Morgan and Yew

Serendipity

by Stephen Cosgrove, Robin James (Illustrator)

A sheep wishes for a horn like his unicorn friend has, but it costs him more than he can bear.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Animals, Unicorns, Horses

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite childhood reads! Forgot I had this as a kid. So happy it's back in print!

[Atlantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part of a series from the ‘70s (Serendipity). Colorful pictures and a little lesson in each story. About one paragraph a page alongside a full page picture.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morgan is a pretty unicorn, and Yew is a silly sheep yet somehow the two are very good friends. But Yew becomes jealous of Morgan's horn and wants a horn too. When the cost proves to be that of their friendship, Yew foolishly sacrifices everything for beauty and then learns what a terrible mistake this is.

I've had this book for ages and never quite understood why I kept it except I think I liked the pictures when I was a child. As an adult, I read this book and become annoyed with Yew and the entire premise. While there's a solid lesson to the story, I can't seem to like Yew again much as I wanted to. The picture though made the story outstanding, which was why I'm still giving it three stars even if I didn't like the book itself very much.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this since I was a little girl. I enjoyed the pictures back then but now just fell in love with the lesson in the book now that I really understand it.

[JD Waggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There really wasn't a way to lose with me as a kid when it came to unicorns, so it's not surprising that my copy of this is well-loved. As an adult, I still like the story; it has a great message of recognizing one's own value and appreciating that others see that, too. I was a little bummed that it switched from Yew wanting simply to be awesome like Morgan to a more narrow focus on appearance; I appreciated the opening skewed more toward "Morgan is more awesome than me and I want to be like him" rather than "he's pretty and I want to be pretty," because a lot of books do the latter. But the illustrations are still fabulous and it still has the overall understanding of being who you are and not someone else. (This is something I still need to hear, even as an Adult.)

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful easy-to-understand book that most of us can easily relate to whether we be the unicorn or the lamb. The story teaches the strengths of our differences in our friendships, the problems that envy can bring and the true sacrifice a friend does to make another happy. And yet it also teaches that nothing - looks, material items or fulfilled wishes can replace the warmth of having a true friend to be with.

The pictures are adorable and children will be all too happy to fall in love with this book.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had about a dozen Serendipity books in my youth, and this was one of my favorites. I've read a few more Serendipity books in the last couple of months, and this STILL remains one of my favorites.

I love the pun of Yew's name. A previous book was entitled Morgan and Me. Also, the reader could identify as Yew.

This was the first time I'd seen a drawing of a sheep with an undocked tail. At first, I thought the sheep was deformed or was a special breed. Imagine my surprise.

There are a few stories featuring the gorgeous Morgan the unicorn. They all are consistent as to how unicorns come to be, and that the world can have only one at a time. After suffering through I don't know how many series without continuity, I appreciate Cosgrove's effort.

As are most of the Serendipity books, this is a lovely marriage of images and text. When I was a kid, I thought the moral was stupid, but as an adult, I realize it was one of the best things you can teach a kid. I wish I had paid more attention.

[Maureen]

I started to write a review and then realized something about this story that I hadn't at first. Is it a Christian allegory, or is it just a simple morality story, or is it both? I have to reread it and I don't currently have the time to do that. Whichever way it is to be interpreted, it has a problem with the author giving the sense that short, curly-haired, stout beings are not as beautiful as tall, sleek, shiny-haired beings. The author presented this idea as factual even though the horse/unicorn did not hold this judgement. The sheep has a self-esteem problem.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a lamb and unicorn who are friends. The lamb wishes to have a horn. The wish is granted on the condition that the lamb is taking the unicorn's horn and that the unicorn couldn't live without it. The lamb doesn't realize until later how much he is missing his friend.

[Susan]

I loved this book as a child now i cant wait to read it to myyoungest i have searched for a long time for the title thankyou

[Chrissy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books!

[Rose | Belletrist Anarchist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic tale of learning to be happy with your own unique magic.

A lesson that is still relevant in adulthood!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Plot: Yew the sheep is jealous of Morgan's horn, but doesn't anticipate the consequences of getting what he wants.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it, especially when that thing belongs to a good friend. That's definitely the message of this story. It's a very good lesson for little ones to learn. The art is beautiful and the story is good for kids who need to up their reading game a little bit beyond the typical fare available. The art is beyond beautiful, a true feast for the eyes.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to wait a tad longer than usual at the doctor's today and to my surprise when I sat down this book was on the table. I didn't remember the story, but I did remember a couple of the illustrations. The story was cute and simple, with lots of story language. Not as great as Squeekers.

[Lyl Lyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these books as a child so dearly, and this one had a special place in my heart, because I felt a close tie to unicorns and lambs both! The moral is, as always with Serendipity books, good, and the art, again, as always, wonderful. But this book brings back waves of nostalgia and ever puts a smile on my face.

[Tsorningold · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just no way you could convince me I was as grande as a Unicorn if I were a little ewe...

Third of the Morgan books... Just pretend the Morgan Book with the fat little princess never happened.

[Joel · Rating 2 out of 5]

i thought the little girl in this book was a little wierd but i huess since i was in still i child i thought all the characters in books were wierd, but syill if you have sibilings who are begining to read i recomend thses books

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books is the most wonderfully illustrated, sweetest series available for children. Each book is beautiful, the animals are so sweetly drawn and each book teaches a wonderful lesson. I still have all of my original copies from my childhood (the 90s).

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the Morgan series of Serendipity books, when I was little. A unicorn willing to give up what made him unique, to help his friend feel better. This message resonated with me for a long time.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite children's book that teaches the lessons of envy and true friendships.

[Dina Natale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I carried this book around everywhere I went when i was a kid.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

early reading source for children, to learn about about friendship and sacrifice

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favorite childhood book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first books that I read as a child and I loved it! It has a beautiful lesson about love and children can use the rest of their lives.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these books as a kid and am so happy that I get to re-read them with my husband and our daughter.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the lessons taught by these Serendipity books, always positive and deep.

[nisie draws · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this so much as a child, and I still love the art!!!