Review of Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson

Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson 

Format:  Ebook

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC

Number of Pages: 225

Published:  September 2nd, 2014

Source:  Library

One day while Phoebe was innocently skipping a rock across a pond, she accidentally hit a unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils with a rock.  Now normally the response to being struck in the face with a rock would be to get really angry, but this rock broke Marigold free from her trance of staring at her reflection in the pond.  Happy to be free at last,  Marigold grants Phoebe one wish in return.  After some prompting to keep her wish "realistic," Phoebe wishes for Marigold to become her best friend.  With her wish granted, Phoebe and Marigold set out on some fun adventures.  

I'm not quite sure what initially prompted me to look for this at my library, I'm guessing I was in the mood for something light and entertaining to read.  That it was written in a comic book style, was even more of a treat. The pink cover brought the Rainbow Fairies Series to mind, but I'd agree with the reviewers on Goodreads, it's more like Calvin and Hobbes.  Maybe that's what prompted me to check this out.  Phoebe and Her Unicorn is the first of nine books in the series, with other titles that include Unicorn on a Roll and Unicorn vs Goblins.  It's a highly entertaining story and I'm pretty sure that I'll check out the next one as well.      

Phoebe is such a likeable character, she's into videogames, has a huge imagination, is witty, sarcastic, slightly lonely but actively trying to make friends.  She knows that part of her personality sets her apart from others, and despite her classmate Dakota teasing her by calling her "Princess Stupidbutt," she doesn't let it get her down.  She still actively tries to befriend Dakota.  Now Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, she's quite something, and that name, oh my goodness, but she does seem to complement well with Phoebe.  Marigold is confident, arrogant, and well kinda vain.  But 100% lovable and together they are hilarious and oh so entertaining.  I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times at some of their antics.  Especially as Phoebe's attempts to learn how to play the piano.  And although I might not agree with some of Marigold's tactics to help Phoebe deal with her bully, she was instrumental in getting Phoebe to recognize the good things that she had to offer to others.  Plus there were some fun activities to teach kids how-to-draw Phoebe and Marigold, to make a stick puppet, instructions to make a flip book, a comic strip and even a recipe for a slumber party snack mix included at the back of the book.  Such fun!!