Claire and the Unicorn Happy Ever After

In Hennessy's (One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims ) congenial tale, a girl named Claire and her stuffed unicorn set out for dreamland in search of what would make someone "happy forever ." Newcomer Mitchell's landscape of make-believe is a feast for the eyes; breezy sailboats float by as teacups, and delectable lollipops grow like trees. Along their journey, the duo encounters a variety of storybook characters, some of whom Claire can identify. But before long she stumbles upon an exception—a frog prince that, much to her surprise, prefers flies for his happily-ever-after. And Fairy Godmother admits, "I don't believe I've ever heard the same wish twice." Once Claire and Capricorn inevitably learn that happiness does not come in a one-size-fits-all, readers also gain a broader perspective on the world. In the lighthearted, childlike ending, Claire shares her discovery with her father the next morning, who then asks, "What would make my little princess happy?" The answer? Pancakes. Ages 3-8. (Jan.)