Nerdycorn

Like all the other unicorns, the mythical protagonist at the center of this story by Root (Hamsters Don’t Fight Fires!) and Kraan (Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear) has a lavishly curly mane and tail. But instead of living a life of unrelenting frivolity like her peers (“spectacular leaps over shimmering rainbows... splashing majestically in mountain waterfalls”), Fern is a STEM superfan who prefers chemistry, programming, and solving problems. Shunned and teased, Fern still chooses to be a mensch: she is “smart, a good friend, and always willing to help others.” Eventually fed up, Fern understandably hesitates when the other unicorns realize they need her know-how to save the Sparkle Dance, but her good heart prevails, and the others are so impressed by her skills that they become STEM converts, too. Thematic repetition makes this tale less than subtle, and its message—practicing generosity in the face of being mistreated—strikes an unfortunate note. But Kraan’s extravagantly imagined wood block illustrations offer a feast of rainbow colors and subtle textures that are filled with lovely details, from the tiny red mushrooms by Fern’s front door to her zero-gravity ice-cream machine. Ages 3–8. [em](May) [/em]