MAKE A WISH FOR A UNICORN

Wish extra hard and a unicorn might just appear in Lim’s second picture book.

According to the book, to summon a unicorn you must draw a heart and wish hard. You have to make sure that you concentrate, however, or you may end up with a farting unicorn instead. But once you have a unicorn, what do you do with it? The author tells us that if we don’t give the unicorn a purpose, this magical pet will be sad and confused. It may take some effort to get on good terms with your unicorn, but if successful, the interaction can go anywhere: They might show you their favorite things, introduce you to their family members, or do something else entirely. This unique book breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader as if they’re a participant in the story, prompting them to do things like “[p]inch your nose and count to 10!” when the unicorn farts. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t have much direction. Each individual activity, from the vacuum cleaner show and tell to the brief message about the importance of wearing a mask to prevent the spread of disease, seems too random, even for children. Shobaru’s illustrations, however, are bright, bold, and colorful enough to attract and hold the attention of the 2- and 3-year-olds who will enjoy the playful silliness of this story.

A funny toddler-friendly picture book that provides some immediate excitement but not much lasting impact.