The Most Magical Time of the Year! (Afro Unicorn)

In this festive addition to the Afro Unicorn series, exuberant brown unicorns Unique, Divine, and Magical kick off December excited to both sticker their Holiday Magic Kindness Countdown calendars and to visit with Santa, who will soon arrive to pick up their holiday letters. To welcome Santa, portrayed with brown skin, to Afronia, Unique composes a "super-song," and Divine wields her "super-strength" to present the letters. Magical is soon tasked with leading Afronia's Holiday Magic Kindness Countdown--for the rest of December, the unicorns cook for friends, decorate neighbors' homes, and do all they can to be kind, acts that make "the season much more special." A lean plot accompanies Conley's wide-eyed, board-game-like character designs and Showers's exclamatory text throughout this enthusiastic holiday read focused on acts of service and togetherness. A countdown calendar and stickers are included. Ages 3-7. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 1--Afro Unicorn brand founder Showers has created a series of picture books about the adorable creatures, the third of which is this Christmas title. Unique, Divine, and Magical are Afro Unicorns who live in an imaginary land called Afronia. Amidst the snowy winter, the trio prepares for Santa's initial early December visit by using their special talents. Santa instructs the creatures to spread kindness throughout their Christmas Countdown and rewards them on Christmas morning with magical ornaments. Afro Unicorns have fur in varying shades of brown, with billowing curly manes and tales. Santa is also depicted with brown skin. Illustrator Conley, who has worked on many popular Nickelodeon shows, puts his animation style on display with wide shining eyes and a bright and cheery setting. The colors and beautiful array of diverse unicorns, including one with vitiligo, will certainly attract young audiences, though the story itself does not contain much content. Other questions, such as what a Triceratops is doing in Afronia, could stump curious children and their adult readers. VERDICT This book will be popular for fans of the brand and other unicorn aficionados. Purchase for collections with room for more character books.--Clara Hendricks