Review - It's Okay to Be a Unicorn!

It's Okay to Be a Unicorn!
by Jason Tharp
Date: 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Cornelius J. Sparklesteed is known among all the other horses in Hoofington for his beautiful and creative handmade hats. But Cornelius is hiding a secret under his own tall, pointy hat: He's really a unicorn.

Hoofington is a friendly place, but its horses pass on lots of mean rumors about unicorns. When Cornelius is chosen to perform for this year's Hoofapalooza, will he find the courage to show everyone his unicorniness?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is basically a book about self-acceptance, played out with equine characters.

Cornelius is a unicorn, but he hides that fact under a fancy hat. The rest of the town of Hoofington is comprised of more mundane creatures like horses and ponies. When the mayor asks Cornelius to make him an un-unicorny hat, Cornelius agrees. We're told that the other horses say mean things about unicorns, so Cornelius obviously has a reason to hide his true nature. But then he starts planting seeds among his friends to make things in Hoofington a little more colourful and whimsical. And when he finally reveals that he's a unicorn, everyone's okay with it. Even the mayor.

While the message about loving yourself is fine, I thought the resolution of the plot was a little too facile. The mayor's just suddenly okay with unicorns? Okay... but where did that change of heart come from?

Fans of unicorns might want to check this one out, but readers who are looking for a strong story about standing up to the world to be yourself might want to keep looking.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5