What luck when a friend asked me for picture books tips for family readings with two different aged children. With no child in sight and very few guidelines, I had a realization.
For the days I’m not sure what to read to a group or what kind of book might capture the imagination of a young reader. For the days I second guess my plans. What to do? Turns out in challenging times, I turn to unicorns. The question led me into a rainbow sprinkle spiral I’m excited to share.
Board Books (age 1-3)
I Can Spy a Unicorn by Kathryn Selbert is perfect for counting, color, and visual recognition skills. A great choice for read alouds with a touch of magic.
The Little Unicorn Who Lost Their Magic by Jedda Robaard is a delightful story bound to inspire curious readers. This lift-the-flap board book for interactive storytimes.
Picture Books (age 3-6)
First Day of Unicorn School by Jess (Fink) Hernandez, Mariano Epelbaum (Illustrator). Ready to learn how to unicorn like a pro? Not everything (or everyone) is what it seems at Unicorn School!
Nerdycorn by Andrew Root, Erin Kraan (Illustrator). Some unicorns love science more than glitter. Who knew?
A Believer’s Guide to Unicorns by Jenni Desmond (author-illustrator) brings these enchanting creatures to life, blending storytelling and discovery.
Chapter Books (age 5-8)
Unicorn Diaries by author and illustrator Rebecca Elliott. Every unicorn at Sparklemore Academy has a special gift to discover, and what a delight to visit this vibrant world.
Unicornia by Ana Punset, Diana Vicedo (illustrator). Yes, unicorns are real, and so is magic! I’m excited and readers will be too.
Middle Grade (age 8-12)
Phobe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson is a graphic novel series nearly anyone will love featuring the unlikely friendship between a girl and a magical creature.
Pegasus vs Unicorn by A. J. Sautter is part of the Mythical Matchups series, and provides a classic nonfiction showdown approach to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of two imaginary creatures. A great compare and contrast act of imagination ensues.
Young Adult (12-16)
Just because someone’s a teen doesn’t mean they don’t want to escape into a fantasy world full of magical creatures! Bruce Coville’s Unicorn Chronicles is just such a book series. Set in a parallel univere, readers will be transported.
Check out Kary Henry’s ALSC post for more magical creatures story and craft tips. Embrace the sparkle! Unicorn books are crowd pleasers. Unicorns are magic and so is children’s librarianship.
This post addresses ALSC Core Competencies I. Commitment to Client Group, IV. Collection Knowledge and Management
cover images courtesy of Odd Dot MacMillan and Capstone Press
The post Once Upon a Unicorn appeared first on ALSC Blog.
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