A New Friend for Sparkle (A Unicorn Named Sparkle #2)

PreS-Gr 2—Another of Young's lively adventures about a lovable goat-unicorn and his friend and owner, Lucy. Lucy's new friend Cole is coming over to play, and Sparkle has his first experience with being the odd unicorn out, leading to an action-packed playdate. The words and illustrations convey Sparkle's emotions as he watches Lucy and Cole play without him; his hurt feelings eventually result in destruction and a tantrum. Sparkle mopes after Lucy scolds him, but Cole catches his attention with a drum, and soon Cole and Sparkle strike up a lively round of song and dance. Tables have turned, and readers witness Lucy's emotional response as she sees Cole and Sparkle connecting without her. This is the perfect tale for young students as they begin to make friends, and will introduce them to the concepts of empathy and understanding and hopefully encourage kindness and conscientious behavior. VERDICT An excellent addition to any children's collection, especially where unicorns are a fan favorite and the curriculum supports social and emotional learning.—Meghan Oppelt, Whitehall School District, WI

Lucy and her goatish pet unicorn from A Unicorn Named Sparkle bring another friend into the mix in a sequel that recognizes that three can be a crowd. After Lucy's friend Cole shows up for a play date, Sparkle feels like the odd unicorn out; then Lucy gets jealous as Sparkle and Cole bond over banging on a drum. With no adults around (perhaps because of all the drumming) the three work things out on their own. Young's story covers familiar friendship-trouble terrain, but both text and art are keenly sensitive to the delicate emotions at play. Ages 4-7. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (June)

"Sparkle and Lucy's second outing is every bit as sweetly appealing as their first (A Unicorn Named Sparkle)...Tykes who've had their own troubles trying to turn duos into trios will see the full range of their emotions depicted while learning that sharing what we love doesn't necessarily mean giving it away." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books