before they set out, Cole warns of perilous quicksand and labyrinthine caves, but Ruby impetuously races off toward the gem, inadvertently triggering a dangerous sandstorm. Can the girls work together to make their way back to safety? Sanderson reestablishes the series premise in a catch-up at the beginning of the book. Maps of the town and surrounding countryside add to the effective world-building. The winner of the race is debated by the sisters: Tempest outruns Lyric, but Lyric uses her wits to rescue the foursome. Discussion prompts at the back of the book guide young readers to reflect on their own strengths and skills. Plentiful illustrations show powerful unicorns in exciting action shots: A front-facing image of Tempest galloping at full speed is particularly effective. Short, simple sentences with limited vocabulary and large typeface give the early elementary crowd a chance to practice reading fluency. VERDICT A winning, fast-paced adventure story for fans of the series.—Sarah Webb, City and Country Sch. Lib., NY

School Library Journal

2020-11-18
Unicorn Guardians Ruby and Iris compete in a race to determine the better rider.

After a near collision on unicorn-back, sisters Ruby and Iris argue about who is at fault: Iris thinks Ruby needs to watch out while Ruby thinks Iris too fearful a rider. Their friend Cole, the Dragon Guardian, suggests a contest to resolve the conflict. He proposes that they race across the Diamond Desert to the Lotus Oasis, where they can find the Lotus Gem—the first to retrieve it wins. Ruby chooses a unicorn for size and strength; Iris opts for a smart unicorn who can “think fast and avoid trouble.” While Ruby’s desire for speed causes costly mistakes, she still manages to overtake Iris and, with single-minded focus, reach the gem first—triggering a calamity. Unable to outrun the trouble she’s accidentally caused, Ruby is lucky that Iris and her clever mount are there to guide her to safety. Ultimately, Ruby thinks Iris is the better rider for listening to her mount while Iris points out that Ruby was on track to win their contest as the faster rider. Discussion questions at the end of the book ask readers which skill is more important, riding fast or riding smart, but the text itself doesn’t denigrate Ruby’s talents to push a moral, landing on an ending that’s both ambiguous and joyful. Illustrated characters present White. Series companions Unique Unicorn, Starberry Magic, and Shadow Stallion publish simultaneously.

Character development and nuance enhance a simple, action-oriented plot. (Fantasy. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews

"Character development and nuance enhance a simple, action-oriented plot."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher