Looking for a book about unicorns? I recommend The Midnight Unicorn by Neil Reed, a story about a girl and a unicorn having a fantastical adventure. I agree with School Library Journal’s recommending this for grades Kindergarten through 2nd. Kids will see the stunning highlights Neil Reed added to his soft illustrations if they hold the book under the ceiling light. They will see the glossy shine in the girl’s hair, the unicorn’s mane and horn, the lightning on a stormy night, and even a dog’s nose.
In the book, Dad asks Millie where she wants to go, and she chooses the park, where a weathered unicorn statue stands. Millie can’t explain why she likes the statue so much, though who can blame her? It has a warm smile, a powerful stance, and a shiny horn and mane. As Millie touches it and says how much she missed it, it turns into a white unicorn with a golden horn and a pale yellow mane. The unicorn doesn’t speak, but he lowers his head, gesturing for Millie to hop onto his back. They fly, and even Millie’s dog, Casper, flies alongside them. The day suddenly shifts into midnight, hence the unicorn is called “the midnight unicorn.”
They brave thunder and lighting, fly past snowy mountain peaks, soar over sand dunes, and glide through ocean waves. The illustration of them flying over the sand dunes is charming, with two camels and a smiling nomadic man watching their silhouettes against the moon.
Then, they land on a rainbow, which leads to an island with vibrant green trees surrounded by a tan beach. Unicorns in different colors greet Millie on the island, and the picture shows a gray unicorn, brown unicorns with white markings, and even brown and tan unicorn foals. One cute moment has Casper greeting the tan foal nose-to-nose.
Millie falls asleep with Casper and the unicorn, a red flower in her hair and her hand resting on the unicorn’s head. She awakes to her dad’s voice, and she’s back in her world. The unicorn is a statue again, yet Millie has the same “unicorn-island” flower in her hair. She tells her dad about her adventure, and he comments she has a wonderful imagination.
“It was real,” she says, but doesn’t argue further.
The book says, “She and Casper and the unicorn knew the truth, and that was all that mattered.” I think she could be a little more persistent in convincing her dad, but I commend her for not being argumentative. And even though her dad doesn’t believe her, from his smile and his cradling her head, it’s clear he still loves her.
Before they leave, she kisses the unicorn goodbye and says, “Thank you, my midnight unicorn.”
The question is: Did Millie imagine her experience, or was it real? The book says Millie knew the truth, and that Millie was sure she heard the unicorn whinny as they left, so it makes the reality of her adventure plausible. And if you look closely at the illustrations, the statue shifts into various positions, adding more reality to Millie’s story. So I would say her adventure is real.
A little girl who loves unicorns. A beloved statue that comes to life. An unforgettable and exhilarating journey. With its combination of magical story, stunningly realistic art, and shimmering spot-lamination throughout, this lovely picture book will enchant children again and again.
Children will feel their imagination take flight along with the title character as they enjoy Neil Reed’s captivating tale of a very special midnight ride.
More than anything, Millie loves the statue of the unicorn at her park. Its closed eyes, gentle mouth, and kind smile always make her happy. Then, one day, as she presses her hands against the statue’s neck, she feels a shiver run through the stone: marble has become flesh and the unicorn has come alive. And riding on his back, Millie soars up, up, up, into the sky, over forest and lakes, through storms and lighting, to the land where unicorns still play….
With images so realistic they almost seem photographed, and spot-lamination that makes the stars–and lots more on the page–shine, this beautiful story will become a perennial favorite.
