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Kevin the Unicorn #1
It's Not All Rainbows
A unicorn's bad day turns into a look at the pressure to be perfect and the importance of expressing your feelings
Everyone knows that unicorns are perfect. They are glamorous and glittery, and their smiles make rainbows appear! But Kevin is having a less-than-perfect day. First, he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed ...on the floor. Then he discovers that his mane is so wild that even his Super-Perfect-Hair-Day-Spray can't tame it. And the day just gets worse from there. Kevin does his best to keep his outlook sunny, but it's hard to keep smiling when everything goes horribly wrong!
Everyone knows that unicorns are perfect. They are glamorous and glittery, and their smiles make rainbows appear! But Kevin is having a less-than-perfect day. First, he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed ...on the floor. Then he discovers that his mane is so wild that even his Super-Perfect-Hair-Day-Spray can't tame it. And the day just gets worse from there. Kevin does his best to keep his outlook sunny, but it's hard to keep smiling when everything goes horribly wrong!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2019
2 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Jessika von Innerebner
48 books13 followersJess is an illustrator, author and, adventurous soul who loves to travel the world. She’s worked with Penguin Random House, Marvel/Disney, DC, ABRAMS, and many other clients. Her books include It’s Not All Rainbows and Why Can’t We Be Friends? releasing in 2020. When not illustrating Jess can be found long-boarding, lifting heavy things at the gym, walking her pup Charlie, sketching at a coffee house or laughing with friends. She lives in sunny Kelowna, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
February 18, 2022
Dad: I’m here with Poppy and Eleanor, and we’re giving our review. We just read it tonight, out loud.
Poppy: All together.
Eleanor:I thought it was a good book.
Poppy: me too.
Dad: we’re doing this review on my phone and speaking it. It’s really hard. I think I’m just going to let us talk, and see what happens. We really like this book. If the review turns into chaos after this, so be it.
Oh I love you thanks this is tell me we’re recording so we’re just letting it go it’s going to be a link on there so it’s her oh I love you thanks now.
Everybody’s laughing so much, and it’s not raining that stuff down.
So I audio put down oh when you said some thing put down this oh I love you I think this is.
We don’t have to write everything Poppy especially when it already said all that. Dad this was your idea. This is turning into a nightmare. I keep saying. Period. Eleanor is cracking up. Poppy is cracking up. Again. I really liked the book. I liked the part when the unicorn said that the donut was stuck on its horn for a week this is the exact words it said. Hold on just let me get to the page.
I keep saying the words new, line to get a new line.
Oh this is the exact word essay this has been stuck Quote“ wait wait we forgot to put a “wait what happened Quote this has been stuck on my horn for a week and I’ve been pretending it’s not fair it’s meaning the donuts. It’s meaning the donut was not part of the quote. My favorite part was when Kevin said thisQuote today is not awesome or fantastic and it’s not it’s definitely not sparkly it’s
horrible this is a really horrible lousy awful day.”
We never said what the book was about. Do you want to say it? Wait what did we never say? We never said what the book was about. OK let me let me. OK go ahead Papi it’s about this unicorn named Kevin. And this unicorn and Kevin is having a very bad day. I think that’s all we should say wait. Wait I wonder how voiceover is going to read this. I will have to see in my room. I think it will be funny.I’ll have to show you. OK that’s it.
Poppy: All together.
Eleanor:I thought it was a good book.
Poppy: me too.
Dad: we’re doing this review on my phone and speaking it. It’s really hard. I think I’m just going to let us talk, and see what happens. We really like this book. If the review turns into chaos after this, so be it.
Oh I love you thanks this is tell me we’re recording so we’re just letting it go it’s going to be a link on there so it’s her oh I love you thanks now.
Everybody’s laughing so much, and it’s not raining that stuff down.
So I audio put down oh when you said some thing put down this oh I love you I think this is.
We don’t have to write everything Poppy especially when it already said all that. Dad this was your idea. This is turning into a nightmare. I keep saying. Period. Eleanor is cracking up. Poppy is cracking up. Again. I really liked the book. I liked the part when the unicorn said that the donut was stuck on its horn for a week this is the exact words it said. Hold on just let me get to the page.
I keep saying the words new, line to get a new line.
Oh this is the exact word essay this has been stuck Quote“ wait wait we forgot to put a “wait what happened Quote this has been stuck on my horn for a week and I’ve been pretending it’s not fair it’s meaning the donuts. It’s meaning the donut was not part of the quote. My favorite part was when Kevin said thisQuote today is not awesome or fantastic and it’s not it’s definitely not sparkly it’s
horrible this is a really horrible lousy awful day.”
We never said what the book was about. Do you want to say it? Wait what did we never say? We never said what the book was about. OK let me let me. OK go ahead Papi it’s about this unicorn named Kevin. And this unicorn and Kevin is having a very bad day. I think that’s all we should say wait. Wait I wonder how voiceover is going to read this. I will have to see in my room. I think it will be funny.I’ll have to show you. OK that’s it.
July 8, 2019
Love love love this message! Jessika writes the story of unicorn named Kevin, who has the idea that every day needs to be "perfect" and that he must always be "happy" or in a good mood. After a really horrible day, he learns that this is not the case, and that everyone struggles sometimes. A perfect story for kids to realize that they are not alone in their feelings and that it is okay to feel what they feel, no matter what.
May 17, 2019
In unicorn life, it's important to always smile and be happy. But every once in awhile, we all have a day like Kevin's; absolutely dreadful. Here's a book that's bound to make anyone smile, even if you're having a day as horrible as his. It's Not All Raimbows is not only a funny, colorful book, but a reminder to kids and adults alike that it's okay to feel and embrace all of our emotions... and that having a friend to talk about our feelings with can work wonders on that moody day!
November 6, 2019
Super fun story about how it's okay to have a bad day once in a while
November 18, 2019
I really needed this today. That's all.
January 17, 2022
Feel your emotions, Kevin, they are valid <3
Also I want whatever Glitter Soda is. Is it just literally soda with glitter in it? I am also fine with that.
Also I want whatever Glitter Soda is. Is it just literally soda with glitter in it? I am also fine with that.
November 6, 2019
I loved this book at first because it showed a "perfect" creature having a bad day. Then I loved it even more because we realize that all the unicorns are having bad days and merely pretending to be perfect & happy, which is a great message for suburb dwelling children.
November 9, 2019
Funnily disastrous, with the overall message that you don't have to keep a happy surface when it doesn't match your insides, and that it's even better to be open and honest about it.
December 20, 2019
What is it with these picture books hiding behind a careful veneer of frivolity such deep and touching substance that takes you to another world with gorgeous illustrations and leaves you with a new sense of self??😪💓💓
May 15, 2021
This book has a better message than I was expecting. I try to choose to have good days regardless of the obstacles. Sometimes things are just too much and that is OKAY. Bad days occur, but you have to choose to do the best you can. Be positive and choose kindness.
October 4, 2021
I l❤ved this book cause it is about unicorns and unicorns are my favorite "animal " so this book is perfect for me! And this book shows that days are not always good and perfect, so I just loved it because it teaches a lesson.🦄🦄
December 12, 2021
I like the storyy. It's so important to let kids nowadays know that it's okay to not feel okay :)
February 8, 2020
Accessible way to show kids that a lot of times you’re not the only one having a bad day, and it’s ok to admit you’re having a bad day and to not act like everything is fine.
August 8, 2025
Cute and messy. Unicorns are magical, awesome, and have post-it notes that remind them to 'sparkle, sparkle, sparkle' or 'smile.' But what if your day includes running out of gasoline, pouring rain on your convertible and maple-syrup covered pancakes get stuck in your glittery mane?
I read this for a 5-year-old who wanted me to rate this as a 100 stars book, but we settled on 4.
I read this for a 5-year-old who wanted me to rate this as a 100 stars book, but we settled on 4.
July 13, 2020
Not every day is perfect and that's ok.
December 12, 2019
I didn't expect to love this picture book (don't tell anyone, but I'm not all that into unicorns). However, the message is so wonderful: it's OK to have a bad day! You don't always have to be happy. you don't always have to smile. I wish I had gotten this message long ago. It's quite liberating, really.
October 28, 2019
The unicorn market is becoming a bit over-saturated but this is one more unicorn book that we do need. A great way to subvert a trope and teach a lesson....with rainbows and glitter and smiles of course.
November 25, 2019
It's super important to teach kids that it is okay to have less-than-positive feelings. In Kevin the Unicorn, Kevin tries extremely hard to put on a happy face through being doused with clam juice, a terrible hair day, being chased by sea gulls and dogs, until he is finally under enough pressure that he bursts. To his surprise, he fellow unicorns admit that they too aren't having the best day.
The message is simple but a vital one to teach our kids - it's okay not to be okay! The sooner we understand that the sooner we can get help or process our feelings in a healthy way. I will definitely be using Kevin the Unicorn in my upcoming storytimes.
The message is simple but a vital one to teach our kids - it's okay not to be okay! The sooner we understand that the sooner we can get help or process our feelings in a healthy way. I will definitely be using Kevin the Unicorn in my upcoming storytimes.
September 8, 2019
LOVE! The message in this book is such an important one to share with kids. Pair with I'm Sad & The Good Egg.
October 24, 2022
This book really surprised me! My five year old picked it out at the library based on the rainbow and jumping donut on the cover, and I had low expectations. However, it was great! We ended up having a conversation about disappointment and having a growth mindset.
March 27, 2019
Very cute take on "It's OK not to be OK" lesson.
March 27, 2019
This would have been a favorite of mine as a kid. I was always wondering why all the other kids looked all put together and I didn't look the same.
Great Book.
Great Book.
June 19, 2019
This book is completely adorable and I loved the message. We all have bad days and that is okay, even unicorns! This was an ARC received through Edelweiss.
April 16, 2020
This review first appeared on our blog, Biblionaut Expeditions. Read the review here and check us out for more reviews. My daughter (5) and I both reviewed this book. You'll see her thoughts at the end!
Unicorns are great, right? Everything about them is sparkly and awesome. At least, that’s how it seems. It turns out unicorns can have bad days, too, as we learn in Jessika von Innerebner’s It’s Not All Rainbows, her first book about Kevin the Unicorn.
Kevin lives in a magical, glittery world full of unicorns where everything is presumably awesome all the time. Every poster in town talks about smiling and having a great day. Even the soda shack has a sign saying: “No smile, no service.” But what do you do if you don’t feel like smiling? What do you do when you don’t feel happy?
That’s what Kevin is trying to figure out in this book. His day starts out bad and gets worse and worse every page. But he tries his best to keep smiling and he tries to pretend like nothing is wrong. Even when another unicorn asks how his day is going, he says everything is great… until he just can’t take it any more.
A very public outburst leads to Kevin realizing he’s not the only unicorn who sometimes feels out of sorts. This in turn shows young readers that it’s okay to have a bad day and that you shouldn’t feel like you have to pretend to be happy when you’re not. It’s perfectly fine to have a bad day!
Von Innerebner’s cute story is joined by her equally adorable and clever illustrations. The illustrations are easily the best part of the whole story. The unicorns are awesome and the incredibly bright and colorful world which contrasts perfectly with poor Kevin’s downward emotional spiral throughout. Plus there are lots of little subtle bits of world building in the background that sometimes seem more for the adults reading the book with their kiddos.
I really enjoy Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows and what I probably like the most is the conversations Alex and I have every time we read it. I love what she notices each and every time we’ve read it. And I also love how I pick out something new from the background each time, too. I think the ultimate message maybe wraps up a little to quickly at the end to be clear to every young reader. But that’s just another opportunity for parents to engage their young readers.
Plus, if you like it, there’s good news: another Kevin the Unicorn book is on the way!
Alex LOVES this Book!
Kevin the Unicorn is very funny. Alex’s favorite part is when he doesn’t get his glittery soda and his day goes from bad to really bad very quickly. There is a great two-page spread that she absolutely loves. This is what ultimately causes Kevin to breakdown and admit he has had a very bad day. Alex loves to go back and point to each little thing that happens. She understands that while it’s all funny to the reader it shows that he is having a bad day and that it’s okay to have a bad day. The message that he doesn’t need to lie about being happy is not as clear to her yet.
Unicorns are great, right? Everything about them is sparkly and awesome. At least, that’s how it seems. It turns out unicorns can have bad days, too, as we learn in Jessika von Innerebner’s It’s Not All Rainbows, her first book about Kevin the Unicorn.
Kevin lives in a magical, glittery world full of unicorns where everything is presumably awesome all the time. Every poster in town talks about smiling and having a great day. Even the soda shack has a sign saying: “No smile, no service.” But what do you do if you don’t feel like smiling? What do you do when you don’t feel happy?
That’s what Kevin is trying to figure out in this book. His day starts out bad and gets worse and worse every page. But he tries his best to keep smiling and he tries to pretend like nothing is wrong. Even when another unicorn asks how his day is going, he says everything is great… until he just can’t take it any more.
A very public outburst leads to Kevin realizing he’s not the only unicorn who sometimes feels out of sorts. This in turn shows young readers that it’s okay to have a bad day and that you shouldn’t feel like you have to pretend to be happy when you’re not. It’s perfectly fine to have a bad day!
Von Innerebner’s cute story is joined by her equally adorable and clever illustrations. The illustrations are easily the best part of the whole story. The unicorns are awesome and the incredibly bright and colorful world which contrasts perfectly with poor Kevin’s downward emotional spiral throughout. Plus there are lots of little subtle bits of world building in the background that sometimes seem more for the adults reading the book with their kiddos.
I really enjoy Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows and what I probably like the most is the conversations Alex and I have every time we read it. I love what she notices each and every time we’ve read it. And I also love how I pick out something new from the background each time, too. I think the ultimate message maybe wraps up a little to quickly at the end to be clear to every young reader. But that’s just another opportunity for parents to engage their young readers.
Plus, if you like it, there’s good news: another Kevin the Unicorn book is on the way!
Alex LOVES this Book!
Kevin the Unicorn is very funny. Alex’s favorite part is when he doesn’t get his glittery soda and his day goes from bad to really bad very quickly. There is a great two-page spread that she absolutely loves. This is what ultimately causes Kevin to breakdown and admit he has had a very bad day. Alex loves to go back and point to each little thing that happens. She understands that while it’s all funny to the reader it shows that he is having a bad day and that it’s okay to have a bad day. The message that he doesn’t need to lie about being happy is not as clear to her yet.
May 25, 2023
I liked how the pictures looked; it was really cute, and it looked really funny. - ML
It wasn't a bad book; it was a good book. I liked how not all unicorns have a special, sparkle day. - JM
It's kind of how you don't have to say, "YES," to everything. - JMW
Don't like unicorns, and it was a short book. - RML
I liked the book; it was really, really good, but it was short. - CPR
I love the book very much because it shows that people can have bad days, and every single time my brother starts yelling at me for no reason, it gives me a bad day. - ACS
I loved the book very much, and if you ever have a bad day, you should take a break from what you're doing. - DT
It was a good book, and I liked it because the unicorn had hair. - ND
It was really funny when she went to the store and it was all out of rainbow juice, and there was a huge line, and all the unicorns were sad because they had stuff that gave them a bad day. - TC
I like because when they were at starbucks line, you (Ms. Layton) related to it, and the unicorns blew up his hair, and a lot of the unicorns had a bad day. - JC
I liked it because the way the other unicorn had glitter in its eye. - LB
The problem is that the unicorns don't always have good days; it's okay. Everyone has bad days, and everybody makes mistakes.
It wasn't a bad book; it was a good book. I liked how not all unicorns have a special, sparkle day. - JM
It's kind of how you don't have to say, "YES," to everything. - JMW
Don't like unicorns, and it was a short book. - RML
I liked the book; it was really, really good, but it was short. - CPR
I love the book very much because it shows that people can have bad days, and every single time my brother starts yelling at me for no reason, it gives me a bad day. - ACS
I loved the book very much, and if you ever have a bad day, you should take a break from what you're doing. - DT
It was a good book, and I liked it because the unicorn had hair. - ND
It was really funny when she went to the store and it was all out of rainbow juice, and there was a huge line, and all the unicorns were sad because they had stuff that gave them a bad day. - TC
I like because when they were at starbucks line, you (Ms. Layton) related to it, and the unicorns blew up his hair, and a lot of the unicorns had a bad day. - JC
I liked it because the way the other unicorn had glitter in its eye. - LB
The problem is that the unicorns don't always have good days; it's okay. Everyone has bad days, and everybody makes mistakes.
July 23, 2022
Sometimes you just have a bad day! And that's okay! And you don't have to pretend you're having a good day!
I am totally here for taking down toxic positivity especially using unicorns to do it!
If this had gone a little further and dealt with why toxic positivity is a bad thing, it would've been 5 stars.
Also good for helping let go of perfectionism.
I am totally here for taking down toxic positivity especially using unicorns to do it!
"We all know that having a positive outlook on life is good for your mental well-being. The problem is that life isn't always positive. We all deal with painful emotions and experiences. Those emotions, while often unpleasant, are important and need to be felt and dealt with openly and honestly. Toxic positivity takes positive thinking to an overgeneralized extreme. This attitude doesn't just stress the importance of optimism, it minimizes and denies any trace of human emotions that aren't strictly happy or positive." -VeryWell Mind
If this had gone a little further and dealt with why toxic positivity is a bad thing, it would've been 5 stars.
Also good for helping let go of perfectionism.
November 24, 2020
This book was a lot better than I thought it would be! As of late, I have grown disenchanted with unicorn books because they are such a fad right now. So going into this picture book, I wasn't expecting too much.
But this unicorn book is actually really good! It's silly, funny and full of sparkles! And it has bright pictures that children will love with a good moral at the end.
Plot: When Kevin the Unicorn wakes up one morning to find himself on the floor and his pink hair in disarray, he still puts a smile on his face and walks out the front door. His day goes from bad to worse as his car runs out of gas, the drink stand runs out of his favorite Glitter Soda, and syrup and cupcakes get spilled all over him. Will Kevin the Unicorn keep his smile or will he learn that sometimes it's okay to have a bad day?
Bet you can guess. :)
This book reminds us that it's okay not to always have a perfect day even if everyone seems to expect you to. I loved that message.
But this unicorn book is actually really good! It's silly, funny and full of sparkles! And it has bright pictures that children will love with a good moral at the end.
Plot: When Kevin the Unicorn wakes up one morning to find himself on the floor and his pink hair in disarray, he still puts a smile on his face and walks out the front door. His day goes from bad to worse as his car runs out of gas, the drink stand runs out of his favorite Glitter Soda, and syrup and cupcakes get spilled all over him. Will Kevin the Unicorn keep his smile or will he learn that sometimes it's okay to have a bad day?
Bet you can guess. :)
This book reminds us that it's okay not to always have a perfect day even if everyone seems to expect you to. I loved that message.
December 28, 2019
"Everyone knows unicorns are perfect."
This book started out a bit heavy handed with its perfection, but it was just setting up the perfect "we're not always perfect" storyline. Jessika von Innerebner writes in simple language that will not only engage toddlers and preschoolers, but also kindergartners that are starting to read independently.
The artwork in this is fantastical and fabulous. I loved seeing unicorns of different sizes and colors. Innerebner is always dynamic and expressive, but this one was not quite the best when it comes to showing expression on the unicorns faces. The action throughout the story was, however, superb. Each movement was clear, and Kevin was illustrated with precision. The color pallete was also well developed. It seemed a bit obvious to choose this color pallete, but it was just different enough to make this one stand out.
This book started out a bit heavy handed with its perfection, but it was just setting up the perfect "we're not always perfect" storyline. Jessika von Innerebner writes in simple language that will not only engage toddlers and preschoolers, but also kindergartners that are starting to read independently.
The artwork in this is fantastical and fabulous. I loved seeing unicorns of different sizes and colors. Innerebner is always dynamic and expressive, but this one was not quite the best when it comes to showing expression on the unicorns faces. The action throughout the story was, however, superb. Each movement was clear, and Kevin was illustrated with precision. The color pallete was also well developed. It seemed a bit obvious to choose this color pallete, but it was just different enough to make this one stand out.
December 4, 2019
Summary
This book is about a unicorn named Kevin who is not having an awesome day. He starts out his morning different than his others. He tries to stay positive but nothing is turning around for him.
Review
I really liked this book because it is totally relatable. We always want to keep a positive view on everything but some days just don’t go as planned. It is learning how to accept yourself even if you aren’t perfect.
Connection
I would connect this book with other books that highlighted the imperfections of everyday life.
Use
I would use this book to create a writing sample of a day that wasn’t so perfect. Did we try to turn it around? Did staying positive help?
This book is about a unicorn named Kevin who is not having an awesome day. He starts out his morning different than his others. He tries to stay positive but nothing is turning around for him.
Review
I really liked this book because it is totally relatable. We always want to keep a positive view on everything but some days just don’t go as planned. It is learning how to accept yourself even if you aren’t perfect.
Connection
I would connect this book with other books that highlighted the imperfections of everyday life.
Use
I would use this book to create a writing sample of a day that wasn’t so perfect. Did we try to turn it around? Did staying positive help?
February 22, 2020
“When you’re a unicorn, every day is filled with ... magical awesomeness.” Or is it?
Kevin has never had a bad day. But the morning he wakes up on the floor feels very different to him. He reminds himself to “Keep it happy.” But everything seems to be going wrong: the weather changes from rainbow to rain, the soda shack is out of Glitter Soda, and clam juice gets spilled all over him. Keep smiling ... keep it happy ... pretend nothing is wrong. “Kevin could not longer hide what he was really feeling.” And when he releases his emotion, he finds out that other unicorns have been hiding their true feelings, too.
A simple message with fun illustrations.
Kevin has never had a bad day. But the morning he wakes up on the floor feels very different to him. He reminds himself to “Keep it happy.” But everything seems to be going wrong: the weather changes from rainbow to rain, the soda shack is out of Glitter Soda, and clam juice gets spilled all over him. Keep smiling ... keep it happy ... pretend nothing is wrong. “Kevin could not longer hide what he was really feeling.” And when he releases his emotion, he finds out that other unicorns have been hiding their true feelings, too.
A simple message with fun illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews