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You Don't Want a ...! #1
You Don't Want a Unicorn!
Be careful what pet you wish for in the newest picture book from fan-favorite author Ame Dyckman and rising-star illustrator Liz Climo.
When a little boy throws a coin in a well asking for a pet unicorn, he has no idea what kind of trouble he's in for. Unbeknownst to him, unicorns make the absolutely worst pets: they shed, they poke holes in your ceiling, and they make a big mess. With a knowing wink from Ame Dyckman, creator of Wolfie the Bunny and cheerful illustrations from Rory the Dinosaur creator and Tumblr star Liz Climo, this rollicking story shares all of the ways a pet unicorn can ruin your life, and is sure to have readers in stitches.
When a little boy throws a coin in a well asking for a pet unicorn, he has no idea what kind of trouble he's in for. Unbeknownst to him, unicorns make the absolutely worst pets: they shed, they poke holes in your ceiling, and they make a big mess. With a knowing wink from Ame Dyckman, creator of Wolfie the Bunny and cheerful illustrations from Rory the Dinosaur creator and Tumblr star Liz Climo, this rollicking story shares all of the ways a pet unicorn can ruin your life, and is sure to have readers in stitches.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 14, 2017
6 people are currently reading
654 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
April 12, 2022
Despite the book's title, and its many reasonable points on why one should not want a unicorn, it did nothing to discourage my daughter who still feels that a unicorn would in fact be superior to a goldfish.
Despite the book failing at its one job, it's cute and funny. 4/5 stars
Despite the book failing at its one job, it's cute and funny. 4/5 stars
February 18, 2022
YOU REALLY DON'T! Read this book before you make one of the biggest mistakes of your life! Good lesson on the difference between 'wanting' and 'getting' that so many people never seem to get or to understand. A great gift book for a friend who may be down. Wonderful and vibrant illustrations!
March 17, 2017
You Don’t Want a Unicorn! is a fun, colorful take on be careful what you wish for.
One “PLIP” of a coin in the wishing fountain can cause all sorts of mischief. Super fun adventures too, but mostly trouble. Everything from burping colors to bring-the-house-down unicorn parties! Colorful parties! The clean white backgrounds ensure that every pink, purple, and orange pops to vivid life on the page.
BUT trust me. Unicorns may not be exactly what you hoped and wished for in a house pet. Maybe an abominable snowman would be better—or HEY! How about Big Foot!? :D
Happy Wishing! Just be careful and have your piggy bank on hand to help clean up the mess.
A fun read. Check it out at your local Library.
p.s. Why the 3 Stars?
August 22, 2019
I laughed so hard I snorted and then choked on my own spit.
March 8, 2017
I love pretty much everything Liz Climo draws - it always makes me smile - so I was definitely excited to see a new picture book on the shelves. Ame Dyckman is also great so this should't disappoint. Similar to some other cutesy, cartoonist-based picture books, this one is adorable and funny. The unicorn poops cupcakes and gets it's horn stuck in the ceiling every time it tries to jump - Hilarious!
February 14, 2017
I only review a select few children's books, although I read a ton for my job...but this one is terrific. I love funny books that parents will enjoy just as much as kids and this one fits the bill. The illustrations are great, and I think the kids will giggle over all the naughty things this unicorn and it's friends get up to. I have a new favorite Easy Reader.
July 21, 2022
A very funny guidebook that tells you EXACTLY why you don't want one of these fantastical, magical creatures hanging around your house.
With delightful illustrations by the marvelous Liz Climo!
With delightful illustrations by the marvelous Liz Climo!
April 1, 2017
I'm taking a weekend break from baseball book reviews - will continue throughout next week as I begin my unit. This is my challenge, and I get to make the rules!
Anyways, we visited our favorite store in town last night - Joseph-Beth Booksellers - with the task of picking out a book as a birthday gift. I love the children's section and enjoy perusing the new selections. Picture books are awesome right now!
This was our selection for the gift. It's for a wonderful young girl, after all, who is very intelligent and gets a lot of humor. This one is packed with it. The pictures are colorful, well presented, and very funny. I feel this will make for good read alouds too - I know my wife hopes this is her chosen one for future visits.
Anyways, we visited our favorite store in town last night - Joseph-Beth Booksellers - with the task of picking out a book as a birthday gift. I love the children's section and enjoy perusing the new selections. Picture books are awesome right now!
This was our selection for the gift. It's for a wonderful young girl, after all, who is very intelligent and gets a lot of humor. This one is packed with it. The pictures are colorful, well presented, and very funny. I feel this will make for good read alouds too - I know my wife hopes this is her chosen one for future visits.
February 20, 2017
I first read this book at NCTE. I have trouble concentrating on what I'm reading when I'm in public - too much going on around me, I guess. But this book, I laughed the whole way through and then found friends to share it with. I knew right then and there this was a special book, because kids are going to want to read this over and over and share it with friends. Just like me.
March 7, 2017
I knew it! Unicorns really ARE annoying!
November 5, 2017
THE best! Couldn't stop laughing. Kids are going to go crazy for this book! Can't wait to share it as a read aloud.
July 16, 2018
Boys can like unicorns, too.
It's cute. There's a little boy who loves unicorns, so he makes a wish in a fountain and he gets a unicorn. It's awesome at first. The narrator is consistently warning the young boy that he shouldn't wish for a unicorn because they're just too much of a pain. Unicorns make a mess and scratch things with their horns. And since they live in groups, when they get lonely they call other unicorns, and then you get a whole bunch of unicorns having a unicorn party, which just wrecks your whole house. Then you have to wish them all away again. At the end, the sad little boy who has wished away all the unicorns decides to wish for a dragon. It implies the dragon is going to be quite a lot of trouble as well, especially seeing as how they breathe fire.
This is a really good example of a book with the moral of, "Be careful what you wish for," because the unicorn is what causes the boy trouble, just by being itself. In contrast, you have so many books where the wish gets twisted by a genie or something, or books like "The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings" where the wings themselves are not the source of the problem-- it's the reaction of everybody else in this book. And in this book, the narrator is constantly warning the boy from the beginning, and the boy doesn't listen and the narrator is clearly more knowledgeable about unicorns than the boy. So it's literally a wish, and he gets exactly what he asked for. It just turns out to be different from what he expected.
The story also has some of the aspects of how difficult pet care is, along with some aspects of "wild animals shouldn't be kept as pets," but this is one of the best examples I've seen of "Be careful what you wish for" done well.
Message: Be careful what you wish for.
For more children's book reviews, visit http://www.drttmk.com.
It's cute. There's a little boy who loves unicorns, so he makes a wish in a fountain and he gets a unicorn. It's awesome at first. The narrator is consistently warning the young boy that he shouldn't wish for a unicorn because they're just too much of a pain. Unicorns make a mess and scratch things with their horns. And since they live in groups, when they get lonely they call other unicorns, and then you get a whole bunch of unicorns having a unicorn party, which just wrecks your whole house. Then you have to wish them all away again. At the end, the sad little boy who has wished away all the unicorns decides to wish for a dragon. It implies the dragon is going to be quite a lot of trouble as well, especially seeing as how they breathe fire.
This is a really good example of a book with the moral of, "Be careful what you wish for," because the unicorn is what causes the boy trouble, just by being itself. In contrast, you have so many books where the wish gets twisted by a genie or something, or books like "The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings" where the wings themselves are not the source of the problem-- it's the reaction of everybody else in this book. And in this book, the narrator is constantly warning the boy from the beginning, and the boy doesn't listen and the narrator is clearly more knowledgeable about unicorns than the boy. So it's literally a wish, and he gets exactly what he asked for. It just turns out to be different from what he expected.
The story also has some of the aspects of how difficult pet care is, along with some aspects of "wild animals shouldn't be kept as pets," but this is one of the best examples I've seen of "Be careful what you wish for" done well.
Message: Be careful what you wish for.
For more children's book reviews, visit http://www.drttmk.com.
March 18, 2020
Taj, age 5: I love this book so much that I want to read this book every day.
Harper, age 7: I like that this book, if you take off the cover, on the front there’s the names of the unicorns and on the back there’s the names of the unicorns.
Harper, age 7: I like that this book, if you take off the cover, on the front there’s the names of the unicorns and on the back there’s the names of the unicorns.
September 17, 2018
Seriously?
All this did was make me want a Unicorn more!!!
All this did was make me want a Unicorn more!!!
October 25, 2018
Very fun! Kids will love this, and adults will enjoy the humor. This would stand up to repeated readings.
August 4, 2019
"You don't want a unicorn," the narrator of this humorous picture-book informs a young boy who, undeterred, drops his coin in the wishing well and wishes for just that animal anyway. So begins an adventure in which the boy discovers the down-side of having such a magical companion. From shedding and scratching, to pooping all over the house, unicorns make one big mess. And when they get lonely, and their unicorn pals come over, the real chaos begins...
Author Ame Dyckman returns in this, her fifth picture-book, this time teaming up with illustrator Liz Climo, who has also worked on the Rory the Dinosaur series. The result is an amusing book, one that pairs a zany madcap adventure with entertainingly offbeat cartoon-style illustrations. My favorite scene? - the one where the unicorn poops steaming cupcakes! Haha! Recommended to all young unicorn and dragon lovers, or to anyone looking for picture-book featuring humorous adventures.
Author Ame Dyckman returns in this, her fifth picture-book, this time teaming up with illustrator Liz Climo, who has also worked on the Rory the Dinosaur series. The result is an amusing book, one that pairs a zany madcap adventure with entertainingly offbeat cartoon-style illustrations. My favorite scene? - the one where the unicorn poops steaming cupcakes! Haha! Recommended to all young unicorn and dragon lovers, or to anyone looking for picture-book featuring humorous adventures.
January 31, 2018
You Don't Want a Unicorn! is a sweet little book about fantasy. The colors throughout the book, starting with the cover, are vivid and eye catching. The story is rather simple and understandable for a young audience. Although the book is fiction and about mythical creatures, there is a message to be found. The message being that even the grandest of things can have negative aspects to them. It's important for children to receive this message early on so as not to spend their lives chasing after the next best thing that will make them "happy." This book shows that even something as magical as owning a UNICORN can create stress. Yes, there are wonderful, extremely awesome parts of having a unicorn of your own.....but nothing in life is all good or all bad.
(Fantasy category)
(Fantasy category)
June 24, 2019
We checked this out of the library the other day expecting it to quite a fun read and it definitely was. My six year old said this book was wrong and she definitely wanted a unicorn. While I am not sure this book changed her mind, she now has some serious concerns about owning one.
This book has great illustrations and is silly and just an all around fun read. It was good enough that I read it to my daughter and then she read it to me later the same day. I enjoyed it just as much as she did both times.
Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for something great to read with your tiny people.
This book has great illustrations and is silly and just an all around fun read. It was good enough that I read it to my daughter and then she read it to me later the same day. I enjoyed it just as much as she did both times.
Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for something great to read with your tiny people.
May 30, 2017
An ill-informed child wishes for a unicorn against the narrator's advice and suffers many of the hidden pitfalls of having a unicorn as a pet.
Oh dear. This appears to be a very important warning announcement. Who knew? As a fun compare/contrast, read this with Uni the Unicorn or some of the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. (Phoebe might agree on some of these points, disagree on others, and have whole list of never explored before things to consider before unicorn ownership.) This is a fun "other side" to all of those unicorn books out there.
Oh dear. This appears to be a very important warning announcement. Who knew? As a fun compare/contrast, read this with Uni the Unicorn or some of the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. (Phoebe might agree on some of these points, disagree on others, and have whole list of never explored before things to consider before unicorn ownership.) This is a fun "other side" to all of those unicorn books out there.
April 11, 2018
This made me laugh the whole way through. Trust me! All the things they never tell you about owning a unicorn. And the silly illustrations just drive it home. A great antidote for parents who are a little tired of "unicorn-y" unicorn books.
I'd definitely use it for a storytime - being careful what you wish for, being a prime topic. Could be good for pet ownership too, or for silly, non-fairy tale stories on unicorns. Whatever you use it for, the kids would have the giggles.
I'd definitely use it for a storytime - being careful what you wish for, being a prime topic. Could be good for pet ownership too, or for silly, non-fairy tale stories on unicorns. Whatever you use it for, the kids would have the giggles.
January 17, 2019
This is a fun, cautionary tale about getting what you wish for--especially if what you wish for is a unicorn! It's humorous, simple story filled with bright colors and a loud narrative. This book is perfect for teaching a young one about responsibility, and perfect for the child who just really loves unicorns. I'd recommend this for kids 5 to 7
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
April 22, 2024
This book is guaranteed to be hilarious for both children and adults alike! I feel that, at some point in every child's life, they wish that some type of magical animal would appear. Well, this book mentions just that AND everything that happens after. I would absolutely recommend this book to others looking for a lighthearted and laughter inducing read.
April 18, 2018
Read for Storytime, April 18, 2017
Theme: Funny Stories
I did a slight disclaimer before reading in case some of our more conservative adults might be offended. The cupcake droppings made most of us laugh. It took the kids a moment but then the giggles started. We liked making the plip and poof sounds in the story too. It is a fun read.
Theme: Funny Stories
I did a slight disclaimer before reading in case some of our more conservative adults might be offended. The cupcake droppings made most of us laugh. It took the kids a moment but then the giggles started. We liked making the plip and poof sounds in the story too. It is a fun read.
January 19, 2020
You Don’t Want a Unicorn
I Picked Up This Book Because: Liz Climo binge
The Story:
Super cute illustrations and a funny, entertaining story. Love it.
The Random Thoughts:
#LibraryLoveChallenge
The Score Card:
5 Stars
I Picked Up This Book Because: Liz Climo binge
The Story:
Super cute illustrations and a funny, entertaining story. Love it.
The Random Thoughts:
#LibraryLoveChallenge
The Score Card:
5 Stars
February 16, 2017
Ame Dyckman and Liz Climo have teamed up to give readers of all ages a giggle-out-loud cautionary tale about wishes that come true. If you wish for a Unicorn, be prepared. They do not like to be alone. It is a great picture book for kids of all ages. But I'd hold off on the cupcakes!
February 15, 2017
Absolutely one of the funniest picture books ever!
Read
November 17, 2018For everyone whose child has ever asked for a pet because it’s cute, we have the book for you! As we follow the humorous adventures of a small boy and the unicorn he wishes into existence, we are shown the downsides of pets, from scratched furniture (that sofa will never be the same) to house training accidents (cupcakes surrounded by flies) to the need for more than one pet in case the first gets lonely (unicorn party!). The illustrations by Climo are fun and colorful, while the story, with its references to unicorn lore, is told with laugh-out-loud humor and a touch of reality. Great for reading with your child! - Lynn H.
September 18, 2024
I actually found this book hysterical. Now I want a You Don’t Want A Dragon book
Read
February 19, 2017The thing about wishes and wishing is they can be a tricky enterprise. When we wish for something we tend to think of the outcome and not how it is achieved or what may happen if and when a wish comes true. It's hard to remember it's a rarity if something happens in isolation; good or bad, there are consequences.
Nevertheless if we see a falling star, the first star of the night, or witness a rainbow or when it's 11:11 on the clock, we pull a turkey bone, we find a penny, or when we blow out birthday candles on our cake, we will be making a wish. You Don't Want a Unicorn! (Little, Brown And Company, February 14, 2017) written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Liz Climo is an adventure in the unexpected. It can be said this is a ride on the wild side filled with first-rate hilarity.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
Nevertheless if we see a falling star, the first star of the night, or witness a rainbow or when it's 11:11 on the clock, we pull a turkey bone, we find a penny, or when we blow out birthday candles on our cake, we will be making a wish. You Don't Want a Unicorn! (Little, Brown And Company, February 14, 2017) written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Liz Climo is an adventure in the unexpected. It can be said this is a ride on the wild side filled with first-rate hilarity.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
February 17, 2017
Maybe I'm just in a really good mood, giving so many books 5 stars right now... but I love this book.
I just love it.
I just love it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews