Even though she has started to become attached to him, Lucy persuades Sparkle to get in the truck that will take him away. Lucy decides to send Sparkle back, but she's still kind enough to take care of him when he is frightened by a storm. Instead of being majestic and magical, this unicorn resembles a goat in many ways, bleating and eating just about everything with which he comes in contact. But the unicorn is nothing like she imagined, which will clue readers into the possible reasons for Lucy getting such a great deal on a unicorn. She even thinks about what colors the unicorn will be and what she name her new pet. Lucy is thrilled when she answers an ad selling a unicorn for a quarter, and as she waits for the animal to arrive, she imagines all the fun she will have and how beautiful this creature will be.
Recommended to young unicorn lovers, or anyone else looking for picture-books about fantastical pets. The artwork is colorful and fun (and the cover sparkles!), adding to the appeal. I appreciated the fact that Lucy is won over by her less-than perfect pet, a process depicted as much in the artwork as in the text, as this highlights the importance of loving our companions (fantastical or otherwise) and caring for their welfare, as opposed to looking upon them as trophies. In this respect it also reminded me of Vikki VanSickle and Cale Atkinson's If I Had a Gryphon. With a story that reminded me of Kate Beaton's recent The Princess and the Pony, which also featured a young girl who was dissatisfied with her equine companion, A Unicorn Named Sparkle is a sweet little book, one sure to have appeal for young children who dream of having their own fantastical pet. only to find that this unicorn may have some redeeming qualities after all. Disappointed with her purchase, Lucy decides to send Sparkle back. Her visions of a dazzling creature with blue hair and a pink mane and tail, one who loves wearing a necklace of flowers and who will make a good impression at show-and-tell, prove less than prophetic however, as the real Sparkles turns out to be a runty little thing with brown spots, who has long ears, smells funny, and isn't particularly cooperative in doing unicorn-like things. Excited at the prospect of getting her very own unicorn - and for the bargain price of twenty-five cents! - Lucy imagines what Sparkle (for so she plans to name her new friend) will be like.
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