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Unicorn Diaries #5
Bo and the Merbaby
Bo helps a mermaid in this magical early chapter book!
Bo Tinseltail is excited to meet a merbaby. But when Bo and the other unicorns find the merbaby can't swim, they decide to see if they can find someone who can help! Will they find what they're looking for?
Bo Tinseltail is excited to meet a merbaby. But when Bo and the other unicorns find the merbaby can't swim, they decide to see if they can find someone who can help! Will they find what they're looking for?
80 pages, Library Binding
First published August 3, 2021
36 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Elliott
200 books295 followersRebecca Elliott is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Owl Diaries series (Scholastic US) & over 20 picture books including Just Because, Sometimes, Naked Trevor and Zoo Girl, for which she was nominated for the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal.
Her new series The Unicorn Diaries (Scholastic US) & her first YA novel 'Pretty Funny ' (Penguin Random House) are out now.
Her new series The Unicorn Diaries (Scholastic US) & her first YA novel 'Pretty Funny ' (Penguin Random House) are out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 29, 2022
A new merbaby will be born soon and the unicorns are excited!!! They are going to earn a new patch by helping some water creatures. But there's bad news: merbaby Flo was born with an abnormal tail and will never be able to swim. Scratch that...good news: merbaby Flo, a mermaid who lives in water, is perfect just the way she is even though she'll have to be carried every second of every day because of the aforementioned tail issue!! So, okay, Flo teaches kids a lesson about how people are different and we shouldn't discriminate on the basis of medical issues or whatever.
But here's the thing. This story features a golden fish whose magic has no limits with regard to water creatures. The book establishes that the golden fish could in fact give Flo the ability to swim, but Flo's mom declines because she prefers to think Flo is perfect just the way she is even though she's unable to swim to gather food because she has to hold Flo 100% of the time. Maybe this is a lesson that could have been more elegantly conveyed in a universe that imposes actual limits on what can and can't be done, rather than one in which a magical fish can accomplish the impossible with a snap of its fins?
The book is dysfunctional in some truly special ways. Nothing wrong with it tho, and no reason to want to fix it by using magic, hiring an editor, or even asking a friend to read it before jotting it down in an afternoon and sending it off to the publisher. It's perfect just the way it is.
But here's the thing. This story features a golden fish whose magic has no limits with regard to water creatures. The book establishes that the golden fish could in fact give Flo the ability to swim, but Flo's mom declines because she prefers to think Flo is perfect just the way she is even though she's unable to swim to gather food because she has to hold Flo 100% of the time. Maybe this is a lesson that could have been more elegantly conveyed in a universe that imposes actual limits on what can and can't be done, rather than one in which a magical fish can accomplish the impossible with a snap of its fins?
The book is dysfunctional in some truly special ways. Nothing wrong with it tho, and no reason to want to fix it by using magic, hiring an editor, or even asking a friend to read it before jotting it down in an afternoon and sending it off to the publisher. It's perfect just the way it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2021
"I'm glad this book has a merbaby in it. My mom and I want to be mermaids when we grow up. There is a sad thing though, the merbaby only has one tail fin when she is born and can't swim. She grows up a little she is babysat by a golden magical fish and is friends with unicorns and stuff." -Cadee, age 9
February 21, 2022
This book only has seven chapters
October 30, 2024
The merbaby was born with something wrong with her and Bo tried to figure it out so he could help her and her mom. This held my attention and I really liked it.
March 26, 2023
I sense good intentions with this book, but I'm disappointed at how they played out.
A quick synopsis, for those who haven't yet read it: The magical unicorns who are the focus of the book are so excited about the birth of a new baby mermaid (merbaby). When they come to a little party to meet the new baby, the mermaid mom (mermom - sense a theme?) explains in response to a comment by the unicorns that the merbaby will never be able to swim because her tail has only one fin, not two. This is specifically stated to be problematic because the mother mermaid needs to go help the other mermaids swim elsewhere for food -- they aren't able to gather enough without her -- while she has to take care of her baby because the merbaby can't swim. There is a clearly a problem here, which the unicorns want to fix by finding a way to get the baby a working tail. But the mermom is convinced that the merbaby is perfectly fine as she is, and they are told by their teacher that their magic isn't enough to change how someone is born anyhow. So they go on an epic adventure to find an even more magical being (a special golden fish) & convince it to help. When the fish finally comes, the fish & mermom agree that nothing needs to change - the baby is fine how she is. The resolution is that the unicorns decide to babysit when mom needs to go away. (Also there is a simplistic solution to the loneliness of the magic fish.)
I am confident that the author is trying to communicate something like "people with disabilities don't need to be 'fixed' in order to be okay." Which is a fair message to communicate.
However, let's look at the situation. This baby water creature can not, will never, swim. She has no mobility in the only medium in which she can survive. She can't be left alone, presumably because she could easily drown (though this scary thought is not pointed out in the book). And the book is saying this is okay. The book is saying a situation in which people with disabilities have no mobility in their home setting is perfectly fine.
What? How is that being an ally to people with disabilities?
I fully expected throughout the book for the unicorns to come up with some sort of assistive device to give the child some mobility - a baby carrier for mom, an artificial fin, something. Because mobility is one of those things that creatures in general need and desire in order to take care of themselves and have autonomy. This is why friends and allies of people with physical disabilities in our world might be working to ensure proper curb cuts and wheelchair ramps in their hometown for their friend who needs them to get around, for instance. But no: the merbaby is fine as she is, no changes to anything required to help her.
I also note that the book ends up centering the needs of the mermom. And the caregivers of people with disabilities (or babies in general!) do have needs, and it is kind to meet them! Yes, do that! But I also note that there's no attention to the baby eventually becoming a full-grown magical creature & having needs for mobility and autonomy (with the possible exception of the young unicorns who want to fix her tail, who are repeatedly told they are well-meaning but wrong).
I'm torn between saying "it's a magical story for kids; you're taking this too seriously, Self" and saying "this book makes problematic assertions about the lives of people with disabilities, glibly, in ways that encourage children not to worry about helping others because they're already fine as they are; if the point of the story isn't to encourage helpful understanding of, friendship with, and allyship to people with disabilities, I don't know what the point is."
A quick synopsis, for those who haven't yet read it: The magical unicorns who are the focus of the book are so excited about the birth of a new baby mermaid (merbaby). When they come to a little party to meet the new baby, the mermaid mom (mermom - sense a theme?) explains in response to a comment by the unicorns that the merbaby will never be able to swim because her tail has only one fin, not two. This is specifically stated to be problematic because the mother mermaid needs to go help the other mermaids swim elsewhere for food -- they aren't able to gather enough without her -- while she has to take care of her baby because the merbaby can't swim. There is a clearly a problem here, which the unicorns want to fix by finding a way to get the baby a working tail. But the mermom is convinced that the merbaby is perfectly fine as she is, and they are told by their teacher that their magic isn't enough to change how someone is born anyhow. So they go on an epic adventure to find an even more magical being (a special golden fish) & convince it to help. When the fish finally comes, the fish & mermom agree that nothing needs to change - the baby is fine how she is. The resolution is that the unicorns decide to babysit when mom needs to go away. (Also there is a simplistic solution to the loneliness of the magic fish.)
I am confident that the author is trying to communicate something like "people with disabilities don't need to be 'fixed' in order to be okay." Which is a fair message to communicate.
However, let's look at the situation. This baby water creature can not, will never, swim. She has no mobility in the only medium in which she can survive. She can't be left alone, presumably because she could easily drown (though this scary thought is not pointed out in the book). And the book is saying this is okay. The book is saying a situation in which people with disabilities have no mobility in their home setting is perfectly fine.
What? How is that being an ally to people with disabilities?
I fully expected throughout the book for the unicorns to come up with some sort of assistive device to give the child some mobility - a baby carrier for mom, an artificial fin, something. Because mobility is one of those things that creatures in general need and desire in order to take care of themselves and have autonomy. This is why friends and allies of people with physical disabilities in our world might be working to ensure proper curb cuts and wheelchair ramps in their hometown for their friend who needs them to get around, for instance. But no: the merbaby is fine as she is, no changes to anything required to help her.
I also note that the book ends up centering the needs of the mermom. And the caregivers of people with disabilities (or babies in general!) do have needs, and it is kind to meet them! Yes, do that! But I also note that there's no attention to the baby eventually becoming a full-grown magical creature & having needs for mobility and autonomy (with the possible exception of the young unicorns who want to fix her tail, who are repeatedly told they are well-meaning but wrong).
I'm torn between saying "it's a magical story for kids; you're taking this too seriously, Self" and saying "this book makes problematic assertions about the lives of people with disabilities, glibly, in ways that encourage children not to worry about helping others because they're already fine as they are; if the point of the story isn't to encourage helpful understanding of, friendship with, and allyship to people with disabilities, I don't know what the point is."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2023
So, Bo and her unicorn friends are trying to earn their water patch. That means they need to learn water tricks and help water creatures. And you won't believe it – they find a baby mermaid named Flo! She's super unique because new merbabies are rare. Flo is just born, but she has a little problem – she only has one fin and can't swim properly.
Bo and her friends want to help Flo, so they get ready for the Twinkle Top Lagoon water showcase. It's like a big water talent show for all the creatures. But Flo's mom, the mermaid queen, doesn't want to change Flo's fin. She says Flo is special just the way she is.
I loved how Bo and her friends work hard to learn new tricks and make gifts for Flo. Bo's gift is the cutest blue hat with pom-poms! They also help other water creatures and learn that giving meaningful gifts is important.
There's a legend about a demigod, and that's a big surprise you'll have to find out about. And guess what? The book teaches us about not being selfish and wanting only money and power. Real friends are patient and help without expecting anything in return.
"Unicorn Diaries: Bo and the Merbaby" is a magical adventure that shows the power of kindness and friendship. If you're into mermaids, unicorns, and cool life lessons, you should totally read this book. Dive into the story and have a splashy good time!
If you're a fan of this book, you won't want to miss my full review on my YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/Cqe8O8t6J5I?si=QXXgW...
Bo and her friends want to help Flo, so they get ready for the Twinkle Top Lagoon water showcase. It's like a big water talent show for all the creatures. But Flo's mom, the mermaid queen, doesn't want to change Flo's fin. She says Flo is special just the way she is.
I loved how Bo and her friends work hard to learn new tricks and make gifts for Flo. Bo's gift is the cutest blue hat with pom-poms! They also help other water creatures and learn that giving meaningful gifts is important.
There's a legend about a demigod, and that's a big surprise you'll have to find out about. And guess what? The book teaches us about not being selfish and wanting only money and power. Real friends are patient and help without expecting anything in return.
"Unicorn Diaries: Bo and the Merbaby" is a magical adventure that shows the power of kindness and friendship. If you're into mermaids, unicorns, and cool life lessons, you should totally read this book. Dive into the story and have a splashy good time!
If you're a fan of this book, you won't want to miss my full review on my YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/Cqe8O8t6J5I?si=QXXgW...
February 14, 2022
When the unicorns hear that a new merbaby has been born, they can't wait to meet her. They are sad to find out the merbaby was born with only one tail fin so she can't swim. Her mom says she is perfect and doesn't need fixing. But the unicorns still wonder if anyone can help the merbaby, so they set off in search of the legendary Golden Fish.
There's a nice message in this about people born with disabilities still being of worth and not necessarily needing "fixing." There's a good resolution about what is helpful for parents of kids with disabilities that could definitely be applicable in real life. I did wonder why they didn't introduce how prosthetics are helpful for people with mobility issues. I think that would have been appropriate and not hurt the message, but oh well. Could be a helpful read for kids to build empathy and prepare them for how to react to someone they meet who may not look or act quite like they expect.
There's a nice message in this about people born with disabilities still being of worth and not necessarily needing "fixing." There's a good resolution about what is helpful for parents of kids with disabilities that could definitely be applicable in real life. I did wonder why they didn't introduce how prosthetics are helpful for people with mobility issues. I think that would have been appropriate and not hurt the message, but oh well. Could be a helpful read for kids to build empathy and prepare them for how to react to someone they meet who may not look or act quite like they expect.
November 8, 2021
This installment features Bo and their friends learning that creatures can be born differently from one another and that's okay. There are several instances where the unicorns want to "fix" the merbaby so she is "normal" or "better," and the other characters encourage them to understand that the merbaby is perfect the way she is. I think the overall topic is good for this age, but I wish it would have been handled more head-on instead it taking the whole book for the characters to learn this. It seemed like a bit of a missed opportunity.
For: unicorn fans; readers wanting a diary format and fun illustrations.
Possible red flags: misunderstandings; lack of tact; discussions surrounding a character with a disability.
For: unicorn fans; readers wanting a diary format and fun illustrations.
Possible red flags: misunderstandings; lack of tact; discussions surrounding a character with a disability.
February 23, 2022
Bo and her friends are back and they are trying to earn their patches. There's also a new merbaby and she is so cute, but it turns out that she was born with only one fin instead of two and she'll never be able to swim. One of the requirements for their patch is that Bo and her friends have to help another water creature. Of course, they choose to help "fix" the merbaby since she can't swim. They go off seeking the mythological Golden Fish to grant them their wish of fixing the merbaby. Will their wish be granted? Will merbaby be able to swim?
The message that being different is ok and disabilities are not something that need to be "fixed". This book encourages acceptance and helping others where there is a need.
The message that being different is ok and disabilities are not something that need to be "fixed". This book encourages acceptance and helping others where there is a need.
February 27, 2022
This has probably been my favorite so far in the Unicorn Diaries series. Bo and company are excited to learn that a new merbaby will be born in the lagoon. The unicorn tasks this week revolve around water and the new merbaby. Upon meeting the baby, Flo, the unicorns learn that Flo was born with only one tail fin and will never be able to swim. Thinking their mission will be to heal Flo through magic, the unicorns set off to find the Golden Fish in hopes that bringing her out of isolation to change Flo will be the secret to earning this week's badge. At the end of the story, the unicorns are surprised and confused to learn about the Golden Fish's decision to help. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and think that it has a great lesson for all!
October 12, 2021
I don't usually write a review for books like this because they are generally 100% exactly what you would expect with no surprises. However, this one surprised me. I started reading it with my 7yo and then I had to go and she finished it by herself. I asked her if the merbaby with the missing fin got a new/prosthetic fin so she could swim, but no! The moral of the story is that the merbaby is perfectly fine the way she was born. She doesn't need to change -- the unicorns just help by providing some support to the mermom. I thought this was such an interesting and refreshing message in a genre usually packed with cliches.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2023
This is a free book that came home in my daughter's backpack at the end of school, so I read it without knowing anything about the series. I wasn't anticipating that it was going to hold a message about disability and how we view it! The unicorns are interested to an adorable new merbaby named Flo, but she only has one fin on her tail and she is unable to swim on her own. They end up spending most of the book trying to find a way to magically change Flo so she'll be able to swim, when Flo's mother has to inform them that Flo is great the way she is. She lets them know that if they really want to help, they can provide respite for Flo's mom while she goes to find food!
August 15, 2021
I’m crazy about Owl Diaries and Unicorn Diaries because they’re super simple, bright, joyful early chapter books and the stories aren’t overly complicated. I can appreciate the story that was trying to be sent in this one, but it felt a bit convoluted and message heavy - without even a clear lesson coming through. (Goes from a lesson about the merbaby to the mom… just a lot.) This felt very different from the rest of the series to me.
November 24, 2024
I didn't enjoy the concept of this one. A merbaby is born with a disability, and rather than help her baby get this corrected so her child can lead a normal life, the mother just says the baby is wonderful the way it is. What mother wouldn't want to help her child with a disability so he or she could live a normal life? Rather than being totally dependent on you for his or her whole life just to go places.
July 19, 2025
Me: What did you think of the book?
Fae: “It was the cute baby mermaid because baby was a mermaid and was so cute! Because because because the baby was fabulous because she is miniya! That’s how you say cute in French !” *all in a singing voice*
Me: And how many stars?
Fae: “Five stars would be great!”
Fae: “It was the cute baby mermaid because baby was a mermaid and was so cute! Because because because the baby was fabulous because she is miniya! That’s how you say cute in French !” *all in a singing voice*
Me: And how many stars?
Fae: “Five stars would be great!”
September 13, 2022
72 pgs. This is a cute diary about the unicorns attending school and needing to complete a project to earn their badges. The illustrations are super cute and the story will capture any kid's imagination. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5.
October 16, 2022
Demetrius and I love this series! This series is so fun for us to read together! I loved the msg that this book had that being different does not mean that there is something wrong with you and it does not mean that you need to be "fixed"!
February 6, 2023
I generally love this series, but the message in this one about accepting people with differences/disabilities seemed a little bit bungled. I appreciate this theme, but it was a little complicated by focusing on both the mom and the baby. Still, it is a fun book and my daughter really enjoyed it.
August 5, 2021
Cute! I like the message but I wanted more time with the merbaby.
Read
August 9, 2021Great transitional chapter book series for kids :)
Read
September 5, 2021My second grade daughter read this book on her own and liked it. She also likes this series and the Owl Diaries series too.
November 3, 2021
Another cute addition to the series. Both this and the owl diaries series' are cute stories for kids who are getting into independent reading.
January 3, 2022
Found this in the Librarian's Choice section of our library. Supeer cute. My 7yo and I are requesting the other books in the series to read together.
January 8, 2022
Clara loves this series! She is getting better at reading them herself. This story was cute about allowing for differences among us and being a helper to everyone.
March 9, 2022
I liked how Bo and her friends went and tried to help her new friends!
November 8, 2022
Just trying to catch up with my daughter. This one was actually pretty good. It had a good moral to the story and everything!
January 13, 2023
Great 😃 👍😊
June 23, 2023
This one snuck in a little social awareness.
August 5, 2024
Super cute! Loved the merbaby & teaching kids the lesson of not changing difficulties we are born with!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews