Unicorn of Many Hats

Phoebe and Her Unicorn #7

by Dana Simpson

"A pink, bubble-gum bonbon of a tale spun of a likable, albeit self-centered, fourth-grader and her magical, self-obsessed, although sometimes-kind, unicorn."
—Kirkus Reviews


Book seven in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series!

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR!

Marigold Heavenly Nostrils is no ordinary unicorn. She has Wi-Fi-enabled appendages. She's the most enchanted babysitter of all time. She's published numerous scholarly articles on the "shimmering" versus "glimmering" debate. She is, in short, a unicorn of many hats.

Phoebe and her exceptional hooved pal are back in this all-new collection of comics! Laugh alongside the lovable duo as they question the idea of "coolness," gain a deeper appreciation for the power of friendship, and put off summer reading assignments for as long as physically possible.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Middle Grade, Childrens, Humor, Unicorns

174 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2018

About the author

Dana Claire Simpson grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, drawing the entire time. She eventually graduated from The Evergreen State College, despite having spent all her time drawing, and not always for credit.

Attempts at doing real work along the way are hardly worth mentioning; the relevant fact is that, from 1998 to 2008, she drew the internet comic strip Ozy and Millie. After winning the Amazon-sponsored Comic Strip Superstar Contest in 2009, Universal Uclick signed her to a development deal for Heavenly Nostrils.

She currently lives in the Seattle area with her tech genius husband and her fairly stupid cat.

Reviews

[Shai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unicorn of Many Hats is the 7th book in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn Series created by Dana Simpson. This is my 2nd time to read a comic issue from the said series; as much as I loved the previous book, this issue didn't exceed or even matched its antecedent.

I was looking forward on their adventure, but there's none in this installment. In spite of that, this is still an enjoyable read that will still satisfy anyone, notably the young readers, because it contains both funny stories and lessons.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC of this graphic novel.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold (Unicorn)-- I COULD babysit Phoebe. I have extensive experience! My resume.
Phoebe's Dad-- Guardian of the precious moon stones of Shimmering castle...
Phoebe's Mom-- Watcher of the dragon hatchlings of the Nicetooth clan.
Phoebe's Dad-- I don't know how relevant some of this is.
Marigold-- I direct you to section 4, subclause B: "Microwave Popcorn Skills."

We love this series. So funny and witty but maybe not for a 5 year old. Probably older but now that she's met Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils she is a fan....

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

After their first graphic novel adventure, Phoebe and Marigold are back for another collection of comics. In this collection Phoebe and Marigold write fan letters and Marigold babysits Phoebe.

We learn that shimmering is better than glimmering. Marigold gets into a grooming competition with the cat and Max outnerds Phoebe.

We visit Marigold’s home for the first time. Phoebe and Marigold attend a dragon Halloween party where I learned I need rainbow-flame jack-o’-lanterns in my life. We meet Ralph, a kid in Phoebe’s class who isn’t Max or Dakota.

Dakota is still cool and rubbing Phoebe’s face in it and Marigold took a short break from admiring her own reflection to reflect on her friendship with Phoebe.

After absolutely adoring the graphic novel format, adventure and introduction of a wonderful new character, Voltina the dragon, in The Magic Storm, this collection of comics felt like a let down. Christmas, Halloween and summer seem to be covered in the majority of the collections I’ve read so far and a lot of the themes and jokes are repetitive. The actual target audience may not have a problem with this but I’m eager for material that feels new.

I was especially disappointed that Voltina didn’t make an appearance in this collection, which meant adorably nerdy Max is essentially alone again. Yes, he sort of has Phoebe sometimes but she’s not a good enough friend to even notice he’s being bullied when it’s happening right in front of her face. He deserves better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this collection. I am rounding up from 3.5 stars.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

Overview:

A positive aspect of this book is the inclusion of a glossary of terms at the end, which is a thoughtful addition for young readers. However, despite this, my experience with the book was not particularly enjoyable. As someone who has never read other titles in this series, I found that this comic-style narrative did not capture my interest.

While the content may be suitable for elementary school children, I felt it lacked engagement and was somewhat boring. The storytelling failed to hold my attention, and overall, I don’t see myself pursuing further books in this series.

Special Thanks:
Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. My review is fair and honest, and in no way reflects the fact that I received this book at no cost to myself. It is based on my immediate feelings after completing the book and is not meant to be in comparison to other books I have read.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first problem with Unicorn of Many Hats wasn't the author's fault so much as an issue with managing my own expectations: after the 6th issue's graphic novel styling, I was genuinely hoping all of the future volumes would be graphic novels, too! I loved the cohesive, linear story of #6, and it felt so much more polished. Unfortunately, #7 reverts back to the "comics" style with short jokes and one-liners, and after having read a few other issues in the Heavenly Nostrils series, things were beginning to feel rather repetitive. I did, however, appreciate the glossary of terms in the back for the kids, as well as the fact that Phoebe seems to be aging up a bit in the newer issuers, which works well for kids who have been growing up with the series. I personally don't plan on reading any future Heavenly Nostrils books, but I'll totally offer these to my son when he's old enough.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for offering me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparkle-filled thanks to Andrews McMeel and NetGalley for a digital ARC of my new favorite graphic novel series.

Phoebe and Marigold continue their adventures framed by some noteworthy events like: Marigold getting the opportunity to babysit Phoebe, Phoebe discussing tribbles with her dad, Marigold trying her best to outsparkle the Christmas tree, Phoebe realizing that a friend is being bullied and more events we can all relate to whether young or old. Highly recommended.

[Melissa McShane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Either I was in the right mood, or the series continues to improve, because I liked this one best of the series I've read to date. There was more Dakota than before, which is a good thing, and more Max, also good, and in general I got more laughs out of this one than I usually do. I look forward to reading the next one!

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another delivery of the adventures of Phoebe and her best friend Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, where the delivery goes back to the system of comic strips instead of one storyline like the previus issue.

The summer, frienship, fangirling, internet, school, and Unicorns!

The grace of these vignettes apart from the drawings -really cute- , are good part of the dialogues. The author dedicates a good part of the stories to the impact of technology nowadays like the internet , something that goes from parents to children. I love that Phoebe's parents are addicted to electronic games and inclined towards art in the case of mom.



Marigold acts as always charming within her amazing beauty and her magic; while on the other hand expresses his admiration for who is capable of humility.

In the other hand, Phoebe in spite of being the kind of girl that goes out of the ordinary with her imagination and costumes and her love for reading...



...there are certain things that leave me amazed by her selfishness.

I feel really bad for Max and the bullying. Phoebe appears to be like a self-centered girl because is all drama about her and Dakota, but doesn't see beyond that in her own classroom.

Apparently designed to generate discussion of the issue among children, they are fun and entertaining.

+Digital arc gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going through these too fast to keep up with reviewing them. And my memory for individual details isn't holding up. So I may just copy this as the review for those I've read, at least for as long as the quality keeps up. My review of the first should hold up for the rest.

Okay, one note. Phoebe's dad is totally me. He even looks like me since I've grown my hair out. It's uncanny.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness we're back to our regularly scheduled program format! I really did not like Phoebe and Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm. All the cleverness and maturity was gone, and we were left with an insipid graphic novel for very young children. Unicorn of Many Hats returns to the format of the other books in the series, which is that of a comic collection. There are a few stories that extend over a few panels, but also a number of standalone strips. I far prefer this; the characters of Phoebe and Marigold are back to the way they were, and all is right with the world again.

There's not much more to say. This is another enjoyable entry in the series. Now I guess I have to see if the library has the next one...

Quotable moment:

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of unicorns as a child growing up in the 80s, and I think I would enjoy this entire series. The illustrations are done in cartoon style, and there is plenty of content featuring Phoebe and her unicorn. Quite a fun escape and some lessons learned along the way. I think many kids would enjoy reading this special story and viewing the entertaining and beautifully drawn illustrations.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley, for the complimentary copy.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do believe I'm done with this series. It seems to have entered the Garfield stage, where there is nothing new being offered, just the same mild jokes presented in endless variations. It's all drawn and written well enough, but I don't see much point to seeking it out again.

[britt_brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m still buying/reading/sending this series to my 9 year old niece. The little sweetie bought this volume at her school’s book fair with the intention of sending it to me, but hasn’t gotten a chance to. No worries. I borrowed it through Hoopla which worked out perfectly. Another fun read! So happy my niece loves Phoebe and Marigold, too.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ Phoebe and her unicorn are just a lot of fun. You can leave the book and come back and easily pick up where you left off. It has heart and morals as both the Unicorn and Phoebe lean to be be better people. As always a great read.

[Cisz Geverink - Strasters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altijd leuk, Evi en Eenhoorn.
Lach me kapot om deze droge humor ♡♡♡

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun series.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Majestic as usual

[Rachel Holtzclaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

phoebe and marigold 4eva

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A universe that rains candy?! Why am I not there right now?

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little comic type book. It reminded me of when I used to read my sister's Garfield comic strip books. I laughed a lot while reading this. The relationship Phoebe and the unicorn have is quite humorous. Their conversations had me snickering continually.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty pictures

[Vellum Voyages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 helms


Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages
(www.vellumvoyages.com)


Phoebe and Marigold are back in another series! Loved these two as usual :) The friendship between Phoebe and Marigold is endearing and their little adventures are always fun!

This edition was more of smaller storylines rather than one main plot. In comparison, I enjoyed the main plot lines a lot better than the mini-stories so probably why four helms instead of 5.

A great read regardless – kids and adults alike would love it! Can’t wait for more and always secretly hoping I find a magical unicorn somewhere!

*Thank-you Dana Simpson, Netgalley & Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC.

[Hebah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent installment. I love this cast of characters, and many panels had me laughing out loud.

[Jimin'sRamenNoodles (Jinlo) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm disgusted by you, Dana Simpson.

How dare you compare this worthless piece of filth to 'Calvin And Hobbes', the name that shouldn't even be used from your mouth. I would've gave you and your ridiculous book a chance, but the forward I saw in one of your books made me want to rip it into a thousand pieces and use it to wipe my dogs butt. I hate this book with a BURNING PASSION.

Bill Watterson will be better then you and your stupid, useless vector art pictures will ever be.
Calvin and Hobbes is a breathtakingly unique concept, a book that is treasured for the love, humor, worry, passion and sadness spilled into the pages. His book is genius, and if I could read one thing for the rest of my life, it would be that. Your art is messy and you REUSE THE SAME PANEL OVER AND OVER like we're all too stupid to notice.

Not only do you compare, but you say you're book is BETTER, and Calvin and Hobbes is boring.

And yet here you are, sitting and your trashy high and mighty throne, using and pushing down other authors to lift yourself up.
I wish to never set sight on another one of these books again.

Grow up, Dana Simpson.
And while you're at it, keep the name Bill Watterson out of your immature mouth.

(As for this review, you are JUST the type to be sneaking on Goodreads and acting like you aren't reading your own reviews- Yet here you are. Hopefully this well help you GET A CLUE.)

[Katya Vinogradova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley.

In sharp contrast to Big Nate, this book was a fun FUN surprise!
I was aware of the Phoebe and her Unicorn phenomenon. We can't keep one book on the shelf and there's always a huge wait-list for each title. And there's mass hysteria leading up to the new Phoebe and her Unicorn book's release. Still none of that could encourage me to read a book like that. Or so I thought, until NetGalley came up with a free-for-all offer.
And thank you, NetGalley, for that!
I had no idea the Unicorn was so sassy and self-absorbed, or that Phoebe was such a patient, stoic friend. And I definitely didn't think the cartoons were funny! Adult-funny, and not just "Look, the unicorn said something" funny. In fact, Unicorn reminded me of my fave Babe Walker. If Babe was so not bitchy and, you know, a unicorn.
Bonus points for Dana Simpson's drawing style - Katya likes!
And go ahead, sign me up for all the other books in the series.

5 PLEASANTLY SURPRISED STARS!

[Deepika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe that I am cracking up over and over again. Unicorn is adorable and hilarious. So is Dakota. :)

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still really good. Adults will really enjoy this as well as kids.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Dana Simpson is bae and I wish Phoebe and Marigold had been around when I was a kid. ❤️ (I do wish this was another OGN but we can’t all be Marigold and get what we want all the time.)

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A+ snow day reading.

[Jenn Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unicorns! Marigold Heavenly Nostrils! Phoebe! 'nuf said!