It's time for some witchy fun! With Halloween only a couple weeks away, I'm going to be dropping in more and more fitting reads for the season. This one isn't really Halloween directed but includes witches...and unicorns. Oh, and see that skull on the side behind the mouse on the cover? That screams Halloweeny, right? But I'm betting this one has little to do with frights and scares. It's also the 2nd in the series, and I haven't visited the first book yet. So, I'm heading into this one with fresh eyes. It's for those readers out there, who know their words but aren't ready for full-fledged novels, yet. And I believe this has more to do with friendship and sparkling (or non-sparkling) unicorns than anything else. But let's just open it up and find out, shall we?
ADVENTURE IN WITCH LAND
Unicornia Unicorn Rescuers
by Ana Punset
Illustrated by Diane Vicedo
Candlewick
Chapter Book
144 pages
ages 5 to 7
The second in a new full-color series set in the magical Unicornia universe, featuring an exciting journey to Witch Land!
Claudia, Pippa, and Sara are off on another unicorn-rescuing mission, this time to Witch Land, where the witches are expert liars and time moves in mysterious ways. Worse still, nobody is allowed to fly! Can the Unicorn Rescuers save the day before their own unicorns fall under a spell?
Claudia, Pippa, and Sara are off on another unicorn-rescuing mission, this time to Witch Land, where the witches are expert liars and time moves in mysterious ways. Worse still, nobody is allowed to fly! Can the Unicorn Rescuers save the day before their own unicorns fall under a spell?
MY TIDBITS
Unicorn fans are going to smile as they join this trio of friends on their next, unicorn rescue adventure.
Claudia, Pippa, and Sara are secret members of the unicorn rescue division...which means nobody is allowed to know. When a group of butterflies appears outside of the classroom window with a letter, they need to act fast to find a diversion before the other students see what's happening. But then, these girls are ready to handle anything...in their own way and save their identities from discovery. The letter sends them on their next mission to find a unicorn, which disappeared in Witch Land. Not only is it filled with witches, but time runs differently there. Plus, they are prewarned that these witches might be prone to lie. But what the trio doesn't know is that this case may cost them their own freedom and find their own unicorns being captured as well.
This is quite the adventure, and I say that in a good way. The plot holds a few layers, which I really appreciate since it doesn't talk down (or dumb-down) for readers. Instead, this is a full, small adventure with mystery, twists, a little tension, surprises, and some character growth, too. Still, it stays very appropriate for the intended age and reading group and never grows dark, but keeps a wholesome undertone adding lightness the entire way through. The adventure keeps the readers in the pages, especially since it's not clear what will happen next. Nor is the solution overly easy. So, it's a well-rounded tale to enjoy with the lightness to keep it fun and age appropriate.
The writer lets the reader get involved by asking direct questions, every now and then. This direct conversation adds some fun, while still allowing the story to flow nicely.
The writing works well for those readers who are very sure of their words and are edging toward longer, middle grade reads. It pushes the vocabulary and slowly allows readers to grow accustom to longer chapters. The font is larger, and there are lovely illustrations sprinkled throughout. Oh, and the beginning has a nice run-down of the Unicorn Rescue team and their unicorns...plus, there's a cute, rescuer saying that they join in on before heading on their adventure. This reminded me a bit of Sailor Moon and Co., and adds a nice touch, especially for those reading the entire series.
And here they are...
Ana Punset is a best-selling author of books for children, including the other books in the Unicornia series. She lives in Barcelona and has always dreamed of flying with unicorns.
Diana Vicedo has been a freelance illustrator for more than ten years. Her illustrations have appeared in children’s books and on designs for children's fashion, games, motion graphics, and apps. She is the illustrator of the other books in the Unicornia series. She lives in Valencia, Spain.
Diana Vicedo has been a freelance illustrator for more than ten years. Her illustrations have appeared in children’s books and on designs for children's fashion, games, motion graphics, and apps. She is the illustrator of the other books in the Unicornia series. She lives in Valencia, Spain.