Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert

Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert

by Morag Hood, Ella Okstad (Illustrator)

Meet the master of magical Sophie Johnson! She’s an expert on unicorns…or so she thinks!

Sophie is a unicorn expert. She dresses up her toys, stuffed animals, and even her baby brother as unicorns! But living with enchanted animals can be tricky business. And Sophie is so caught up in teaching others that she fails to notice the magic right under her nose.

This funny and fresh picture book tells the story of a unicorn hiding in plain sight and a little girl who is totally oblivious to his presence!

Genres: Picture Books, Unicorns, Childrens, Fantasy, Storytime, Humor, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2019

About the author

"I'm an award-winning children's book author and illustrator from Edinburgh. I love making up stories, print-making and cutting and sticking. My favourite things to draw are eyebrows.

I have an MA in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and a BA in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art. I used to work in theatre, but now spend my days in my Edinburgh studio with views of the hills.

One day I will manage to write a book about my very favourite animal - the duck.

I am represented by Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton."

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie Johnson has the unearned confidence associated with privileged white men of mediocre skills and limited education. She has no hesitation in Sophiesplaining her current field of endeavor to you at length. I forsee a long and prosperous career for her. This is a series which need never end. Sophie could be bigger than Barbie.

I love the colorful art, the perfect rainbows and confettiness of it all. Also, the unicorn design is so cuddly-looking and easily adapted to a stuffy.

My only disappointment is the lack of any kind of note on how the art was created.

I can't wait until she becomes a children's fantasy author and/or a boy and schools Rowling.

Library copy

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Johnson thinks she's a unicorn expert. After all, she lives with lots of unicorns (which are really just her baby sibling, stuffed animals, and pets--notably, however, not the cat). One day, however, a real unicorn shows up with its rainbow lunchbox, presumably to spend the day with a unicorn expert. But does Sophie notice? No! She's too busy teaching her other "unicorns" everything they need to know.

This is really two stories in one. The first is Sophie's narrative. But the more entertaining story is what's going on behind the scenes with the unicorn. It sits in on the unicorn lessons, engages in bath time, and looks suitably terrified when Sophie teaches her unicorns about their enemies. But Sophie never realizes that the very creature she's so obsessed with has been right under her nose all day!

The illustrations are cute and colourful. The unicorn (the real one) is particularly amusing, with its perpetual stunned expression and rainbow dandruff.

Kids will probably get a chuckle out of seeing Sophie's obliviousness when they themselves can clearly see the unicorn hiding in plain sight. As an adult, I kind of enjoyed this one, too; it's a cute take on a little know-it-all who's so busy being an expert that she doesn't have time to appreciate the magic that's come to visit.

Quotable moment:

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read so many unicorn books this year, but this one manages to be a little different. A young girl, a self-proclaimed "unicorn expert" puts horns on her dog and brother and stuffed animals until she has 17 unicorns. She talks about unicorns without realizing that a real one -- a cute, plump little unicorn -- has wandered into her party. I'm left unsure what the message, if any, is. Shut up and pay attention?

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Johnson is a unicorn expert! In fact, she has seventeen of them! She teaches them to hunt for food and all about magic. But what Sophie doesn't realize is that a real live unicorn has slipped in amongst her homemade ones! Will she notice the magic in her midst?

The cover of this book makes it look like we're about to enter a party and it definitely has that feel to it! Plus there's a ton of color and rainbows throughout. And unicorns, of course!

It's quite a silly book but I thought it left a good little message about opening your eyes and seeing what is right before you. See the magic in the world and keep using your imagination!

A must for every little unicorn lover!

This review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically this is a one joke book--Sophie is so busy dressing her entire menagerie (and her brother) up as unicorns and explaining her duties as a unicorn expert that she fails to see the fat little pony with the rainbow mane and horn, though her animal friends do. Eventually the unicorn has had enough and leaves. The art is scratchy and funny, and I especially loved the sequence with Sophie in the tub, back to the unicorn. Fun stuff.

[Odette Brethouwer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een heerlijk prentenboek want eenhoorns, en het zit heel goed in het hoofd en in de belevingswereld van kinderen. Lekker!

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an actual, licensed unicorn expert, I can tell you it's not nearly as difficult as Sophie Johnson is making it out to be.

[Capn · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I hated it. Let's do NO stars."

Well, that was a flop. Good thing it belongs to the library... Yeah, I gotta agree with the quoted kid on this one - it wasn't stellar.

Sophie is a self-proclaimed unicorn expert. She makes unicorns by sticking horns on toys, smaller siblings, pets. And that's about it. There seems to be one actual unicorn in the mix - we can't tell if the gag is that she hasn't noticed, or.. or what... we assume it's meant to be funny...(shrugs)

"I don't like it because she throws glitter."

(An unexpected dislike).

Skip this, track down Margaret's Unicorn or Once Upon a Unicorn Horn instead. Or Uni the Unicorn at a pinch, if you can't manage the better ones mentioned...

(Aside: phew, there are some really terrible unicorn books out there, and our library has quite a few of them. Publishers, man - try a little harder and get off the gravy trains earlier, okay?!)

Update: I read some other reviews. The gag really was that her self-importance blinds her to the existence of the real unicorn in her midst. The trouble is that, both artistically and textually, that isn't well-introduced: is she aware that her unicorns aren't real and that a real one might exist? If it DID find its way into her herd, WOULD SHE CARE EVEN IF SHE NOTICED?! DID she notice and simply not care - too busy being an expert? Did the presence of a real unicorn only further cement her self-importance?! See, we don't know, because it wasn't written/illustrated well enough.

And she's not sufficiently unlikeable to be laughed at - she's a kid. They all vascillate wildly in emotion and self-esteem. She grumbles that her mother only notices the messes and not the importance of her 'magic'. Other reviewers have gleefully compared Sophie to a 'privileged white man' 'mansplaining' her way blindly through life, but a more fitting comparison would be to compare her to InstaMoms who suddenly get really high on their new roles of mothers at partuition and start trying to teach other moms what to do. There are some people who, having learned a little, are keen to stop learning and start teaching. That's not limited to middle aged white guys, folks. It might even extend to haughty GR reviewers... XD

Anyway, it's overrated at present. So many other kid's books have done this same thing better. Probably not with unicorns, but it's a cash-cow, so...

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in grandma reads session.

Our reading group has a unicorn expert, just as Sophie Johnson is, so picking this book up for a read today was a no-brainer. Everything is turned into a unicorn, as magic is a very universal tool. Sophie though got so wrapped up in her message of equal unicorn rights for all that she missed something . . . .and sent our crew into gales of laughter.

Qute, sweet and quick!

[Shane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute idea of the little girl pretending everything is a unicorn, but it doesn't really go anywhere from there.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generous 3 stars

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to find a good unicorn book for preschoolers but this one will do the trick. Sophie Johnson has lots of unicorns and takes good care of them.

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Reading age
4 - 8 years

[Michael Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. The illustrations were cute and vibrant. The words on each page were quite manageable and easy to read for any audience. I loved the voice from the author and everything worked really well.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous book about a girl caring for her unicorns. The illustrations are sure to bring a smile to your face too. Girls and boys who love unicorns will enjoy this story too.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Johnson has 17 unicorns, and they are a lot of work. Follow Sophie's unicorn chores and look out for a "surprise guest."

[Mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how unique the premise and synopsis was. However, I felt that the book went way to fast at certain points.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in Dutch, but my review will be in English.


Meet Emma Bos, or as I will call as I much more prefer the English names, Sophie Johnson. She is a self-proclaimed unicorn-expert and will, throughout the book, show us why she is an expert (and she does know a lot about them). Though as we can see, when a real unicorn appears… she doesn’t notice. 😛

First up, why did the name change. I know plenty of Sophie’s (or Sofie), and sure, maybe Johnson isn’t that common here, but given some surnames that I have seen floating around, I think Johnson is a perfectly fine name.

Secondly, at times I was worried it would get a bit boring (or that I would get annoyed with Sophie), but in the end I had quite a few laughs, especially as with each page it seemed that Sophie was the only one who didn’t see the unicorn. Everyone else (dressed as unicorns) had fun with the latest addition. Our expert, the lady who knows all about unicorns, doesn’t see the one unicorn in the room.

The unicorn is a typical unicorn. White, with rainbow manes and tail. I quite like that they went with that instead of making a special unicorn.

The ending? I had a chuckle, it was quite fun what Sophie said, and I am glad that the author went with this as ending instead of the other ending that was also a possibility.

Plus points to the cover having shiny flecks, though a shame it is only the front cover and not the back (where Sophie is standing under an umbrella).

The art was pretty OK, my only complaint is that the unicorn looked a bit too derpy at times.

All in all, a fun book that will definitely make you smile.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a quirky girl, tons of imagination and piles of humor, this is a cute read which is sure to cause giggles too.

Sophie Johnson is a self-declared unicorn expert. Her room is packed full of them, and she spends most of her time caring for them. She teaches them to hunt. She fixes their horns. She even discusses magic with them. When a real unicorn decides to join in, it should be the best day of her life. Except there is a problem. Sophie might be a unicorn expert, but she can't see them.

With a sparkly cover and lots of unicorn bliss, the cover already draws in. Sophie herself is quite the handful. She's a bit bossy, ready to proclaim every bit of knowledge she does and does not have, and lets imagination flow to the extreme. She's exactly the type of mess kids will find fun and silly, but also recognize Sophie's mistakes (even when she doesn't). The unicorn's appearance and Sophie's inability to recognize he's even there, bring even more humor along.

The illustrations are colorful and full of as much fun as the text itself. It's the illustrations which let the unicorn's role happen and shine. The illustrations are done in a frivolous, shift-with-the-wind fashion, which completely fits Sophie's attitude.

This is a cute book, which makes a very easy read for even younger listeners and is sure to harvest more than a couple of snickers and giggles along the way.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the story enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.

[Claudia G-D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Johnson is a little girl who is a unicorn expert. She looks after lots of unicorns and has to teach them many different things like, magic, how to hunt for food in the kitchen and teaches them how dangerous balloons can be! There is also a hidden real unicorn in each page, hiding behind the toys that are dressed as unicorns. This picture book would be great to use within the EYFS. It can link to interests that the children may have. However, it may not be appealing to all children particularly because the main character is a girl. However I think it is a sweet story for both boys and girls. I really like the illustrations and I think they can help children who may not yet be reading to come up with their own additions to the text. Could be used within EYFS to create a new story. The book could be shared with the children and could inspire some shared writing or creation of storyboards to add parts to the story using the illustrations. Could also influence role play, links to phonics. The only aspect of this book that I dislike is how the letter “a” is not the same font that children are taught, so therefore using this in guided reading could cause some confusion if children are not exposed to various written forms of letters, particularly in EYFS where children are starting to form letters and read and may not have come across it before.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am babysitting my nieces and nephew tonight and it is the littlest turn to choose the book and she chosen this one. Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert is a children's picture book written by Morag Hood and illustrated by Ella Okstad. It is a book about a girl named Sophie Johnson, who is a self-proclaimed unicorn expert.

Hood's text is simplistic, straightforward, and humorous. It captures all the duties that an unicorn expert needs to have to look after unicorns, according to a young girl named Sophie Johnson. Okstad’s illustrations are depicts the narrative rather well with illustrations that is apropos for the target audience.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Like my littlest niece, Sophie Johnson loves unicorns so much that she becomes a unicorn expert. The narrative relates the responsibilities of a unicorn owner from teaching about magic, hunting for food, the dangerous from balloons, horn maintenance (she puts unicorn horns on her toys and baby brother), and so on.

All in all, Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert is a wonderful children's book that teaches the maintenance of unicorns from a unicorn expert. The above rating is an average score between my littlest niece and me.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The room is filled with a stuffed rabbit with a headband that is holding a carrot, Sophie’s baby brother with headband and cone, a stuffed lion with a toothbrush in his headband, and more.

The reader is told the Sophie always has lots to do caring for her unicorns. She teaches them about magic, how to hunt for food, and the dangers they must avoid…like BALLOONS! When unicorns lose their horns she helps to construct new ones.

She twirls and whirls in her make-believe world as she explains to her unicorns that magic is more important than a mess.

She ends the story with a very important statement, one that takes an illustration to bring about a smile.

For More Reviews: https://pickagoodbook.com/


My Thoughts

What Concerned Me:For those who aren’t happy unless a story has a direct message, this may not work, since the message is subtle and indirect.

What I Liked Most: I loved this book. The illustrations are so whimsical and the underlying current is so full of energy. From the front cover to the back, this is a fun-loving, tutu wearing, imaginative story of the cutest little girl, Sophie Johnson!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood, illustratedby Ella Okstad. PICTURE BOOK. Aladdin (Simon)2018. $18.00. 9781534431614

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) –ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Sophie knows everything about unicorns, it seems almost anything can be a unicorn; her fish, her dog, her brother, her dolls, and more. She has to protect them, they are messy, and they can even lose their horns. Features big bright illustrations.

This is a fantastic book with a surprise twist that I don’t want to spoil. It makes me very curious how long a child (or group of children) would take to catch onto it. The appeal of the topic and bright cover are very high, as unicorns are incredibly popular right now. The illustrations are fun and ready to be shared with a group.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Bailie Mahuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Sophie Johnson who is a unicorn expert. She teaches all her unicorns what they need to know. Her unicorns are all her stuffed animals, pets, and little brother dressed as unicorns. I loved this book because it shows us all the possible places our imagination can take us. Sophie has a big imagination here in this story. This teaches kids that their imagination is a powerful thing. You can be, think, and dream anything as long as you have your imagination. The illustrations were very cute. I loved the use of crayons and the way that some of the animals were drawn it had a cute touch to it. Some parts in this book might enable kids to do the wrong thing for example when Sophie teaches her unicorns to hunt she creates a mess in the kitchen. But overall, I really enjoyed this book and all its qualities.

[Briley Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Sophie who declares herself a unicorn expert! She even dresses up her stuffed animals as unicorns!! She goes on and on about unicorns but then misses that a REAL unicorn is at her party!

This book drew me in with the adorable cover and the rest of the illustrations didn't disappoint! I am a big unicorn fan myself so when I saw this I knew I had to get it.

This book is fun and very whimsical but I don;t have many ideas about ways to use it as a lesson in my classroom besides talking about the idea of missing out on the big picture because you are so focused on the tiny details!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce livre est magnifique! Les couleurs sont éclatantes et il y a de petites touches dorés, de toute beauté!

De mon point de vue d'adulte, l'histoire est mignonne. L'idée que Sophie Delorme crée ses licornes est une bonne idée. Ça montre aux enfants qu'avec un peu d'imagination, ils peuvent créer ce qu'ils veulent.

Je le recommande vivement comme conte avec les enfants, aux enfants qui apprennent à lire et aux enfants qui ne font que regarder les images, c'est si beau! Un beau livre qui grandira avec l'enfant!

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie is a unicorn expert. She takes pride in caring for and teaching her charges all they need to know. She shows her 17 unicorn students magic, how to hunt for food and about the dangers of balloons. She protects them from danger too. Along the way, some lose their horns and they make quite a mess. At the end of the day they’re all quite wiped out but they all had a lot of fun.
The book was ok but what gave it that extra boost into greatness was the little surprise at the end. It was a super cute twist.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

But....but..... that's TERRIBLE! Poor Sophie! She was so sincere, and so dedicated (and yes, so oblivious) and.... she had absolutely no idea who one of her "students" was, and she would have been so excited.
(Yes, I genuinely felt really bad for her at the last page.)

Other than that, though, this is a really cute book. I definitely remember "teaching" my cat and stuffed animals important lessons on being magical.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie loves unicorns. So much so that she surrounds herself with them...by creating faux unicorn horns for her pets and stuffed animals. So much so that she doesn't notice the presence of a real unicorn. He arrives and eventually leaves while she is playing. Nice art in this one. The idea of creating unicorn horns or other fantasy attributes for stuffed animals could easily be adapted to real life for fun with the younger set.

[Clwseattle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Johnson has a fun imagination and she is a 'unicorn expert' with her baby brother, the dog and all her stuffed animals.

In Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert Sophie finds it's quite hard work, and, by the illustrations, quite messy, looking after all those 'unicorns'. However, poor Sophie Johnson may need a stronger prescription for her big round glasses as she misses the real unicorn who has come to play.

3.5 stars