Sir Addlepate and the Unicorn

by Dahlov Ipcar

Sir Addlepate loved the fair Lady Alura more than anything else in the world. So when she said, "What I should like is a unicorn," Sir Addlepate buckled on his armor, and ordered his white mare, Alabaster saddled. Then, with his trusty bestiary tucked under one arm, he went in search of a unicorn. He met all kinds of strange monsters before he reached home again and children will find his wild adventures delightfully entertaining. Dahlov Ipcar's classic illustrations bring the story vividly to life.

43 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Dahlov Ipcar was an American painter, illustrator and author.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

To appease his lady-love, Sir Addlepate goes on a quest to find a unicorn for the fair maiden. His journey takes him through deserts and jungles, and he sees many curious creatures. He finally happens upon a "unicorn," and is surprised by how ugly the darned thing is! Here is the sad part, as the mother rhino is killed. Her baby is rescued, however, and taken to live at the palace.

There's a funny twist to the ending, and I did enjoy that bit.

And, as always - Ipcar's artwork is a treasure!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply in love with Lady Alura, the eponymous Sir Addlepate sets out on a quest to find the unicorn she desires in this humorous original fairy-tale from author/illustrator Dahlov Ipcar. With his trusty bestiary to hand, he sets sail, landing in northern Africa and then discovering animals throughout the continent, on his meandering journey to the Land of the Indies. When our knightly hero finally does track down a unicorn (AKA, a rhinoceros), all does not go as planned, and Sir Addlepate must take its baby home with it. But presenting this prize to his lady love, he is surprised to discover that Alura believes his trusty mare Alabaster's white foal is the actual unicorn...

Sir Addlepate and the Unicorn is only the second picture book I have read from Dahlov Ipcar, following upon her Hard Scrabble Harvest , and I found it immensely enjoyable. Many of her titles seem to explore the world of animals, so it is perhaps unsurprising that this fairy-tale centers around Sir Addplepate and his bestiary, a type of guidebook to animals that was popular in medieval Europe, and which often included both real and mythological creatures. I greatly appreciated this aspect of the story, as it reveals some of the wonders and quirks of these guides, and obliquely suggests ways that certain mythological beings might have first been "discovered" by people, as our hero mistakes a seal for a mermaid, for instance, or a rhinoceros for a unicorn. I enjoyed the humor in this tale, including the name of the eponymous knight, and I also found the artwork just marvelous! her works of fantasy for older children. They have a vintage feeling, and are vibrantly colorful, making use of bold, stylized patterns that felt quite folk-art inspired. This is one I would recommend to young fairy-tale lovers, as well as to any child who enjoys stories of adventure and exploration.