Sparkly New Friends

May 20, 2019
An unlikely friendship is sparked in the first of the Unicorn and Yeti series. In the first of three tales, flying Unicorn—whose upturned snout and pinkish frame provide a look more porcine than equine—sees “something sparkly” in the snowy hills below. Yeti, who resembles a stocky, feathery snowball, also spies something sparkly—in the sky. “The sparkles are getting closer! And closer,” Yeti observes. After a Yeti-Unicorn crash landing and a sparkle debate (Unicorn insists that Yeti’s snowy environs are just as sparkly as Unicorn; Yeti is skeptical), the two become fast friends. In a second story, Yeti and Unicorn learn to accept each other just as they are (and occasionally use a bit of magic when they want to fancy up). And the third features an epic snow fight followed by rainbow-colored soup. Additional books in this whimsical, character-driven series are set to release later this year. Ages 4–6.

March 1, 2019
Grades K-3 It's impossible not to smile while reading about the fantastical pair gallivanting through this petite early reader, perfectly sized for small hands. This charming book is divided into three short stories about the friendship between a sparkly pink unicorn and a fluffy white yeti. The first tale reveals how this unlikely duo meet; the second gently and comically tackles self-acceptance when Yeti feels too plain in Unicorn's company; and the third revolves around a magical snowball fight. Newly independent readers receive support through repeated words and phrases, as well as the spacious, graphic-novel format. The engaging characters and simple stories are made all the more amiable by Quintanilla's whimsical, candy-colored illustrations. Humor and positivity abound in this winning series starter that is a natural fit for Elephant & Piggie fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)