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Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All
You remember Unicorn. You know, Goat's friend? The one who can fly, make it rain cupcakes, and turn things into gold? On the first day of school, Unicorn expects to make his usual big splash. But no one pays him much attention--the other kids are much more interested in the latest trend in toys: rubber bands that look like other things. Unicorn comes up with a plan to get his mojo back, but his efforts turn out to be more annoying than impressive. Can Goat help him recover his magic, or is Unicorn destined to a life of mediocrity?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2019
2 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Bob Shea
61 books346 followersBob Shea has written and illustrated over a dozen picture books including the popular Dinosaur vs. Bedtime and the cult favorite Big Plans illustrated by Lane Smith.
His characters and animations have appeared on Nick Jr, Playhouse Disney and PBS Kids.
Bob spends his days writing, drawing and having “conversations” with NPR.
His characters and animations have appeared on Nick Jr, Playhouse Disney and PBS Kids.
Bob spends his days writing, drawing and having “conversations” with NPR.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
July 14, 2019
Beautiful illustrations, but the story is all over the place and confusing. I normally don't rate children's books this low, but this is one neither my daughter or I enjoyed. Give it a try and see what you think.
October 31, 2019
First day of school - trying to hard to be popular - young children will love this book!
November 28, 2018
This was a hot mess.
The only thing I liked about this follow-up was the end papers (they'd be adorable as wrapping paper). And the spread where Unicorn has big bags under his eyes, because that's how I feel most days.
The first book was so good, but this was visually cluttered and frenetic. Skip it.
The only thing I liked about this follow-up was the end papers (they'd be adorable as wrapping paper). And the spread where Unicorn has big bags under his eyes, because that's how I feel most days.
The first book was so good, but this was visually cluttered and frenetic. Skip it.
July 24, 2020
I seem to remember liking the first book in the series, but this one is a hot, sparkly mess. Unicorn goes to school, and discovers he's old news as he can't compete with the latest fad. His attempts to draw attention to himself only succeed in annoying his classmates, AND the reader. The illustrations are pretty frenetic, which is okay, but it irked me that while the critters are all cute, the authority figures at school are depicted as rather hideous monsters. What kind of message is that sending to a kid who may be nervous about starting school?
September 10, 2019
This book is somewhere between dank af and meta af.
July 24, 2019
Wow, I actually didn't like this. Yep, that shocked me too. I usually adore Bob Shea.
December 11, 2019
Unicorn tries too hard to be likable and no one likes him -- so does this book.
July 31, 2019
It's not surprising to me that I enjoyed this. Number 1 reason being I LOVED the first one Unicorn Think's He's Pretty Great and number 2 I just love everything Bob Shea writes. They are some of the best picture books today. They are always my go to books for story times. The pictures I so vibrate and eye catching and the story line is always clever and fun and keep the kids rolling on the floor laughing.
July 12, 2019
Blast to the Past with SILLY BANDS!
November 5, 2019
This book was silly. It was fun and taught a good lesson. The illustrations were pretty crazy but in a good way.
December 26, 2019
Unicorn is back again in the sequel to "Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great" with all of his friends. But this time the rubber band characters are getting too much attention, time for Unicorn to add more dazzle to her sparkling self. Things don't turn out as planned though when Unicorn's need to impress does just the opposite. This humorous tale about acceptance and forgiveness is full of fun.
November 27, 2020
Even though it has a great message and little bits of back to school fears and excitement, I can't help but enjoy the little hidden illustrations and background details. I laugh so hard when Unicorn kicks another animal in the cafeteria and then the tiny message bubble says "He's fine". LOL. I am still giggling in my office writing this as these little gems are what makes picture books some of my favorites to read and get for my schools.
September 1, 2023
Cute and fun! A good read aloud for grade 2, 3 at the beginning of the year. I liked when they truthfully said that Unicorn was being obnoxious. Lol.
October 9, 2019
Kids might like the illustrations, but I think the storyline is confusing
September 19, 2019
SURPRISE! This is the second book in the series, lol! I found this out after finishing the book - whoops. It doesn't seem to matter if you have read the first one or not, the story is pretty straight forward. However, I do imagine that if you have already fallen in love with the characters in the first book, that you will probably enjoy the second more. Even without having read the first book, I really enjoyed this one. It was cute with very interactive imagery. Learning that people change, that you can't always be the center of attention, and that your friends are there for you, no matter what (or how annoying you are) are all big and important lessons in this book.
April 11, 2019
Unicorn: Is Maybe Not So Great After All by Bob Shea. PICTURE BOOK. Disney, JULY 2019. $18. 9781368009447
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
When the kids at school get distracted by a new toy, Unicorn decides to be extra-sparkly-magical to get their attention back. Unfortunately it backfires.
Unicorn is super silly and also irritating in this long-awaited follow-up. Makes for a great read aloud and a possible discussion about the things that we do to get each other’s attention which turn out to be just plain annoying.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
When the kids at school get distracted by a new toy, Unicorn decides to be extra-sparkly-magical to get their attention back. Unfortunately it backfires.
Unicorn is super silly and also irritating in this long-awaited follow-up. Makes for a great read aloud and a possible discussion about the things that we do to get each other’s attention which turn out to be just plain annoying.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
September 14, 2019
Unicorn thinks he's amazing!! But when he gets to school, everyone thinks he's completely normal instead of super stellar. Unicorn decides to give himself a makeover and makes everything go wrong. :( But he still has friends who love him!
Good for preschool or older kid storytimes.
Good for preschool or older kid storytimes.
August 29, 2019
I wasn't a fan of this book. The unicorn is super obnoxious and annoying. I feel like the unicorn didn't really learn its lesson on how to be a good friend to everyone and how to act at school. I enjoyed the details in the illustrations though, especially the "Bob Shea" poster at school. That made me chuckle. I love little details like that in books.
July 18, 2019
This book is very interesting. I’m not so sure what the significance of a unicorn is. The only visual I was able to generate was “My little pony” television show. I know the rainbow is associated with the LGBT community, but I don’t know if this is relevant.
August 1, 2019
What's a unicorn to do when he wants to make a big splash but doesn't get the attention he expected? Maybe try EVEN HARDER? But... could that backfire? Find out in this delightful sequel where our pal learns an important lesson.
August 6, 2019
The latest! greatest! thing has come out and it's NOT you...bum bum bum. How to handle it? What if you can't cope? Poor Unicorn! Good thing he has good friends to help him figure things out. Once again, Shea has handled a touchy subject in a super-fun way.
August 10, 2019
Aww. When folks aren't super-excited about Unicorn's first day back at school (it's everyone else's first day too) he gets a little insecure and overcompensates. But friends like Goat will surely bring reality back, right? Riiiight?
March 30, 2020
For: unicorn fans; readers wanting a book about being a good friend/being yourself/not trying too hard.
Possible red flags: being obnoxious and pushing away friends because of it.
Possible red flags: being obnoxious and pushing away friends because of it.
September 7, 2024
Unicorn expects to make quite a splash on the first day of school, only to find that the other students are more interested in the cool rubber bands they have been given, and guessing what they look like. Determined not to be a yawn-icorn, he puts on a razzle-dazzle show with lots of glitter and whimsy, only to find that his friends are annoyed with him, and don't want him around. Has Unicorn ruined everything? Or is the magic of friendship enough to set things to rights?
Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All is the second picture book from author/illustrator Bob Shea to feature Unicorn, his friend Goat, and their wider circle, following upon Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great . While that earlier book dealt with Goat's insecurities, here we see that it is Unicorn who is feeling unsure, leading to some inappropriate behavior, in the forms of showing off and being insensitive to his friends. Fortunately, one day of bad behavior doesn't ruin everything, a useful object lesson for young children who might themselves have had days where they didn't behave perfectly. Much as with the earlier book, I found that I wasn't particularly impressed by this one, being mostly indifferent to the story, and to the artwork, although I did appreciate some of the wordplay, and the fact that characters from other Bob Shea books appeared. Of course, tastes vary, so readers who enjoyed the first story about Unicorn and Goat will undoubtedly also appreciate this one, and it to them that I would recommend it.
Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All is the second picture book from author/illustrator Bob Shea to feature Unicorn, his friend Goat, and their wider circle, following upon Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great . While that earlier book dealt with Goat's insecurities, here we see that it is Unicorn who is feeling unsure, leading to some inappropriate behavior, in the forms of showing off and being insensitive to his friends. Fortunately, one day of bad behavior doesn't ruin everything, a useful object lesson for young children who might themselves have had days where they didn't behave perfectly. Much as with the earlier book, I found that I wasn't particularly impressed by this one, being mostly indifferent to the story, and to the artwork, although I did appreciate some of the wordplay, and the fact that characters from other Bob Shea books appeared. Of course, tastes vary, so readers who enjoyed the first story about Unicorn and Goat will undoubtedly also appreciate this one, and it to them that I would recommend it.
May 27, 2024
I want to say this is a cute story about [what my review would have been], but... honestly? The art style is a BIT loud and somewhat hard to follow. I don't know if younger readers (the target audience) would have an easier time than I would, but—for instance—the "competitor" for Unicorn's spotlight is "rubber bands that look like other things"...
I admit I don't know kids, but that seems like a specifically odd thing to be the Latest and Greatest fad. Maybe because anyone can have one? It's like seeing things in the clouds?
The core story seems decent, though: Unicorn expects to be the center of attention, then is sadly disappointed when he isn't. Even so, his friends are still his friends, and that means more than all of the superficial attention from fans in the world.
I can't say I identify with it that much, being an introvert myself (haha), but it's definitely a good lesson, that people are NOT going to spend their every waking moment fawning over the fact that you exist. Heck, I finished reading a different book about putting up with one person who is always the center of attention, and I honestly was getting super tired of that character WELL before the end of the book.
It's an OKAY story overall, I guess. If you like the art style, that's great! Otherwise, I have a hard time specifically recommending the story, though I would still get a copy for a younger reader who wanted it.
I admit I don't know kids, but that seems like a specifically odd thing to be the Latest and Greatest fad. Maybe because anyone can have one? It's like seeing things in the clouds?
The core story seems decent, though: Unicorn expects to be the center of attention, then is sadly disappointed when he isn't. Even so, his friends are still his friends, and that means more than all of the superficial attention from fans in the world.
I can't say I identify with it that much, being an introvert myself (haha), but it's definitely a good lesson, that people are NOT going to spend their every waking moment fawning over the fact that you exist. Heck, I finished reading a different book about putting up with one person who is always the center of attention, and I honestly was getting super tired of that character WELL before the end of the book.
It's an OKAY story overall, I guess. If you like the art style, that's great! Otherwise, I have a hard time specifically recommending the story, though I would still get a copy for a younger reader who wanted it.
July 12, 2019
Bob Shea books are usually a solid for me, but this one was a real disappointment, especially compared to Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great whihc is one of my all time favorites. There are too few unicorn books that have a good story, aren't too wordy, and make good read-alouds for preschoolers. For me, I thought the story in Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All was lacking some of charm of the first book. Perhaps part of that is because goat is my favorite character and there wasn't much of him or his sarcastic wit in this book. The pages were also just too busy with too much going on to be effective reading to a large group during a preschool storytime.
February 3, 2020
Between 2-3 stars, but I like the pictures enough, I'll round up.
For those who get tired of unicorns, here's an off-beat unicorn to balance things out a little. Unicorn and his BFF Goat are starting school. When Unicorn starts feeling overshadowed at school, he tries to reinvent himself to recapture the center of attention. But how will that work out for him?
The story itself is kinda all over the place, no big theme (school jitters? friendship? where are we going here?). The pictures are a lot more fun. I loved all the little inside jokes in the pictures. Cameos from Shea's other books, all the different things those rubber bands could be... be sure to take a close look at those pictures!
I might use it in a storytime on friendship, though I wish there was a little more closure to Unicorn learning his lesson. It does offer some silly voice potential, though - Unicorn is quite the personality!
For those who get tired of unicorns, here's an off-beat unicorn to balance things out a little. Unicorn and his BFF Goat are starting school. When Unicorn starts feeling overshadowed at school, he tries to reinvent himself to recapture the center of attention. But how will that work out for him?
The story itself is kinda all over the place, no big theme (school jitters? friendship? where are we going here?). The pictures are a lot more fun. I loved all the little inside jokes in the pictures. Cameos from Shea's other books, all the different things those rubber bands could be... be sure to take a close look at those pictures!
I might use it in a storytime on friendship, though I wish there was a little more closure to Unicorn learning his lesson. It does offer some silly voice potential, though - Unicorn is quite the personality!
September 24, 2019
No, it's not up to the standard of the first book Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great, and somewhat disappointing--but I still enjoyed it. There is not enough Goat in this book, though. WE WANT MORE GOAT!
Also, the last few pages of Unicorn in misery at home seem to indicate he has looked clear into the abyss. Very troubling, even moreso than the dead-eyed appearance of Crispin's Crispian on the cover of Mister Dog: The Dog Who Belonged to Himself. What unspeakable horrors have these creatures been subjected to?
Also, the last few pages of Unicorn in misery at home seem to indicate he has looked clear into the abyss. Very troubling, even moreso than the dead-eyed appearance of Crispin's Crispian on the cover of Mister Dog: The Dog Who Belonged to Himself. What unspeakable horrors have these creatures been subjected to?
November 23, 2019
This book is a picture book intended for young children. It is about Unicorn who tries to be the center of attention but, all the kids aren't paying him any attention they are more interested in other things. I gave this book a 3 because the colors and the illustrations are very bright and eye catching. I didn't like the idea of it. I don't think its cool for young children to want to be the center of attention and feel the need to stand out. I think its more important to be yourself instead of trying to stand out and be cool. I just don't think the message of the book was written correctly. I think young children would love this book because of the colors and even the idea of a unicorn being the main character is intriguing.
August 22, 2019
I LOVE Bob Shea's stuff and I love the Unicorn books but man, I have to agree with the other folks who felt this one was a hot mess and all over the place. I would LIKE to still try it for storytime to see what kids think of it, but the illustrations really are all over the place. I get the message about just be yourself, don't worry about being the popular kid, your friends will still be your friends etc.
It just felt like... it was a kids book designed to entertain adults. Did anyone else think the temporary tattoo looked like saggy boobs, lol?! Oh man. I love this unicorn but... yeah, a hot mess.
It just felt like... it was a kids book designed to entertain adults. Did anyone else think the temporary tattoo looked like saggy boobs, lol?! Oh man. I love this unicorn but... yeah, a hot mess.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews