'Based upon a retelling of Scottish folklore by Lari Don,
The Legend of the First Unicorn
is beautifully illustrated throughout with museum quality artwork by Natasa Ilincic and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.' – Midwest Book Review 'If you like unicorns, you will love The Legend of the First Unicorn, and even if you are not necessarily a fan of unicorns, you should still read it because it is really well written. It is a magical story of friendship, faith, and finding joy in life. The main characters are a boy and a girl who go on an adventure together, and one of them has planned it to cheer the other one up. Unlike many other books about unicorns, this one is inspired by a Scottish legend, so it feels authentic and not cheesy like many other books on the subject. Readers who like fantasy, who are drawn to folk tales, or who have Scottish heritage will be especially excited about this book. The book has beautiful illustrations that make you feel like you're right there in the magical forest looking for the unicorn. It is a good book for all ages because there is a good story but it's short enough to keep even young readers' attention.' – Alexandria, Age 8, for Kids Book Buzz
'There's plenty of magic, but it's old-style Scottish magic, without any pink glitter, and all the more potent for it... A perfect first foray into folklore for a young reader, but also a reminder that picture books are not just for pre-schoolers – this rich blend of words and Natasa's striking pictures should be enjoyed by much older children (and grown-ups) too.' – Roaring Reads
'It's nice to read a book which focuses on something other than a unicorn's cuteness. Natasa's illustrations beautifully capture the majesty and strength of the unicorn. I also really liked the pages with swirling magic and powdered starlight. I enjoyed The Legend of the First Unicorn – a tale steeped in the tradition of Scottish oral history and full of wonder and magic.' – Get Kids Into Books
Praise for Treasure of the Loch Ness Monster:
'Along with atmospheric views of the deep loch's swirling waters and long, low hills beneath cloudy skies, Ilincic crafts a particularly magnificent monster, green, scaly, and dragonesque.' – Kirkus Reviews
'Imaginatively written and beautifully illustrated [...] Very highly recommended for children ages 3 to 7, 'The Treasure of the Loch Ness Monster' will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.' – Midwest Book Review
'Beautifully illustrated in rich warm tones, Loch Ness and its wonderful sea monster come to life for the reader.' – Youth Services Book Review
'As classic as something from the Grimm Brothers, while also being, somehow, entirely new.' – Booklist
'Author Lari Don tells a magical tale that has the cadence and all the earmarks of an ancient myth using a monster that will be familiar to most youngsters as the basis. The gorgeous illustrations by Natasa Ilincic will carry young readers to the British Isles through enchanting drawings that are filled with charming details. This is a real winner. 5/5.'– Manhattan Book Review
2020-07-14
A clever girl’s efforts to win the smile of a Scottish prince lead to the origin of the unicorn.
When Prince Donald loses his smile, everyone in Scotland tries to help, but not one of the parties held, cakes baked, songs written, or fountains carved in his honor coaxes a smile. Hoping to amuse the prince with a new magical creature, the court magician mixes “fur and feathers, scales and claws,” but the resulting beast proves too frightening. Meanwhile, the magician’s granddaughter Hana invents her own special creature with a horse’s body, goat’s hooves, and a gazelle’s horn. She calls her creature a “unicorn.” When Prince Donald sees the beautiful unicorn, he can’t resist following it into the woods, where he and Hana eventually discover the magician’s banished beast, a winged lion with a scaly tail, fiercely attacking the gentle unicorn. As Donald helps the unicorn fight the beast, Hana relies on magic to transform the creature into a cat, a wren, and a lizard, saving the day. But will this earn her a smile from Prince Donald? Romantic illustrations in a medieval castle venue reinforce the fairy-tale elements of this retelling of a Scottish folktale, with the contemporary twist of a quick-thinking, brown-skinned female protagonist who comes to the rescue of the White prince. Full- and double-page close-ups of the lovely, white unicorn battling the fierce winged lion add memorable visual drama.
A likely pick for ubiquitous unicorn fans. (author’s note) (Picture book. 5-8)
