Wee Unicorn - by Meg McLaren (Hardcover)

About the Book

Wee Unicorn isn't magic, but she is loud, and feels very misunderstood--until she meets a monster at the Loch.

Book Synopsis

Fresh, cotton-candy-colored illustrations and important messages about being yourself and kindness towards others makes this adorably cute unicorn story a tasty treat kids will love.

A fun read-aloud for fans of The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn and for anyone that's ever felt different or misunderstood will fall for this winning picture book.

Wee Unicorn isn't what everyone expects in a unicorn. She's noisy, and she's not magical. She feels misunderstood. Then she meets another misunderstood creature--a monster others are scared of--and she reacts in an unkind way. Will she be able to make things right?

A bright, inviting world of colors and creatures, Wee Unicorn is pure eye candy--it dazzles and sparkles with its messaging of not making assumptions and loving who you are.

Readers young and old will very much relate to feeling different and misunderstood while falling hard for this irresistible unicorn read-aloud!

Review Quotes

This sprightly story centering on a fantastical creature meetup spotlights self-acceptance. With a loud voice and helpful nature, Wee Unicorn struggles with a single problem: "She wasn't what everyone expected a unicorn to be. Wee Unicorn WASN'T magic." Friendly mountain giants reassure, "Just do your own thing," but it takes repeat encounters --one frightening and one conciliatory--with a loch creature of lore for the horned heroine to embrace her own kindheartedness. As Wee follows a path toward self-discovery, McLaren weaves in classic fairy tale entities: fluttering fairies offer commentary, selkies provide conflict, and a comic side plot spins an origin story for the Loch Ness "monster"'s name. Cool-toned artwork has the appealing look of screen printing, amplifying the takeaway that belief in oneself is a beautiful thing.
--Publishers Weekly

Everyone expects Wee Unicorn to be magical, just because she is a unicorn. Unfortunately, Wee Unicorn does not possess any magic, but she does what she can to help her friends nevertheless. When the selkies in the lake nearby tell Wee Unicorn about the monster who lives with them, Wee Unicorn finds herself believing in the same kinds of stereotypes that she encounters on a regular basis. Bravely, Wee Unicorn approaches the monster in an effort to better understand who the creature truly is instead of simply accepting whatever Wee Unicorn expects the monster to be. Young children will appreciate the humor and social-emotional content found within this book that challenges the typical belief about what unicorns are and are not. Feelings and emotions appear throughout the narrative, inviting readers to consider their own reactions in similar situations. A limited color palette accompanies Wee Unicorn throughout the book, and cartoon-like illustrations appear on every page. Additionally, framed images and word bubbles give this book the feel of an early graphic novel for preschool and kindergarten-aged readers. The text itself is engaging and straightforward, incorporating a range of font sizes to emphasize specific moments within the narrative. The expressions depicted throughout the book directly connect with the text, as well, successfully presenting Wee Unicorn's experience in both a visual and auditory manner. Friendly faces and a charming plot make this book enjoyable and accessible for young children, and the story is best shared in a close setting due to the detailed nature of the illustrations. This is a fun addition to library collections for preschool-aged readers who enjoy stories about mythical creatures and friendship.
--Children's Literature

About the Author

Meg McLaren is an author, illustrator, and printmaker who graduated from Cambridge School of Art with a master's in Children's Book Illustration. Her first book, Life Is Magic, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Her book The Station Mouse won the Bookbug Picture Book Prize 2020. Meg likes to work digitally and in screen print. When she's not up to her eyeballs in ink, she's usually found in front of an afternoon mystery drama. Meg lives with her better half, Jon, who makes a lot of tea, and their dog, Wilson, who makes a lot of messes.