May 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.
November 1, 2023
When the Easter Bunny loses a basket full of colorful eggs, Uni the Unicorn lends a helping horn. It's early spring, and Uni is on the way back to the land of unicorns after visiting a friend. Uni soon runs into the Easter Bunny, who fretfully shows the unicorn a disappointingly empty basket. Uni offers to help look for the missing eggs. Although the unicorn spots lots of look-alikes, the eggs are never found. But the Easter Bunny purchases some eggs from the grocery store, and with a touch of Uni's horn, the Easter Bunny once again has a pile of colorful eggs. Little readers following along might also notice the hidden splashes of color that Uni believes are eggs, though each turns out to be bits of nature, like a cherry blossom or a bumblebee. Uni, a white unicorn with a deep-purple mane and blue sparkly eyes, cuts an endearing figure, as does the Easter Bunny, who sports a scarf and jacket. The illustrations feature pale spring blues, greens, and pinks, as well as a rainbow on one spread. There isn't much substance to this tale, though it should please fans of Rosenthal's original Uni story, those who love all things unicorn, or anyone seeking an Easter story. Uni's friend is a blond-haired, blue-eyed white girl. Low-key Easter fare. (Picture book. 3-5)
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November 17, 2023
K-Gr 2-The latest title in the "Uni the Unicorn" picture book series originally created by the late Rosenthal is a cute, albeit bland, addition to Uni's adventures. In this story by Webster, Uni volunteers to find the Easter Bunny's missing eggs. Uni, as it turns out, is not a skilled egg hunter at all, but young readers will enjoy finding eggs hidden on each page while the unicorn remains cheerfully oblivious. Uni and the Easter Bunny work together to arrive at a predictable, happy solution that saves the holiday for the neighborhood children. Fiorentino's illustrations maintain the almost Rankin-and-Bass style of Barrager's originals, and the story pulls off a blithe, agnostic approach to Easter, much like the other holiday-themed Uni spinoffs. Although unicorns are an ever-popular subject for this age group, and one library can never have too many, this title does not offer the draw and pizzazz of similar books, particularly the originals from its own series. VERDICT A typical Easter tale that, for all its sparkle, lacks imagination. Purchase only where "Uni the Unicorn" is exceedingly popular.-Alexandra Quay
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