Amy Krouse Rosenthal (1965–2017)

When Uni the Unicorn meets Pegasus—Peg for short—the two magical equines soon become friends and Uni tries to learn to fly. Unfortunately, she discovers that no matter what she does, and no matter what kinds of wings she tries to construct, she just can't get off the ground. But when a baby bird is in trouble, Uni discovers she has something even more valuable: magic that can be put to use helping others...

Published as part of Random House's Step Into Reading collection (Step 2: Reading With Help), Uni's Wish for Wings is the fourth beginning reader featuring Uni and her friends that I have read, following upon Uni's First Sleepover, Uni Goes to School and Uni Bakes a Cake. After having a strongly negative reaction to that last title, I was curious to see what I would make of this one, but on the whole I found it sweet and inoffensive, much like the first two titles. While I don't think these beginning readers are as engaging as the original picture books upon which they are based—original author and illustrator Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Brigette Barrager are credited on the cover, but the true author and illustrator (Candice Ransom and Marcela Cespedes-Alicea) are credited on the colophon—they will undoubtedly please young fans of Uni and her world. It is to such children, particularly those getting going with their own reading, that I would recommend this and its companions.… (more)

Thinking of her human friend, Uni the Unicorn decides to visit the little girl in her own world. Zipping down a rainbow, Uni no sooner arrives than she is involved in the little girl's cake-baking contest. Although disaster continuously strikes the little girl's cake, Uni is encouraging, proving herself a good friend. Then, feeling that her little girl has worked hard, our unicorn heroine steps in, using her horn to improve the confection...

Part of Random House's Step Into Reading collection (Step 2: Reading With Help), Uni Bakes a Cake is one of a growing number of beginning readers to feature this unicorn character and her adventures. Having enjoyed all three picture books about Uni—the first two written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and then after her death, the third written by her daughter Paris—I have been exploring other titles in the franchise, including board books and beginning readers. There really isn't much to these books, for the adult reader—they're really more for toddlers (in the case of the board books) and beginning readers—but I have enjoyed them for the most part, appreciating the sweet stories and cute artwork. Unfortunately, that was not the case here. I was surprised and dismayed to see that Uni's actions, while perhaps well-intentioned, were not addressed in the story. It would be one thing for Uni to use her magic to help the little girl, if she was baking on her own, but to do so in the context of a contest is clearly cheating. The most charitable interpretation I could put upon this is that perhaps Uni is not meant to understand about competitions, or what cheating means, given that she lives in the unicorn world. But if that is what was intended, it should have been addressed in the story. Instead, her actions are just accepted in the narrative, and while the little girl doesn't win the contest, the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm not usually one to argue for more overt didacticism in children's books, but to introduce unethical and dishonest behavior in a title aimed at this age group, and then not address it, felt inappropriate to me. Not recommended.… (more)

Eager to learn to use the magic of her horn, Uni the unicorn heads to her first day of school in this beginning reader. When her teacher, Mr. Wise, takes her and her classmates on a field trip to the forest, in order to show them how to aid their fellow creatures, Uni tries again and again to restore a broken branch on her favorite tree. But it is only when she notices a nest of birds in distress, on the fallen branch, that she manages to truly tap in to her horn's magic...

Published as part of Random House's Step Into Reading collection (Step 2: Reading With Help), Uni Goes to School is the second beginning reader featuring Uni and her friends that I have read, following upon Uni's First Sleepover. Having enjoyed all three picture books about Uni—the first two written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and then after her death, the third written by her daughter Paris—I have been exploring other titles in the franchise, including board books and beginning readers. I was pleased to see, just as with Uni's First Sleepover, that although the original author and illustrator (Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Brigette Barrager) are credited on the cover, no doubt to keep consistency between titles, the actual author and illustrator here (Candice Ransom and Lisa Marlin) are credited on the colophon. However that may be, while I wouldn't say there was much here for older readers, I do think that beginning readers who love unicorns, or who are fans of this character, will find this an enjoyable title.… (more)