Louie lets loose!

Coming to the Big Apple with stars in his eyes and the requisite relentless optimism, a stagestruck unicorn enrolls in the New York School for the Performing Arts. So dazzled that he doesn't even notice rivals and setbacks (though readers will), Louie enlists his new roommates a terpsichorean troll with disgusting personal habits, a mermaid chanteuse in a fishbowl, and a severely farsighted faun with directorial ambitions for a benefit performance that, despite sabotage, saves his favorite doughnut shop (and also nets the faun a desperately needed pair of eyeglasses). Along with awful unicorn jokes (What do you call unicorn dandruff? 'Corn flakes) and oversize, highlighted words printed in red, the well-leaded narrative is enhanced by lots of simply drawn cartoon figures of magical creatures who often are placed in photographed New York settings. Here's one unicorn who's not throwing away his shot, and it surely won't be long before he sees his name in lights.--Peters, John Copyright 2017 Booklist

Gr 2-4-Louie the unicorn travels to New York City from his home in Story Land to become the first unicorn superstar. He rooms with a mixed mythical group: Miranda the mermaid, Frank the troll, and Danny the faun. They all attend the same Fame school and become fast friends who work and play together while not so quietly owning their underdog status. Louie is disappointed to learn there is already a handsome unicorn superstar, Arnie. Through trials and tribulations, Louie maintains his charming naïveté and innocent optimism. He manages to lead his own show, display his friends' talents, and save the Sunshine Sparkle Dust Café in the process. Armelles's clever grayscale and red illustrations layer against photographs and cartoons and complement Hamilton's quirky story. Though on the whole this beginning chapter book is entertaining, young American readers may be bemused by the British humor and the title's length, while older readers may find the subject matter too young for their tastes. VERDICT An additional purchase for large chapter book collections.-Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The first in a cheery series for developing readers, this colorful story is a pastry-fueled romp through the cutthroat world of mythological divas-to-be.Louie the Unicorn is bored with his perfect life in Story Land. When an advertisement for the New York School of Performing Arts blows through the forest (rather like a fart), he guilt-trips his parents into giving their blessing, takes a silver rowboat to the Staten Island Ferry, and pursues his dreams of becoming a "supersized New York superstar." After a brief cupcake-and-doughnut diversion, Louie befriends the other fairy-tale creatures at school: mermaid Miranda, Frank the troll (who brings out Louie's troll-related prejudices), and Danny the faun. Louie also hero-worships heartthrob Arniewho would be happy as the only unicorn in showbizand creates an off-site song-and-dance extravaganza despite Arnie's attempts at sabotage. Large text is punctuated by purposely cutesy yet expressive drawings of white people and white-appearing mythological creatures (only one illustration includes two background characters with dark-shaded faces). Many of the drawings are superimposed over city photographs, and red text highlights periodic "B-u-u-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp"s, song titles, and emotional outbursts. Louie's tongue-in-cheek enthusiasm is manically upbeat, with an entertaining lack of self-awareness. High-strung young drama queens can find a lot to love in this, and adults forced to read along may chuckle at the campy subtext. (Fantasy. 5-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Coming to the Big Apple with stars in his eyes and the requisite relentless optimism, a stagestruck unicorn enrolls in the New York School for the Performing Arts. So dazzled that he doesn't even notice rivals and setbacks (though readers will), Louie enlists his new roommates—a terpsichorean troll with disgusting personal habits, a mermaid chanteuse in a fishbowl, and a severely farsighted faun with directorial ambitions—for a benefit performance that, despite sabotage, saves his favorite doughnut shop (and also nets the faun a desperately needed pair of eyeglasses). Along with awful unicorn jokes ("What do you call unicorn dandruff? 'Corn flakes") and oversize, highlighted words printed in red, the well-leaded narrative is enhanced by lots of simply drawn cartoon figures of magical creatures who often are placed in photographed New York settings. Here's one unicorn who's not throwing away his shot, and it surely won't be long before he sees his name in lights. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 2–4—Louie the unicorn travels to New York City from his home in Story Land to become the first unicorn superstar. He rooms with a mixed mythical group: Miranda the mermaid, Frank the troll, and Danny the faun. They all attend the same Fame school and become fast friends who work and play together while not so quietly owning their underdog status. Louie is disappointed to learn there is already a handsome unicorn superstar, Arnie. Through trials and tribulations, Louie maintains his charming naïveté and innocent optimism. He manages to lead his own show, display his friends' talents, and save the Sunshine Sparkle Dust Café in the process. Armelles's clever grayscale and red illustrations layer against photographs and cartoons and complement Hamilton's quirky story. Though on the whole this beginning chapter book is entertaining, young American readers may be bemused by the British humor and the title's length, while older readers may find the subject matter too young for their tastes. VERDICT An additional purchase for large chapter book collections.—Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa