Beatrix and the Unicorn

Judge (Old Blue Is My Home) weaves magic and the ache of loneliness into a values-oriented picture book of generosity rewarded. In watercolor and colored pencil illustrations with textile-like borders, Beatrix is shown leading a hard life as a servant at a castle, where her “only glimmer of joy” is the huge unicorn tapestry in the great hall. The piece glows with shimmering threads that make the smiling unicorn appear beautiful, soft, and huggable. In need of a friend and sure that she must find the real unicorn to avoid a life of lone- liness, she steals out into the forest at night. One by one, solo animals appear, and Beatrix shows kindness to a scared bunny, a wounded dog, and more. After Beatrix falls asleep huddled beneath a tree—the animals watching anxiously—the pages flood with sunlight. As the tangled forest becomes a garden of vibrant hues, the unicorn appears, close enough to offer both a nuzzle and words of reassurance: “Brave girl. Kind girl. Sharing, caring girl. You are loved.” Awakening from an apparent dream, Beatrix returns to the castle, now surrounded by real animal friends—beautiful, soft, and huggable. Readers may wish for some transformation of Beatrix’s material circumstances, but the ending proffers a quieter comfort, suggesting that kindness given leads to kindness received. Human characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4–8. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (Feb.)