If you have any inclination toward picture books whatsoever, give this one a go. The illustrations are an absolute comfort and delight. I wanted to crawl right into everyone of them. ( )

When Margaret and her parents move to a remote cottage in the mountains, in order to be close to her grandmother, the young girl isn't sure how she feels about this new place. Then one misty day, watching a cloud of seeming unicorns fly by, she discovers a baby unicorn in the grass, apparently left behind by the herd. Margaret and her family care for the unicorn for one year, and in that time the young girls comes to love her equine companion. When the herd returns, the unicorn returns to his mother, but he visits Margaret again when he is somewhat older, and there is a hint that there will always be a connection between the two...

Margaret's Unicorn is my first encounter with British author/illustrator Briony May Smith's work, but I certainly hope it will not be my last! I found it absolutely delightful, appreciating both the sensitively told, ultimately heartwarming tale, and the charming, expressive artwork. An online friend brought my attention to this one, last year, but I had to wait a while until my public library obtained a copy. How glad I am that they did! I loved the use of color and light here - the setting feels like the Scottish Highlands to me - and I thought Smith's changing depiction of the unicorn - speckled as a baby, and pure white when grown - was beautiful. I also greatly appreciated the fact that Margaret didn't get to "keep" the unicorn - that he is depicted as a wild and free magical being, one that might need help from time to time, but that must be allowed to rejoin his kind. I think this gives the story greater power, highlighting the fact that the animals we love do not really "belong" to us, but rather, are friends who are in our care for a time. Highly recommended, to all young unicorn lovers, and perhaps to older ones as well. ( )

Caught my eye at the Carle Bookshop.

"My whole world changed when we moved to a faraway place, to a cottage in the mountains, to be near Grandma..." The scenery and Margaret's fair isle sweaters suggest Scotland, and Margaret is sent outdoors to play - where she sees unicorns leaping from the ocean mist into the sky, and finds a baby unicorn left behind. The baby is seamlessly incorporated into the family until the adult unicorns return in the spring and they have to say goodbye. The unicorn, grown, returns for a final visit when Margaret is playing with a (human) friend. Charming illustrations make this a cozy read for unicorn-lovers.

*

Re-read November 2023 ( )

I'm not really a fan of unicorns, but I have a lot of kids who are - they like "pretty" unicorns, not so much the humorous ones though. I am a fan of Briony May Smith's rustic, cozy and fantastical art, which I first encountered in Imelda and the goblin king. So put Smith and unicorns together and I am there!

Margaret, a sturdy little girl with flyaway brown hair, plaid skirt, and cozy red sweater, narrates the story of the magical events of one year. In the autumn she moves to a new home "in the mountains" with her parents and goes out to explore on her first day. There she sees a herd of magical unicorns in the clouds and finds a dappled grey unicorn colt, complete with long, silky tail, left behind.

With the help of her grandmother and parents, Margaret cares for her magical new friend. She comes to love the beauty of the mountains and makes new friends there, but her unicorn is always with her. When spring comes and the unicorns return, Margaret sadly lets her friend go, back to his herd. She sees him once more time, the following year, when he is grown and stops briefly to see her then goes back to his herd. She tells her friend, Abbie, "That was an old friend." and the two happily return to Margaret's new home.

This is a little lengthy for a storytime read-aloud, but unicorn fans and those who love heartwarming, magical stories will be delighted by the beauty of nature and the unicorns in this joyful story of friendship and new experiences.

Verdict: A must-have for your elementary unicorn fans, it also makes a lovely read-aloud for older listeners.

ISBN: 9781984896537; Published September 2020 by Schwartz and Wade Books; Purchased for the library

A sweet story, charmingly illustrated. I can't resist unicorns, especially dapple-gray ones, and outdoorsy girls in wool. The story has a nice intergenerational relationship between granddaughter and grandmother. I love how the grandmother immediately understands her granddaughter and the needs of the unicorn: they eat flowers and drink moon-drenched water. Many British and Irish people seem to be in closer touch with the magic of the world than Americans. My favorite illustration is the one where Margaret is showing her unicorn a horse chestnut and proclaims the inside "felt like a little fair fur coat." The warm autumn shades and the curiosity of both girl and unicorn are lovely. ( )