Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea (review)

Goat had it pretty good until annoyingly amazing Unicorn moved into the neighborhood. Goat's bike-riding pales in comparison to Unicorn's flying skills, as does his baking ability—Goat's marshmallow squares come out "almost right" while Unicorn can make it rain multicolored cupcakes. In a series of small illustrations that evoke similar spreads in Mo Willems' Pigeon books, jealous Goat mocks Unicorn: "Dopey Unicorn! Thinks he's so great! How can anyone be friends with that guy?! Look at me! I'm Unicorn! I think I'm so-o-o cool! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . ." Goat's perspective changes when Unicorn raves over Goat's goat-cheese pizza, confesses that his single horn really isn't that useful, and admires Goat's cloven hooves. Goat imagines a future of kick-butt crime-fighting for the newly bonded duo but acquiesces to Unicorn's simple suggestion to instead play together in the park. Youngsters who have themselves been one-upped by a new kid will sympathize with Goat and find it satisfying to learn that Unicorn has his own perceived shortcomings. The casual tone and slightly snarky humor of Shea's narration will also resonate with many upper primary and middle graders. The lively art (sharply drawn lines contrasting with planes of citrus-hued color) and font-color cues underscore the contrast between modest blue-gray Goat and the fab white Unicorn with his bright orange mane and tail and perpetual surrounding cloud of rainbows, stars, and sparkles. Pair this with Willems' The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog (BCCB 7/04), or pull it out to cheer up a bummed kiddo who feels sidelined by the skills of his or her peers.