A Unicorn Named Sparkle
By Amy Young
The Story
A girl mails away twenty-five cents for a unicorn and waits weeks for him to arrive — but when Sparkle shows up smelly, fleabitten, and nothing like she imagined, she has to decide whether to love the unicorn she actually got.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's ordered something from a catalog and pictured it perfectly before it ever showed up, this is the story of what happens when reality doesn't match the daydream.
- Big idea: What you get isn't always what you pictured — and it can still turn out to be exactly what you needed.
- Vibes: Silly, a little scruffy, and warmhearted underneath the goofiness.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories with a silly, unexpected twist
- are working on managing disappointment when things don't go as planned
- love anything involving unicorns and make-believe
- respond well to a character who changes her mind by the end
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What was different about Sparkle from the unicorn Lucy imagined?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Lucy felt when Sparkle first arrived?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever wanted something and it turned out different than you expected? What did you do?
- Imagination: If you ordered your own unicorn, what would you hope it looked like?
- Character growth: What do you think helped Lucy warm up to Sparkle in the end?
