A New Friend for Sparkle

PreS-Gr 2—Another of Young's lively adventures about a lovable goat-unicorn and his friend and owner, Lucy. Lucy's new friend Cole is coming over to play, and Sparkle has his first experience with being the odd unicorn out, leading to an action-packed playdate. The words and illustrations convey Sparkle's emotions as he watches Lucy and Cole play without him; his hurt feelings eventually result in destruction and a tantrum. Sparkle mopes after Lucy scolds him, but Cole catches his attention with a drum, and soon Cole and Sparkle strike up a lively round of song and dance. Tables have turned, and readers witness Lucy's emotional response as she sees Cole and Sparkle connecting without her. This is the perfect tale for young students as they begin to make friends, and will introduce them to the concepts of empathy and understanding and hopefully encourage kindness and conscientious behavior.